Android Factory Reset Programmatically

Question

I tried to perform a factory reset in Android using the RecoverySystem class, but I get permission errors, which I can not overwrite because they are system permissions. I want to know if there is another way to perform a factory reset?

Manually? Why would an app *ever* need permission to perform a factory reset? — Kevin Coppock, Jan 25 '11 at 21:14
This sounds really dodgy. If a user wants a factory reset, they can do it themselves. Those permissions are there for a very good reason. — Jems, Jan 25 '11 at 21:25
Not to mention, if your app did this, it too would be gone after the factory reset anyway... — Kevin Coppock, Jan 25 '11 at 21:29
As a user, I've been longing for an app that was a one-click reset. This way I could reset my phone remotely in case it gets stolen, by configuring tasker to run this app under the right conditions. — Malabarba, Feb 08 '11 at 05:31
Permissions are meant to be overridden. *That* is what they are there for. Function entails permissions. — Rondo, May 02 '14 at 00:49

dmacke · Answer 1 · 2015-01-20T21:22:26.607

Third party applications most DEFINITELY can do this.

On 2.2+ devices (including latest 4.x) you would have to use the DevicePolicyManager and include permissions in the AndroidManifest.xml. For older devices you can use foreign context loader as described in other answer.

import android.app.admin.DevicePolicyManager;
import android.content.ComponentName;

  DevicePolicyManager mDPM;
  ComponentName mDeviceAdmin;

On Create determine there Android version and get handle on objects

    currentAPIVersion = Build.VERSION.SDK_INT;

    if (currentAPIVersion >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.FROYO) {
        //2.2+
        mDPM = (DevicePolicyManager)getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE);
        mDeviceAdmin = new ComponentName(this, WipeDataReceiver.class);
    }

The WipeDataReceiver class was a class to implement DeviceAdminReceiver, but did not have any overrides or code updates.

    public static class WipeDataReceiver extends DeviceAdminReceiver {

    }

On Resume, initially the will have to confirm Factory Reset. when the Activity returns result it will perform wipeData. If it's Froyo or less, you can jump the stock factory reset activity.

if (currentAPIVersion >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.FROYO) {
    // 2.2+
    if (!mDPM.isAdminActive(mDeviceAdmin)) {
        Intent intent = new Intent(DevicePolicyManager.ACTION_ADD_DEVICE_ADMIN);
        intent.putExtra(DevicePolicyManager.EXTRA_DEVICE_ADMIN, mDeviceAdmin);
        intent.putExtra(DevicePolicyManager.EXTRA_ADD_EXPLANATION, "Process will remove user installed applications, settings, wallpaper and sound settings. Are you sure you want to wipe device?");
        startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE_ENABLE_ADMIN);
    } else {
        // device administrator, can do security operations
        mDPM.wipeData(0);
    }

} else {
    // 2.1
    try {
        Context foreignContext = this.createPackageContext("com.android.settings", Context.CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY | Context.CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE);
        Class<?> yourClass = foreignContext.getClassLoader().loadClass("com.android.settings.MasterClear");
        Intent i = new Intent(foreignContext, yourClass);
        this.startActivityForResult(i, REQUEST_CODE_ENABLE_ADMIN);
    } catch (ClassNotFoundException e) {

    }

}

Are you serious? REQUEST_CODE_ENABLE_ADMIN is just int constant that you initialize any number to differ it from other result requests.. You can write any number to it.. but different from other request codes if you have any.. — Samir Alakbarov, Jun 29 '21 at 08:14
WipeDataReceiver is just custom class name that you create.. You can name it differently.. But if you dont know these.. You shouldt work with DeviceAdminPolicy becuase it is advanced level coding. — Samir Alakbarov, Jun 29 '21 at 08:15

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered May 17 '11 at 21:00

7

you have to use DeviceAdministration (API 2.2 or above)

DevicePolicyManager mDPM; mDPM.wipeData(0);

See: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/admin/device-admin.html

answered May 17 '11 at 21:00

GheParDo

71
1
1

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 05 '19 at 15:21

3

After Android 8.0, you can send am broadcast to trigger the factory reset process if you can get root permission:

am broadcast -p "android" --receiver-foreground -a android.intent.action.FACTORY_RESET

answered Apr 05 '19 at 15:21

Tzu Hsiang Lin

39
2

1

This broadcast do not execute anything – Osvel Alvarez Jacomino Jul 16 '21 at 20:06

jhnclvr · Answer 4 · 2012-05-31T19:59:34.927

3

This works on a many different devices I have tried. (more than 20)

Context foreignContext = createPackageContext("com.android.settings", Context.CONTEXT_IGNORE_SECURITY | Context.CONTEXT_INCLUDE_CODE);
Class<?> yourClass = foreignContext.getClassLoader().loadClass("com.android.settings.MasterClear");

Intent intent = new Intent(foreignContext, yourClass);
startActivity(intent);

edited May 31 '12 at 19:59

answered Oct 12 '11 at 13:19

jhnclvr

9,137
5
50
55

4

This should no longer work as of around Android 3.0. Use the device admin APIs to request a device wipe. – CommonsWare Aug 09 '12 at 11:11

Girish Sharma · Answer 5 · 2016-10-28T11:48:44.813

1

@TapanHP, You can use any ID just to handle the activity result callback.

int REQUEST_CODE_ENABLE_ADMIN =1234;

edited Oct 28 '16 at 11:48

answered Oct 28 '16 at 09:04

Girish Sharma

41
10

yonce · Answer 6 · 2021-01-14T06:47:54.253

It helps me

 private void resetEverything() {
    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_FACTORY_RESET);
    intent.setPackage("android");
    intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_RECEIVER_FOREGROUND);
    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_REASON, "MasterClearConfirm");
    intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_WIPE_ESIMS, shouldResetEsim());
    requireActivity().sendBroadcast(intent);
}

private boolean shouldResetEsim() {
    SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = PreferenceManager.getDefaultSharedPreferences(
            requireContext());
    return sharedPreferences.getBoolean(
            requireContext().getString(R.string.reset_esim), false);
}

create preference_keys.xml in /values

<resources>
<string name="reset_esim" translatable="false">reset_esim</string>

`Intent.ACTION_FACTORY_RESET` this does not exist – Sharp Edge Feb 23 '22 at 07:18 — Sharp Edge, Feb 23 '22 at 07:18

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Jan 26 '11 at 00:41

0

I suggest you send the user to the proper settings activity and let them do it themselves.

See this tutorial and use settings activity android.provider.Settings.ACTION_PRIVACY_SETTINGS

answered Jan 26 '11 at 00:41

levis501

4,117
23
25

Android Factory Reset Programmatically

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