How to Recover Data After a Factory Reset on Android

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Performing an Android factory reset will erase everything on your phone or tablet. Before you reset your Android, we'll show you how to back up your data so you can restore it easily.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Enabling Backup on Your Device

PDF download Download Article
  1. It has an icon that resembles a gear. It's on the Home screen or the app drawer.
  2. This is the search icon. It's usually in the upper-right corner of the Settings menu. This allows you to search for menu items in the Settings menu.
    Advertisement
  3. This displays the location of the Backup menu in the Settings menu. The location of the Backup menu is different from one Android device to another.
  4. This displays the backup options for your Android device.
  5. This enables automatic backups through Google Drive. If the switch is already blue, then the backup option is already enabled.
    • Call history, contacts, and device settings are automatically set to back up if the backup option is enabled.
  6. This should be the first option under active backups.
  7. This is based on user preference. Enable this setting if you want your apps to retain their settings and data.
  8. It's in the upper-left corner of the screen. This returns to the previous screen.
  9. This menu allows you to set your backup settings for your photos and videos.
    • Backup of photos and videos will only occur on Wi-Fi unless you tap on the toggle switches next to Photos and Videos under "Cellular Data Back Up". This can use up a lot of data, so it is typically recommended to not enable this option.
  10. This enables backup for your photos and videos.
  11. It's in the Photos & Videos Back Up & Sync options.
  12. This enables automatic backup for image folders for different apps. Common options may include Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or Reddit.
  13. This returns you to the main backup screen.
  14. Make sure that you are currently connected to Wi-Fi.
    • This will backup your data to your main Google account. If you would prefer, you can change to a different account by tapping on Account under Back up now and selecting any other accounts you have attached to your phone.
    • If you are running an older version of Android, then your menu layout may look slightly different, but the process should be similar.
    15. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Recovering Your Data from a Backup

PDF download Download Article
  1. A Factory reset will revert your phone to its factory settings, so you will need to go through the setup process like it was new.
  2. Use the drop-down menu under the "Welcome" header to select your language.
  3. This should be directly under the language option.
  4. This allows you to use the option to restore your data.
  5. Then use your wireless password to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
  6. This should be the second option under "Bring your data from".
  7. Make sure that this is the same account that you had tied to the device before the factory reset.
  8. You will not be able to proceed with this process if you do not agree to the terms.
  9. It's in the list under "Choose a backup".
  10. This restores all the data from the backup.
    • Alternatively, you can also tap on the checkboxes to select which data to restore, such as which apps, call history, or device settings.
  11. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue setting up your phone. Your data is being restored to your device in the background. [1]
    12. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Recovering Your Data without a Backup Using MobiSaver

PDF download Download Article
  1. It can be downloaded at https://www.easeus.com/spec/mobisaver-android-free.html . Click the download button, and then click the install file once it finishes downloading. Follow the on-screen instructions to install MobiSaver.
    • It is recommended that you install the free trial before paying for the software as not all data is recoverable. The free trial will allow you to preview which files are recoverable, but you will need to pay for the software to recover the files. The sooner you act after factory resetting your phone, the more likely you will be able to recover your lost data.
    • There are several other recovery programs of varying quality. MobiSaver has good reviews and is pretty easy to use. Caution is always recommended before installing and using recovery software. The general process is similar regardless of the program that you use.
  2. The icon looks like a white medical symbol on a blue background. It can be found on your desktop or by clicking on the Windows Start button and typing MobiSaver .
  3. Root your phone . Rooting your phone allows MobiSaver to access the entire Android system. There are several apps you can use to root your phone, such as Framaroot, and Universal Androot, that can be downloaded from the internet.
    • Warning: Rooting your phone can void your warranty, and cause permanent damage to your phone if it is not done correctly. These steps are for advanced users only. Follow at your own risk.
  4. on your Android phone. To do this, you will first need to tap the magnifying glass icon in the Settings app and search Build number . Locate Build number in the Settings menu and tap it 7 times. This enables Developer Options. Then use the magnifying glass icon to locate the Developer options in the Settings menu, and tap the toggle switch next to "USB Debugging" under Developer Options.
  5. This allows your computer to communicate with your Android device.
  6. The name of your phone will be displayed and the Start button will turn blue once your phone is found.
    • Allow the software time to scan your files. The time it takes will vary based on your hardware and how much data can be recovered.
    • It is recommended that your phone is charged before starting this process.
  7. Options will include contacts, messages, gallery (photos), videos, audio, and documents.
  8. It's next to each file type. This selects the file types that you want to recover.
  9. It's at the bottom of the window.
  10. It is recommended that you save the data to your PC first in case there are any issues with the transfer. [2]
    • The transfer process may take awhile if you have a lot of media on your Android.
  11. You could do this either by manually moving the data from your PC to your Android while the USB cable is connected or by uploading the data to Google Drive.
    12. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Warnings

      • As stated before, the third method is for advanced users only. Rooting your Android can void your warranty and brick your phone if done incorrectly. Users are accepting all risk when rooting their devices and using third-party recovery software.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Add Widgets on Android
      How to
      Check What Android Version You Have
      How to
      Add an App Back to Home Screen: Tips for Finding Apps
      4 Simple Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Any Android
      3 Ways to Unlock an Android Tablet
      How to
      Find Your Phone Number on Android
      How to
      Block All Incoming Calls on an Android Phone
      How to
      Connect Android Phone to Computer
      How to
      Hide Apps on Android
      How to
      Copy an Entire Text Conversation on Android
      How to
      Change Number of Rings on Android
      How to
      Disable Parental Controls on Android
      A Guide to Copying and Pasting with the Android Clipboard
      6 Ways to Fix "Insufficient Storage Available" on an Android
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about smartphones, check out our in-depth interview with Brehima Traore .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.androidcentral.com/how-restore-your-apps-and-settings-new-android-phone
      2. ↑ https://www.easeus.com/tutorial/mobisaver-android-free-user-guide.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Start the setup process after the factory reset.
      2. Tap on Let's go .
      3. Tap on Copy your data .
      4. Select a Wi-Fi network.
      5. Tap on A backup from the cloud .
      6. Select backup file and tap on Restore .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 63,028 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement