Recovering data after a factory reset

If you’ve factory reset a computer, laptop or phone and then realised that important files, photos or documents were still on it, the first question is usually: can I get my data back?

The answer is sometimes - but it depends heavily on the device, the type of storage inside it and what has happened since the reset.

Most importantly, if you need the missing data, stop using the device as soon as possible. Continuing to use it could overwrite data that might otherwise have been recoverable.

1. What Does a Factory Reset Actually Do?

A factory reset is designed to return a device to something close to its original state. It normally removes user accounts, installed applications, settings and personal files before reinstalling or restoring the operating system.

However, deleting a file and physically erasing its data are not always the same thing.

On some storage devices, a reset may remove the information the operating system uses to locate your files without immediately overwriting every part of the old data. In those circumstances, specialist data recovery may sometimes be possible.

On other devices, particularly modern encrypted storage and SSDs, a reset can make recovery extremely difficult or impossible.

2. Can You Recover Data From a Hard Drive After a Factory Reset?

If your computer uses a traditional mechanical hard disk drive (HDD), there may be a possibility of recovering some data after a factory reset.

The chances depend on how the reset was performed and how much new information has subsequently been written to the drive.

For example, reinstalling Windows can overwrite areas of the disk that previously contained your files. The more you use the computer afterwards - installing programs, browsing the internet, downloading files or even allowing Windows to update - the greater the possibility that old data will be overwritten.

Once data has genuinely been overwritten, it cannot normally be recovered.

3. What About an SSD?

Recovering data from a solid-state drive (SSD) after a factory reset can be considerably more difficult.

SSDs work differently from traditional hard drives and commonly use a feature called TRIM. This helps the SSD manage blocks that the operating system no longer needs, but it can also mean deleted data is cleared internally rather than remaining available for conventional recovery.

Encryption can create another obstacle. Many modern computers automatically encrypt their internal storage, and some reset procedures can remove or replace the encryption keys needed to access the previous data.

For these reasons, there is no guarantee that files can be recovered from an SSD following a factory reset.

4. Can Phone Data Be Recovered After a Factory Reset?

This is one of the questions we’re often asked, particularly when someone has lost family photographs, videos or contacts.

Unfortunately, modern smartphones are specifically designed to make data difficult to retrieve after a factory reset. Both Android devices and iPhones use sophisticated encryption to protect personal information.

Depending on the device and operating system, resetting the phone may destroy the encryption keys required to read the old data. Even if fragments remain physically stored in memory, they may therefore be unusable.

Before assuming everything has been lost, however, check whether your information was synchronised to a cloud service. Photos, contacts and other files may still exist in iCloud, Google Photos, Google Drive, OneDrive or another backup service.

5. What Should I Do Immediately After an Accidental Factory Reset?

If the data matters to you, the safest approach is to minimise further use of the device.

• Stop downloading or creating new files
• Avoid installing data recovery software onto the affected drive
• Do not repeatedly reset or reinstall the operating system
• Check whether you have a cloud or external backup
• If the files are important, consider having the storage device professionally assessed

It can be tempting to download the first recovery program you find and start scanning. That can be appropriate in some low-risk situations, but installing software directly onto the affected drive can also overwrite some of the very data you are trying to recover.

6. Does Using the Device After a Reset Matter?

Yes. This can make a significant difference.

Imagine your old files occupying spaces on a bookshelf. A reset may tell the computer that those spaces are now available, even though some of the original books are technically still sitting there.

As you start using the device again, new books are placed into those available spaces. Once the old information has been overwritten, there isn’t a hidden copy underneath that can simply be brought back.

That’s why we recommend stopping as soon as you realise something important is missing.

7. Can Data Recovery Software Help?

Data recovery software can sometimes find files following deletion or formatting, particularly on traditional hard drives where the original data has not yet been overwritten.

But a factory reset is more complicated than simply deleting a file. The operating system may have been reinstalled, partitions may have changed and significant amounts of new data may already have been written to the storage device.

There’s also an important difference between attempting recovery from a healthy drive and one that is physically failing. If a hard drive is clicking, disconnecting, running extremely slowly or making unusual noises, repeatedly scanning it with recovery software can make matters worse.

8. When Should You Contact a Data Recovery Specialist?

If the missing information is genuinely important - perhaps family photographs, business records, university work or files with no backup - it’s worth getting professional advice before experimenting with the device.

Our data recovery specialists can assess the storage media and determine what the reset has done before deciding whether recovery is technically possible.

In the case of a hard drive, this may involve creating a sector-by-sector image so that recovery work can be performed on a copy rather than repeatedly working with the original device.

Not every factory-reset device will be recoverable, and a reputable data recovery company should never promise otherwise. The chances depend on the storage technology, encryption, the reset process and how much the device has been used afterwards.

Can Data Be Recovered After a Factory Reset? The Short Answer

Sometimes. Traditional hard drives can offer a better chance of recovery if the old data has not been overwritten. SSDs and modern smartphones can be much more challenging because of TRIM, encryption and the way modern devices securely manage deleted information.

If you’ve just realised you’ve reset the wrong device or forgotten to back something up, don’t panic and start trying every recovery tool you can find. Stop using the device, check your backups and cloud accounts, and seek our advice if the missing files are valuable.

The less that happens to the storage device after the reset, the better the opportunity to assess what - if anything - can still be recovered.

Online Price Calculator

Further reading

Signs Your Hard Drive Is Failing

How to Fix Corrupted BIOS Firmware

External Hard Drive Buzzing When Connected?