If you would like to factory reset your Pixel because it is not working, running slow or being sold follow these steps. This is also known as refresh or hard reset.
Soft Reset (if you know the login details of a Google account on the device, know the password to the phone, and the phone is powered on)
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Tap Accounts
- See a Google account username and check that you know the password to it.
- You should wait 24 hours between resetting your Google account password and performing a reset.
- Back up any data that you need on your phone by going to the Settings app, tapping Backup and turning on your backup service.
- Files and folders can be backed up using the Google Drive app.
- To manually sync your Google account, tap Settings > Accounts > Account sync > More (the three dots) > Sync now
- Plug your phone into charge until the reset is complete – a reset can take up to an hour.
- Connect your phone to Wi-Fi or mobile data in order to sign into your Google account once the reset is complete.
- Open Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options.
- Tap Erase all data (factory reset) > Reset Phone, and enter your phone password.
- Tap Erase everything to erase all data from your phone’s internal storage.
- Choose the option to restart your phone once data has been erased.
- Set up phone and restore backed up data after restart is complete.
- After restarting, when you see ‘Copy apps and data’, tap Next > Can’t use old phone > Copy another way > A backup from the cloud > sign into account with backed up data.
- Open Settings > Accounts > account with backed up data > Account sync, to make sure photos, data, and settings have been restored.
Hard Reset (if you know the login details of a Google account on the device providing Android Device Protection is enabled – this is on by default though can be switched off in settings, and the phone is powered off – this will remove all data on the phone)
- Power off your phone.
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons until an image of a broken android or a menu appears on screen.
- If a broken android is shown with the text ‘No command’, hold down the Power button and press the Volume Up button, then release both buttons.
- Use the Volume buttons to move up and down in the menu, then select ‘Recovery mode’ with the Power button.
- Your phone will restart in Recovery mode.
- Use the same buttons to select ‘Wipe data/factory reset’ on the next menu.
- Allow several minutes for this reset process to complete.
- Select ‘Reboot system now’ on the menu.
- Set up phone and restore backed up data after restart is complete.
- After restarting, when you see ‘Copy apps and data’, tap Next > Can’t use old phone > Copy another way > A backup from the cloud > sign into account with backed up data.
- Open Settings > Accounts > account with backed up data > Account sync, to make sure photos, data, and settings have been restored.
If you still need help please click here for further assistance.