What a factory reset does — and what it does not remove
A factory reset erases everything in the user data partition: apps, photos, messages and the screen lock credential (PIN, pattern or password). That is why a reset is the standard fix for a forgotten password when you can still reach the Settings menu, and the last resort when you cannot.
What a reset does NOT remove is Factory Reset Protection. From Android 5.1 onward, a reset performed without the owner's sign-out leaves an FRP flag tied to the last Google account. The phone boots to the setup wizard and then refuses to continue until that same account is verified — even though the password that locked the screen is gone.
Reset from Settings when you still have access
- 1Open Settings → System → Reset options (the exact path varies by OEM skin).
- 2Choose Erase all data (factory reset) and confirm with your PIN, pattern or password.
- 3Wait for the device to reboot and show the setup wizard.
- 4If it asks for the previous Google account, jump to the FRP section below.
Reset from Recovery mode when the screen is locked
Every Android phone ships a stock Recovery menu that can wipe data without the screen password. The key combination differs by brand: Volume Up + Power on most devices, Volume Down + Power on some Samsung and Motorola models, and Volume Up + Volume Down + Power on many Pixel and Xiaomi units.
- 1Power the device off completely, then hold the recovery key combination for the model.
- 2At the bootloader or recovery screen, use the volume keys to move and Power to select.
- 3Choose Wipe data / factory reset, then confirm (on modern Android you may still be asked for the lock credential).
- 4Select Reboot system now — the device returns to the setup wizard.
The FRP catch: the Google account check after a wipe
If the phone was wiped without signing out of the owning Google account first, setup will stop at “Verify your account”. This is not a bug and not a leftover password — it is the anti-theft layer working as designed, and it is the single most common reason a reset does not feel like it “worked”.
There are only two legitimate ways past it: sign in with the original Google account, or use a documented FRP bypass tool on a device you own or are authorised to repair.
Clearing FRP on a device you own with FRPB
- 1Download FRPB from frpb.in and install it on your Windows PC.
- 2Connect the phone over a quality USB data cable and let FRPB's Live Device Monitor detect the mode and chipset.
- 3Confirm the auto-detected model matches the handset in front of you.
- 4Click FRP Bypass and accept the authorised-owner disclaimer.
- 5Watch the live console until the phone reboots into the setup wizard with the account lock cleared.
When to stop and get the owner involved
FRPB is intended strictly for authorised device owners and licensed repair professionals. You must own the device or hold explicit written permission from its owner. Bypassing FRP on hardware you do not own may defeat an anti-theft control and can be illegal in your jurisdiction.
If the phone belongs to someone else — a seller, a previous owner or a stranger — the correct route is to have that person sign in or remove the device from their Google account. No tool should be used to strip a lock you have no right to remove.