What should I delete before factory reset?

What Should You Delete Before Factory Resetting Your Device?

If you’re planning to reset your device to its original factory settings, there are several things you should do before you start. Backing up your data is crucial to ensure you can recover it later, especially if you have a significant amount of important information saved on your device.

Here are some essential items you should delete or transfer from your device before factory reset:

1. SD Card Data

Before deleting or formatting your SD card, make sure to mount it first to ensure all data is safe.

• Unmount and pull out the SD card: This is crucial to avoid data loss.
• Transfer files to another device: Copy all essential data to another device, a computer, or backup storage.
• Delete all files and folders: Finally, delete all files, folders, and partitions to ensure the SD card starts with a clean slate.

2. Installed Applications

Removing installed apps won’t be enough, but you can delete cached data and files created by each app to maintain a clean device:

• Delete app cache data: Use the phone’s built-in cache manager, such as Android’s app manager, to remove storage space taken up by caching.
• Disable pre-installed apps: Although you can’t completely uninstall pre-installed apps, you can disable them and prevent them from consuming battery life or storage.

3. Photos, Music, and Videos

Save your personal files by either transferring or deleting them from the device:

• Export photos, music, and videos: Transfer essential data to another device or save it to cloud storage. This includes photos taken and videos recorded on the device.
• Clear data and files: Use apps like Google Photos to help you delete or upload deleted files to the cloud storage.

4. Call Logs and SMS/Messages

You can either save or delete your phone book, call logs, SMS, and MMS history:

• Transfer SIM card data: Some people prefer to transfer contact, call log, or messages data from the SIM card to a cloud-based address book.
• Restore from cloud backup: Enable back up on your phone (if supported) and schedule regular backups to minimize any potential data loss.
• Delete call logs, SMS, and messages: Clearing these details would free up storage space but require you to re-enter or restore the information.
• Clear saved web pages: Remove saved browsing histories, cookies, and local storage from your phone, as this data could persist after a factory reset.
• Disable voicemail: Remove voicemail setup and settings to minimize its impact on your reset attempt.

5. Important Settings and Data

Pay attention to the following sections and settings:

• Disable device encryption: On devices that support full encryption, disabling it beforehand and re-enabling after setup will help you bypass delays during the reset process.

Before You Factory Reset: Checklist

Take time to go through these necessary steps before performing the final reset:

Factory Reset Time and Preparation

Before restarting and performing the factory reset on your device, you:

1. Ejected the SD card and moved it to a secure area to prevent any accidentally deleted data.
2. Enabled the appropriate wipe or factory reset method, such as "Format the SD card" or " Reset device settings."
3. Initiated the resetting process, which can depend on your device, usually by selecting the desired configuration and clicking "Next".

Post-Factory Reset

Once the device reboots into Recovery Mode or the manufacturer-provided reset menu, choose:

1. Language option: Set your language back to the default option selected during setup.
2. Reset options: Wipe data or complete factory reset ensures total removal of all existing configuration and user data.

Congratulations! Your device now awaits the initial setup. Begin by:

1. Setting up the device (for the first time): Agree to terms, accept Google Play Store terms (and other relevant services).
2. Choose your account method: Create a Google Play account or use a preferred email provider.
3. Set up your preferred layout and theme: Optimal for accessibility and customarily for a new start).

Remember, it is incredibly important to have these steps complete before deciding to factory reset your device. If you missed deleting something, you risk facing data loss or forever losing essential files, which may be vital records or sentimental memories. Consider backing up your phone once a month to protect essential data.