Enable/Disable Auto Factory Reset Mobile Devices Remotely

Many mobile devices are used at work today, so managing and keeping track of them can be challenging. In order to maintain control over their environment, many organizations want to set auto-factory reset for their devices to keep them up-to-date and secure with the latest software. By utilizing this process, companies can quickly restore any device to its original state when needed, eliminating manual configuration or laborious setup procedures.

Auto factory resetting also helps protect data on an organization's network by ensuring that no malicious apps remain installed after resetting a device. In this article, we will describe auto factory resetting for Android and iOS devices and how to perform it.

1How to Enable/Disable Auto Factory Reset Your Devices?

Here is a quick guide on how you can factory reset your devices, either for personal needs or if you’re an enterprise looking to maintain your devices’ health, secure your data and even deliver a smooth end-user experience:

1Auto Factory Reset with Build-in Feature

Many smartphone models come with built-in auto factory reset features to allow users schedule or trigger auto factory reset easily and conveniently. For instance, users can preset their devices such that it automatically enters the factory reset mode once a specified incorrect number of password attempts is entered.

This feature adds a layer of security and is particularly useful especially when the device is lost or stolen.

For example, if the unauthorized user tried to guess the password severally, the device auto resets and erases your sensitive data to prevent data theft that could potentially prove costly.

Additionally, it prevents cases of accidental resets that could trigger data loss.

For Android Devices:

Android devices provide one of the easiest ways to enable auto factory reset. While different Android versions and models might have slightly different steps, it is worth noting that most of them are nearly the same. Here is a guide on how to do an auto factory reset on a Samsung device:

Source: Samgsung

For iOS Devices:

Just like Android devices, iPhone lets you easily put your device into auto factory reset mode using the inbuilt settings. This auto factory reset will basically erase your data.
You can enable Auto Factory Reset feature on an iPhone by simply activating the "Erase Data" option in the passcode settings to protect your device security:

Note: Make sure you have a backup created before you enable this feature.

Step 1.Open the Settings App and select “ Face ID & Passcode”.

Step 2.You’ll be prompted to enter your current passcode to access these settings.

Step 3.You can scroll down to find the “Erase Data” option.

Once this feature is enabled, your iPhone will automatically erase all data after 10 failed passcode attempts. You can thus protect your personal information from unauthorized access.

2Auto Factory Reset with Third Party Tool

One of the most effective options to auto factory reset your devices is via a third-party tool like ures for auto factory resetting, other Android devices can utilize third-party tools like AirDroid Business. This is such a powerful and highly-used third party tool for comprehensive remote device service management.

It’s Mobile Device Management (MDM) tool that gives you an array of mobile device management features including several ways to reset your device. You can choose to factory reset your device remotely, create workflow to auto factory reset your device, or even set auto factory reset in bulk.

How to use MDM software for auto factory resetting on Android devices?

Step 1.Create an account and log into the management console.

To proceed with auto factory reset, you need to enter the dashboard. This account will serve as your management platform for remotely controlling and managing multiple Android devices.

Step 2.Enroll devices to the console.

Go to "Device" > "Device Enrollment". Then choose the method based on your need.

Step 3.Set up an alerts as a trigger condition.

Go to "Device" > "Workbench" > "Alerts & Workflows" > "+ Alerts & Workflows" and configure the tigger condition.

• Alerts & Workflows

Step 4.Tick "Factory Reset" to proceed automatical execute actions.

Stay in the "Alerts & Workflows" menu and choose "Factory Reset". This task will automatically execute once your configured alert occur.

2Why Use Auto Factory Reset on Devices?

Well, the auto factory reset feature can come in handy for individuals and businesses. Whichever your device model or use case, here are some of the benefits of using auto factory reset mode on your devices:

1) Simplified and Unified Resetting Configuration(For Business)

For multiple company-owned devices, auto factory reset makes it possible to return devices to their original state by avoiding manual settings processes.

For instance, if the company has to reassign or redeploy the devices to new employees, the IT team can remotely initiate the factory reset process so that the respective device is reset automatically to its original state. This saves the company time, energy, and money involved in moving from one device to another for manual resetting.

2) Configuration Consistency (For Business)

When a company has several shared devices, different users might customize the settings to meet their unique needs. This means other users can be disadvantaged and this can lower employee productivity.

With auto factory reset, companies can reset their devices to the default state every time a different user logs in to a session. Therefore, each user starts from a clean point and avoids conflicts with other user’s files and preferences.

3) Improved Device Performance (For Business and Personal Usage)

As you use your devices, they accumulate data such as cache files and residual settings that eat up memory space and slow down device performance. Additionally, outdated files can form junk files that affect the performance of your device.

With factory reset, you can remove this clutter and enhance your device performance with ease, translating to better productivity. Whether you are using the device for business or personal use, factory reset makes it faster and more reliable for your tasks.

4) Data Security (For Business and Personal Usage)

If you misplace your device or it is stolen, you don’t want to give unauthorized users a platform to access and steal sensitive information, say credit card details from your device. To avert this, auto factory reset lets you automatically erase data from the lost/stolen device.

For example, you can set it to reset in case an incorrect password is entered a number of times, say three times in a row.

FAQs

Does auto factory reset delete everything?

Maverick

Yes, an auto factory reset erases all data and settings on the device, reverting it to its original state.

Is there an auto factory reset capability in Android phones?

Maverick

Yes, many Android phones, including Samsung and other popular brands, offer built-in auto factory reset capabilities.

How to back up data before performing an auto factory reset?

Maverick

You can back up your data by syncing accounts for emails, calendars, and contacts using cloud storage services or external storage devices to save important files.

How long does an auto factory reset take?

Maverick

The duration of an auto factory reset varies depending on the device's model, storage capacity, and the amount of data present. Typically, the process takes between a few minutes and one hour.