There are several reasons why you need to format Android phone. There is a possibility that your phone is overloaded with apps and running slow, or you might have downloaded a recent system update and it's causing problems with your phone's functionality. Also, you just want to erase all data on it because you're selling your phone (you should always do this when selling an old device, by the way). Before you start formatting Android phone, remember that this will delete all the data on your Android phone. If you haven't backed up the contacts, pictures, videos, documents, etc you should do so now. In this article, we will discuss 4 ways to format Android phone.
Method 1: Safely Format Android Phone via DroidErase
Of all the methods mentioned here, DroidErase is the safest and hassle-free way to format an Android phone. It doesn't matter what kind of data or content you have on your Android device, this software will wipe all of them completely before selling. Plus, there is no need to worry about data leak. It leaves no chance to recover a single byte of data from the phone. If you have sensitive data on the phone then this is the best method to delete them permanently in four easy steps.
Step 1 – Get Prepared
First you need to download and install FoneMoz DrodiErase in Windows or Mac. The installation only takes a few seconds. Now launch the program to see its main user interface, which appears like the following screenshot.
Step 2 – Connect Android Phone to Computer
Now get a USB cable and connect Android phone with your PC. By default, the phone will be automatically identified by the program. Make sure to enable USB debugging mode on your phone before you start this method.
Step 3 – Pick Up Data Erasing Type
FoneMoz DroidErase offers you with three powerful ways to completely delete all data on your phone. In order to format an Android phone, we should choose "Erase All Data".
It will delete everything from contacts to messages to music to videos to pictures etc. Upon selecting this function, your phone will be scanned thoroughly and it will show all the data from your device. Now simply, click on "Erase all data" to permanently format Android phone.
Step 4 – Start Formatting Android Phone
After you have selected your preferred data erasing mode, click on the "Erase" button to start the scanning process. Next, you need to type 'Erase' in the input box to confirm the operation. That's it after a few minutes the phone will reboot automatically and all selected items will be deleted from the device.
FoneMoz DroidErase is a powerful yet simple software that can format Android phone safely with a few clicks. It has got three unique functions to do the job for you. It is very effective and a must-have software if you are planning to resell your device without worrying about your personal data stored in it. It helps to erase over 45+ kinds of data types including contacts, pictures, music, videos, SMS, etc also you can remove all your app data from your social networks like WhatsApp chat history, Facebook, Viber and so on. The user interface is smooth and can be operated even by an armature.
Method 2: Format Android Phone via Factory Data Reset
Factory Data Reset is a built-in feature on modern Android phone. It has the same routine as FoneMoz DrodiErase but the data being deleted in this way is still recoveravle. This means your private data may be pulled off from the device by other people. And this is the second method to format an Android phone. It is very simple to reset Android. Here we have taken a Samsung Galaxy as an example to show you how to reset Android phones. Follow the steps below to format Android phone via factory data reset.
Step 1: Go to "Settings" on your Android device and tap on "Generaml Management".
Step 2: You will see a "Reset" option at the bottom and select it.
Step 3: Now scroll down to the Reset page and choose "Factory data reset" from the options. Next tap on the "RESET DEVICE" button to reset Android to factory defaults.
This process is good but with the help of Android Data Recovery software, all your deleted data can be retrieved. So if you are selling your phone, then it is not recommended using this method as the deleted data can be restored effortlessly. Also, remember that an improper factory reset may cause a system crash.
Method 3: How to Format Android Phone in Recovery Mode
Android Recovery Mode is a special state that you can get into for system repair and ROM installation. You can use this method when you are unable to execute a normal factory reset, like when your phone won't switch on properly. Make sure that your phone is fully shut down. Now press and hold the correct combination of keys to start the phone in recovery mode. It varies from device to device.
In case your device is not responding to the above combinations simply google search the combination for your phone. Make sure to let go of the buttons when your device is switched on. Now follow the steps below to use this process.
Step 1. Reboot Android phone and use the Volume Up and the Volume Down buttons to navigate and then scroll down until you find the Recovery Mode.
Step 2. Next press the power button to start through recovery mode. Your screen will be like the image below.
Step 3. Now you have to hold the power button and keep tapping the Volume Up button. A screen will now pop up.
Step 4. Select the fifth option which is the "wipe data/factory reset" option using the volume buttons and then click the power button to confirm it. Next, select "Yes" to erase all the data. That's it you are done.
Like the second method, this process too is not recommended if you are planning to resell your phone as all data can be easily recovered with the help of data recovery software. Also if you press any wrong option then your phone might get damaged so be very careful while choosing the options.
Method 4: How to Format Android Phone via ADB Command
ADB is the short name of Android Debug Bridge, which is an useful feature to debug your Android apps before public release. This can be done on a computer in order to format Android phone. Before getting started, you need to download Android ADB tools on your computer to try this method. You also require a USB cable to help connect your phone with your computer. Follow the steps below to use this process.
Step 1. You need to enable USB Debugging option in the Android settings. To do that open Settings ->Developer options ->USB Debugging. If Developer options can't be found on the device then you can go to Settings -> General -> About phone -> Software info -> Build number (tap on it 5-8 times) to activate Developer option.
Step 2. Next you have to install Android SDK Tools. You can download it from here . Make sure that the Platform-tools and USB drivers are selected in the SDK manager window. See the image below.
Step 3. Check to see if the latest drivers for your Android phone are installed on your computer. Now connect the phone with the computer using a USB cable. Check to see if the device is recognized in the Windows Device Manager.
Step 4. On your computer, go to C:\Users\Your username\AppData\Local\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools and open the command prompt window.
Step 5.Type the following command to format Android phone:
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.MASTER_CLEAR
This is an ideal tool for Android developer to format Android phone. It requires you to have a basic knowledge of adb commands. If you are not used to it then don't skip it as typing a wrong command could damage your Android device permanently.
Conclusion
In the above article, we have shown how to format Android phones in 4 different ways. You can try any of these methods but if you are looking for a solid and a worry less process, go for FoneMoz DroidErase. If you change your phone very often, it is a life-saving tool that can protect your data. DroidErase is the best compared to its counterparts when it comes to protecting your security and identity.
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