How to Factory Reset Android Phone With Broken Screen?
How do I fix what’s broken? Specifically, how do you access your smartphone – to erase all important data from it, presumably before sending it in for repair – when you shattered the screen?
I apologize for talking in advance about the topic of this week’s Tech 911 column. If this is your first time reading this weekly tech tips column, welcome! Tradition requires me to share an email I received from a Lifehacker reader who is struggling with an embarrassing dilemma, even if you probably already know the story. Frank in the spotlight this week:
“I have a [Samsung] J7 Pro. How can I erase or delete all data on it? The screen and LCD are completely cracked, but it comes on and lights up. “
Frank even sent us a photo:
I don’t quite understand what your broken smartphone actually does, judging by your wording. If it’s cracked, but it turns on and you can get a reasonable idea of what you are pressing – if the device even registers your finger press – you can simply reset to factory settings in the normal way. Click on the “Settings” application; then either “General Management”, “Backup & Reset” or “Privacy” depending on what it is called on your Galaxy J7 Pro; and then “Factory data reset” to start the process.
Samsung also describes an alternative factory restore method that you can try in its online help :
- Turn off the device.
- Press and hold the Volume Up button, Power button, and Home button at the same time.
- When you feel the device vibrate, release ONLY the power button.
- The OSD menu appears. When you see this, release the rest of the buttons.
- Press the Volume Down button until you highlight Erase All User Data. Press the power button to select.
- Press the power button again to select Yes – Delete All User Data.
- Press the power button to highlight, then select the “reboot” option.
If none of these solutions work because your screen is too damaged – I dropped my iPhone 4 in the pool once, so I feel your pain – you have two other options.
If you have linked your smartphone with a Google or Samsung account, you can use the Google Find My Device tool or Samsung Find My Mobile tool to factory reset your device.
After you enable factory reset, you will need to turn on your smartphone for it to work. And after the factory restore is complete, you will not be able to find your smartphone in either Find My Device or Find My Mobile as it will no longer be associated with your account. (It went back to default settings eventually.) This is a great way to test and make sure the reset worked, in case you don’t see anything on your broken screen.