How to Hard Reset a Motorola Phone Using the Buttons (Recovery Mode)

If your Motorola phone won’t start normally or you can’t reach the Settings menu, you can do an external (hard) reset from recovery mode using only the buttons. This erases everything on the phone.

Quick steps: Phone off → hold Power + Volume down → Recovery mode → hold Power + tap Volume up → Wipe data/factory reset → Factory data reset → Reboot system now.

Before you start

  • All data on the phone will be erased. Only data already backed up to your Google account can be restored.
  • Make sure you know the Gmail address and password that were on the phone — you’ll need them after the reset (Factory Reset Protection).
  • Charge the battery to at least 20%.
  • Use the volume buttons to move up and down in recovery mode, and the Power button to select.
  1. Motorola phone switched off
    Step 1

    Turn the phone off

    Turn the phone off completely. If it’s frozen, hold Power and Volume up until the screen turns off.

  2. Phone with the Power and Volume down buttons highlighted
    Step 2

    Open the boot menu

    Press and hold the Power button and the Volume down button together until the boot menu appears.

  3. Boot menu with the volume buttons highlighted
    Step 3

    Select Recovery mode

    Press Volume down until RECOVERY MODE is shown, then press the Power button.

  4. No command screen with the Power and Volume up buttons highlighted
    Step 4

    Open the recovery menu

    When the Android robot with “No command” appears, press and hold Power, then press and release Volume up.

  5. Android recovery menu with Wipe data/factory reset highlighted
    Step 5

    Choose Wipe data/factory reset

    Use Volume down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, then press Power.

  6. Recovery confirmation with Factory data reset highlighted
    Step 6

    Confirm Factory data reset

    Highlight Factory data reset with Volume down and press Power. All data and settings are deleted.

  7. Recovery screen after the data wipe has completed
    Step 7

    Reboot

    When the wipe finishes, select Reboot system now and press Power. The phone restarts and shows the setup screen.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a hard reset and a forced reboot?

A forced reboot (holding Power + Volume up) just restarts a frozen phone and keeps your data. A hard reset from recovery mode erases everything and returns the phone to factory settings.

Can I hard reset a Motorola phone without the Google account password?

You can do the reset, but the phone will ask for the previous Google account during setup. Recover your Google account first, or visit an authorised service centre with proof of purchase.

Still having problems? It may be a hardware fault. Check the Motorola spare part prices for your model, or compare battery and display replacement costs.

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Steps and screenshots based on Motorola's official Perform an external reset tutorial. Steps can vary slightly by model and Android version.