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Accidentally resetting your Android phone back to its factory settings is a frustrating experience that can result in the loss of important data, such as contacts, photos, videos, and other files. However, there are ways to recover your data after such an occurrence. In this blog post, we’ll discuss several methods that can help you to recover data after factory resetting your Android phone.
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The Challenge of Recovering Data After Factory Resetting Your Android Phone
When you reset your Android phone back to its factory settings, all data stored on the phone is erased. This means that contacts, images, videos, texts, and all other data are erased from the device’s internal storage. Therefore, in order to recover your data post-factory reset, you’ll have to rely on third-party data recovery methods or software that can help you recover your data from external backups.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we explore the methods for recovering data after factory resetting your Android phone, there are a few things that you should prepare beforehand. These include:
1. Stop using the phone immediately and ensure that it is turned off.
2. Do not overwrite any data on the phone as it can irreversibly overwrite the existing data.
3. Backup all the data on your phone regularly and save it in a safe and secure location.
4. Choose the right data recovery software, which is user-friendly and efficient.
Method 1: Via Google Account Backup
Method 1 is to recover your data using your Google account backup. If you had enabled the Android backup option before resetting the device, then it is straightforward to recover your data. Follow these steps:
1. Go to your device’s settings and then click on “System” and “Backup” options.
2. Here, you will see the Google Account that is linked to this device and its backup settings. You may need to sign in to your Google account if you are not already logged in.
3. Next, click on “App data” and “Call history” and turn on both features to ensure that both types of data are being backed up.
4. After this, go to the “Backup now” option on the same page and tap on it to create a full backup.
5. Now, you will need to reset your phone to the factory settings by going to the “System” and “Advanced” options in the settings page.
6. Once the process is completed, set up the device again using your Google account email and password during the setup process.
7. As you log in to the Google account that was used to create the backup, you will be prompted to restore the data backup that was generated.
8. Select the backup you need and click on the “Restore” button to initiate the process. The restoration process may take a few moments or longer, depending on the size and amount of data being restored.
9. Upon completion of the restoration process, your data will be back on your phone.
Pros:
1. The method is user-friendly and straightforward.
2. Google Account backup is secure and easily accessible.
3. Once activated, the backup and restoration process is automatic.
4. The method is free of charge.
Cons:
1. It only restores data that had been backed up previously.
2. Requires a Google account to activate the backup feature.
3. You can’t selectively restore certain data only.
4. You can lose the new data generated after the backup was done.
Method 2: Via 3rd-Party Android Data Recovery Software
The second method involves using a third-party recovery software application. Although there are several software applications available for data recovery, we recommend using EaseUS MobiSaver for Android because it’s efficient, reliable, and easy to use. With this software, you can recover several types of data, including text messages, images, videos, contacts, and more. Here’s how to use it:
1. Firstly, download the EaseUS MobiSaver for Android software and install it on your computer.
2. After installation, connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to enable USB debugging on your phone.
4. Select the types of data you want to recover, then click on the "Next" button to begin the scanning process.
5. Once the scanning process is completed, select the files you want to recover and click on the "Recover" button.
6. Choose a location on your computer to save the recovered files.
Pros:
1. User-friendly and easy to use.
2. Can recover multiple types of data.
3. Complete privacy, as it doesn’t store or copy any data.
4. Support all Android devices.
Cons:
1. Not all features are free.
2. May only recover partial data.
3. Can take much time to complete the recovery process.
4. There is a risk that the software may not function well with your device.
Method 3: Via Local Backup
If you frequently create a backup of your device data, you can recover your lost data by restoring the previous backup. You can create a backup using various methods such as third-party backup software or software provided by the manufacturer. Here is how to recover data after a factory reset using a local backup:
1. Connect your phone to a computer using the USB cable.
2. Locate the backup file you want to restore and copy it to your phone’s internal storage.
3. For Huawei devices, go to the “Settings” option, and click on “System and Updates” and then “Backup and Restore”.
4. Click on the “Restore” option and select the backup file you copied over to your phone.
5. For Samsung devices, go to “Settings” and click on “Backup and Restore”, then “Restore Data” and navigate to the backup file on your phone.
6. Once you have the backup file selected, click on “Restore” and wait for the process to complete.
Pros:
1. Free of charge.
2. Accessible offline.
3. You can backup and restore selected files and data.
4. Doesn’t require internet connections.
Cons:
1. You must have created backups beforehand.
2. The process of restoring from a local backup can be time-consuming.
3. Some backups might not be complete due to system errors.
4. The manufacturer’s backup software may not be reliable.
Method 4: Via SD card
This method only applies to users who store their data on SD cards. If you have been storing your data on an SD card before the factory reset, you can recover the data by,
1. Insert the SD card into your computer using an SD card reader.
2. Use EaseUS MobiSaver for Android as described in Method 2 to perform the recovery process.
3. Choose the location at which the recovered data should be saved.
Pros:
1. User-friendly and easy to perform.
2. Can recover data regardless of your device settings.
3. Can recover data that wasn’t previously backed up.
4. Compatible with all SD cards.
Cons:
1. Only applicable to users who store data on an SD card.
2. Data that was exclusively stored on the phone internal storage will not be recovered.
3. May be costly, depending on the chosen recovery software.
4. Recovery success is not always guaranteed.
Why Can’t I Recover my Data?
There are various reasons why you might not be able to recover your data, including:
Q1: I do not have a backup of my data?
A: It is essential to regularly backup your data to ensure that you are prepared for unplanned incidents like factory resets.
Q2: My device is displaying an error message when I try to recover the data?
A: Ensure that the device USB debugging mode is enabled and that the correct software is being used for the recovery process.
Q3: The device is not being detected by the recovery software?
A: Ensure that the device has been connected correctly to the computer before carrying out the recovery.
Q4: Can I recover only selected items of data and not all of them?
A: Yes, by using third-party software, you should be able to choose the data you want to recover.
Additional Tips
Here are some additional tips to recover your data after a factory reset:
1. Ensure that your device has ample battery power before performing the data recovery.
2. Turn off auto updates when restoring the data to avoid overwriting recovered data.
3. Regularly backup your data, making sure that it is stored in a safe and secure location that can be accessed if needed.
5 FAQs About Recovering Data After A Factory Reset Android Phone
Q1: Can your data be recovered after a factory reset Android phone?
A: Yes, it is possible to recover data after a factory reset by using various third-party software or recovery methods.
Q2: Will all data be retrieved after factory resetting the phone?
A: Not all data may be recoverable, particularly data that was exclusively saved on the device’s internal storage.
Q3: Can one use multiple methods to recover data after a factory reset?
A: Yes, you can use multiple methods to attempt to recover your data post-factory reset.
Q4: Is it possible to recover deleted text messages after a factory reset?
A: Yes, it is possible to recover deleted text messages after a factory reset through methods that have been discussed in this post.
Q5: Do data recovery applications access your personal information?
A: Data recovery software programs are created to recover lost data and do not access user personal information.
In Conclusion
With the right tools and knowledge, it’s possible to recover your lost data after factory resetting your Android phone. The methods discussed in this blog post are all viable options, and it’s worth noting that the earlier you attempt to recover your data, the higher the chances of recovery success. Remember, however, to always have a backup of your data to ensure that you are prepared for any incidental data loss that may occur.