You’re here because you’re wondering one thing:
How many times can you factory reset your phone?
We’ll tell ya.
The number of times you can factory reset your phone depends entirely on your device’s hardware and software configuration.
In general, there is no hard limit. Therefore, this shouldn’t be an issue as long as you’re not doing a factory reset on your phone all day, every day.
The modern hardware in your phone can withstand countless read and write cycles.
You may be thinking of doing a factory reset on your phone if it feels sluggish, in order to restore its original performance.
Factory resets are indeed a quick and easy way to breathe new life into your phone as opposed to going out and buying another new device!
It’s also a great way to wipe data if you plan on selling your device.
However, some people are understandably cautious and worry that multiple factory resets can compromise the integrity of their device. Let’s go over some of the most common inquiries!
Is It Bad To Factory Reset Your Phone Often?
Modern phone operating systems are incredibly complex.
The average user who is unfamiliar with the subject is unlikely to be able to diagnose and resolve many phone issues by themselves.
Therefore, a factory restart is often the go-to solution. It acts as a blanket fix for most phone issues when problems start to arise.
This is especially true if you have already tried multiple different methods in an attempt to try and fix the problem yourself.
Resetting your phone brings you back to a clean slate and allows you to begin a new.
However, it is vital to remember that a factory reset should not always be your first choice in fixing your device issues!
A factory reset follows an extremely intense protocol. Usually, a reset erases all of the data and restores the default state of the device.
By the end of it, you end up with a phone that is identical to the one you purchased originally (software only).
Some people understandably hold onto the fear that multiple factory resets can take a toll on the smartphone hardware.
This worry, while not unfounded, does not hold much ground in the current era of smartphones.
The flash memory used in smartphones is highly resilient and can withstand countless factory resets.
Since a factory reset can take up to an hour in some cases, there are only so many times you can do it even within a day.
So try and keep the daily resets to a minimum!
This process can admittedly require significant computational power, especially if the factory data reset is extensive.
Thus, multiple factory resets can and will place additional strain on your battery.
This will then logically lead to having to charge your phone battery constantly in order to keep it operational. Even then, it’s only going to reduce the overall battery life by a small margin.
Following a factory reset, the software aspect of a phone will show no noticeable negative impact- thankfully!
Naturally, you’re going to lose the data that you previously kept in the internal storage as part of restoring to a factory state.
The factory reset should carry out smoothly as long as there is no glitch and the process is not interrupted. However, if a problem occurs during this process, you are at risk of damaging your device permanently.
In this case, you would need a backup and possibly an external device, such as a computer, to transfer a restoration file to your phone.
How Many Times Can I Factory Reset My Phone?
Technically, there is no limit on how many times you can factory reset your phone.
Any limit that is present is tied to the hardware and software configuration of your phone.
All modern phones typically have an option that allows you to factory reset your device. This process, at its core, consists of deleting previous data.
The phone may mark the storage sectors as blank, or overwrite them with new junk data to delete old data entirely.
While this wears down the memory module, the exact impact is negligible.
Modern memory chips can withstand thousands of write cycles before suffering any notable degradation.
An average user performing a factory reset even as frequently as every month or so will not degrade their phone to a noticeable degree.
Realistically, even someone doing a daily factory reset won’t compromise their device!
However, this is only the case if your phone has the hardware to support these numerous write cycles.
Even so, the majority of phone users should be in the clear, so don’t stress if you end up having to endure this process more than once. Check with your phone’s manufacturer for a more reliable answer if you are unsure.
Additionally, a factory reset should not be your default option for fixing your phone issues anyway.
If you can resolve the issue with an app or through other less drastic means, don’t opt for the full reset!
However, in some cases- such as in the presence of a virus or malware- it may be easier to do a factory reset and completely wipe your device clean.
Having said this, a factory reset is not a fool-proof way of fixing any issue at hand. If the malware has root access, it may reinstall itself when you restore your phone. Therefore, it’s probably better to check with a professional to clean up any serious issues.
Is It Okay To Reset My Phone Every Month?
Resetting your phone every month is not ideal.
While it won’t damage your hardware, it will cause you quite a bit of inconvenience.
Do you really want to lose all your data every single month?
If you insist on doing monthly factory resets, make sure that you create regular backups.
However, you should ask yourself if your problems are rising from data bloat. In this case, it is much easier to delete unnecessary files or keep some of your data in the cloud.
If you need a monthly reset to keep your phone working, you may have other underlying issues.
Take your phone to a repair center or try to diagnose the problem with a Device Health app.
For example, memory testing apps allow you to test the health of your phone’s flash storage in a quick and easy way.
Aside from that, it also helps to close or disable unnecessary background apps to free up your phone’s resources.
Long story short: A factory reset should not be your first option!
Unless the problem is truly out of control, it’s best to try other potential solutions first.
If you can’t be bothered going the DIY route and researching effective fixes for your device problems, you can always visit a service and repair center to get help (which is probably the safer option anyway!).
Can Phone Data Be Recovered After A Factory Reset?
If you have somehow lost your data during the reset, do not panic. You may still be able to access it!
For instance, in Android devices, there exists a data backup feature.
This means that each time you reset your phone, you will be able to retrieve your data from the backup.
To do this, go to the phone Settings and look for the folder named Backup and Restore.
Select the folder and find the Restore option. You will then be able to access the data from the backup that was created pre-factory reset once you tap on it!
Another option is to access the backup stored on an external drive or cloud storage.
While using your phone, it’s a good idea to regularly store all of your data on an external drive. If you change your device or reset it, you will still be able to access your old data. It’s a great backup plan!
For Cloud storage, you will have to log in to your account to restore the backup. If you are an iPhone user, you can restore your data through iCloud backups. Another viable option is to use iTunes.
To do this, you must plug your device into a computer and navigate toward the Settings. From there, you will be able to find the backup option and instantly restore it!
Related Questions
Can a factory reset remove viruses from my device?
However, this does not apply in all cases. If the malware is present in the backup or root, your phone may become reinfected.
Another possibility is that the recovery partition of your device has a virus. This is a problem as the recovery partition is the component that stores the factory settings!
As such, a factory reset is a good option but is not always reliable.
Can a factory reset enhance the battery life of my device?
The reset clears your RAM and also deletes third-party applications. When you perform a reset, it eliminates these unnecessary battery-draining programs.
Afterward, you may notice a significant difference in your battery level calibration and overall health.
However, there is an exception to this case.
If your phone’s battery is older than two years, you may not be able to elevate its life much beyond what it currently is. Furthermore, a factory reset will not help if the battery is damaged in any way.
In Conclusion
So, how many times can you factory reset your phone, safely?
Numerous factory resets will most likely have no negative impact on your device’s health.
In addition to this, there are actually multiple benefits to performing a factory reset on your device.
For example, you may be able to enhance the battery life of your phone by resetting it.
Additionally, each time you reset the device, you essentially get a clean slate in terms of software! Any malware or viruses that were present will most likely be wiped away as well.
Still, constant resets without a valid reason only generate considerable inconvenience for the user.
It is a much better idea to resolve any minor issues yourself through other potential solutions or by taking the phone to a professional repair center.
If your device needs frequent resets to stay functional, it may be a sign of a serious internal hardware issue.
In this case, it is better to visit a trained technician to see if your phone is salvageable before it’s too late!