
You suspect you have a virus on your device. However, if the problem stems from your hard drive or operating system (OS), a factory reset might be a handy option. We’d only recommend this as a last resort though after you’ve attempted a manual clean-up. If your device has become slow, is freezing on you, or just not performing well, you might decide to try a reset to factory settings. If you’re passing your device on to someone else you’ll want to ensure you wipe your personal information and history from it first.
Giving away or selling your device to someone else. There are a few different reasons why you might want to do a factory reset on your device. TVs, printers, and GPS units are all examples of other electronic devices with factory reset options.įor MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac owners, here’s a detailed guide on how to reset Mac to factory settings. It’s not just computers and phones that can be restored to factory settings. Any apps pre-installed by the manufacturer will be reinstated. On your phone or desktop computer, this means all your apps and files will be removed.
What does a factory reset do?Ī factory reset means erasing all of the information on an electronic device and restoring the software to its original state (when it was in the factory).
If your PC, Mac, iPhone, or Android smartphone becomes infected by a virus, a factory reset is one way of potentially removing it.