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Factory resetting your Minimal Phone

A factory reset wipes all user data on the device and returns it to an "out of the box" state. This can be useful when troubleshooting, before selling or handing off the device, or to clear a bootloop.

danger

This will erase all data on your phone (apps, accounts, messages, files). It cannot be undone.

1. Power off the device​

Hold the Power button and select Power off from the menu.

Bootlooping or unresponsive?

If your phone won't shut down normally (stuck on a boot screen, frozen, or otherwise unresponsive), you can skip this step entirely. Just hold Power + Volume Up together and keep holding through the screen turning off until the Select Boot Mode screen appears in step 2.

2. Boot into the Boot Mode menu​

With the device fully off, hold Power + Volume Up together until you see the Select Boot Mode screen.

Select Boot Mode screen with Recovery Mode highlighted

You'll see three options: Recovery Mode, Fastboot Mode, and Normal Mode. The on-screen hint reads VOLUME_UP to select. VOLUME_DOWN is OK.

  • Press Volume Up to cycle through the options until Recovery Mode is the highlighted row
  • Press Volume Down to confirm

3. Wait for the "No command" screen​

After confirming, the device will show a small Android robot with No command underneath. This is expected.

Android robot with "No command" text

To progress past this screen:

  1. Press and hold the Power button
  2. While still holding Power, tap Volume Up once
  3. Release both buttons

4. Navigate the recovery menu​

You should now see the Android Recovery menu. The header shows Use volume up/down and power.

Android Recovery menu with Reboot system now highlighted

  • Press Volume Down repeatedly to move the highlight down to Wipe data/factory reset
  • (Use Volume Up if you overshoot and need to move back up)

Wipe data/factory reset highlighted

  • Once Wipe data/factory reset is highlighted, press the Power button to select it

5. Confirm the factory reset​

A confirmation screen will appear with the warning Wipe all user data? THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE! and two options: Cancel (highlighted by default) and Factory data reset.

Factory data reset confirmation screen

  • Press Volume Down once to move the highlight from Cancel to Factory data reset
  • Press the Power button to confirm

The device will now wipe its data. You'll see status messages at the bottom of the screen ending with Data wipe complete.

6. Reboot​

Once the wipe finishes, the menu returns and Reboot system now is highlighted at the top.

Recovery menu after wipe with Reboot system now highlighted and "Data wipe complete." at the bottom

  • If Reboot system now is not already highlighted, use Volume Up to move back to it
  • Press the Power button to select it

Your phone will reboot into a fresh setup. The first boot after a factory reset can take a few minutes, please be patient.

Once it finishes, you'll be greeted by the Hi there welcome screen, ready to set up from scratch.

Minimal Phone showing the "Hi there" out-of-box welcome screen