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How to securely wipe your Android device

So you’re getting ready to buy your new Nexus 6 or Nexus 9 and you want to sell your current phone or tablet. Before you put your phone on eBay make sure you securely wipe. Not just reset it, but make sure it’s really gone for ever. This is how to securely wipe your Android device.

Due to a weakness in some implementations of Android found on devices it’s possible that resetting your phone doesn’t wipe as much as you think. Avast have been able to recover photos and data from a great many second hand devices. Given how much most of us are using our phones and what kind of data is on there, this is a real concern. With Android Lollipop devices will be encrypted by default making your data much more secure.

In the meantime the best approach is to encrypt your device before you wipe it, that will ensure that any recovered data is just meaningless encrypted garbage.



  1. If you have a phone or tablet that supports an SD Card make sure you remove it. It’s often found next to the Sim card slot or near the battery.
  2. Go to your settings and scroll down and tap on Security.
    Backup and Reset
  3. Tap Encrypt phone. This will start the encryption process and require a passcode to be entered each time you boot. Now don’t worry, we’re going to reset the phone immediately afterwards so you’ll have to unlock it once.
  4. After a restart, got back to Settings and tap Backup and reset.
  5. Now tap Factory data reset.
    Screenshot_2014-10-16-15-57-49
  6. When prompted just tap the Reset phone button to begin.
    Screenshot_2014-10-16-15-57-58
Oct 16, 2014Oliver Marshall
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Oliver Marshall

Oliver lives in the south of England and has a strange obsession with everything Google. He also runs Marshall Games and you can also see him posting over at OliverMarshall.net

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