Resetting your Chromebook isn’t what you’d love to do always if you have some valuable files you need to keep. However, resetting your Chromebook may be unavoidable if your PC’s performance is now slow. So, in this guide, we will discuss how to reset a Chromebook.
Chromebooks are simple, dependable, and efficient when it comes to performing all of the tasks most users need them for. Although, these devices slow down with time, so resetting them to default factory settings becomes necessary and can help improve your device’s functionality.
It’s not only when your device is running slow that you may need to reset your Chromebook. You can reset your Chromebook when you discover that your PC is affected by a virus or hackers have taken over your PC.
In this article, we will walk you through the four distinct methods to reset Chromebooks. They include:
- Resetting your Chromebook when you are logged in.
- Resetting from the login screen or without the password
- Resetting the Chromebook via the recovery mode
- Hard resetting Chromebook hardware.
In light of that, let’s go ahead to show you the basic facts to know before you reset your Chromebook to its default settings.
What you should know before you Reset your Chromebook
Just before you go ahead to reset your Google Chromebook, take note of the below:
- The Chromebook’s reset process deletes all local files, therefore ensure the files you need are backed up to Google Drive before you restart your Chromebook to prevent losing them. Make sure you have what you need because these files cannot be recovered after the reset.
- When you reset your Chromebook, all of your accounts will be deleted.
- Ensure that the login details for those accounts are maintained in a password manager and also the files from those accounts should be backed up.
- Most data from Chromebooks syncs automatically to the Google Drive of the linked Google account. Linux programs and Android app data, however, are not saved. Before you start the reset procedure, make sure you manually back up the data for your Android and Linux apps.
How to reset a Chromebook when you are logged in
Once you decide it’s time to restart your Chromebook, you might still be logged in at times. If this is the situation, then you can follow the steps to reset your device:
- Go ahead to open the Settings app.
- Choose Advanced on the left-hand side.
- Tap on the Reset Settings option.
- Press the Reset button.
- Tap on Restart in the dialog box that pops up.
The device restarts and the reset is completed. You will be prompted to log into a Wi-Fi network, sign into your Google account, and begin the Chromebook setup process.
How to Reset a Chromebook from the Login Screen
You might not be able to log in and reset the Chromebook using the settings if the previous owner did not remove their data. This step is also the same as resetting your Chromebook without a password. Reset the device instead from the login screen by following the steps below:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Alt, and R at the same time.
- On the dialog box that displays, select Restart.
- To turn off your Chromebook, you can also long-press the power button.
- Choose the Powerwash button in the new dialog box that appears after your Chromebook restarts.
- Click on the Proceed option to confirm that you wish to powerwash your device truly.
Once this process is completed, your device would have reset and a Google account login screen appears. This is how to reset a Chromebook device. 
How to Reset a Chromebook using Recovery Mode
If your Chromebook won’t boot at all or freezes in the middle of the boot process, a hard reset may be necessary. Also, you can hard reset your Chromebook using this approach if the procedures mentioned above didn’t work.
A hard reset returns your Chromebook’s software and hardware configurations to their factory default settings, in contrast to a standard powerwash. It facilitates the reset option by using the Chromebook Recovery Mode. Follow the steps below on how to reset a Chromebook using the recovery mode:
- Turn off your Chromebook entirely first.
- Then, simultaneously press and hold the physical “Power” button and the “Refresh” key (usually above 4).
- If your Chromebook is having trouble starting up, connect it and then simultaneously press the aforementioned key combination.
- Use “Esc” along with the other two keys if there is no screen displayed.
- Release all the keys once the Chromebook displays the “Chrome OS missing/damaged” screen.
- To get the Chrome Recovery Screen, press Ctrl and D.
- After that, successfully hard reset the Chromebook by following the on-screen directions.
- Press and hold the “Volume Up” and “Power” buttons for at least 10 seconds if you have a tablet running Chrome OS.
- Follow the on-screen directions to hard reset your iPad after that.
- It is quite similar to how Android smartphones perform a hard reset.
A dedicated reset key that can be used to perform a hard reset is included with some older Chromebooks. Google has compiled a list of Chrome-OS-based devices along with details on their hardware and unique reset keys.
How to Hard Reset Chromebook Hardware
If your Chromebook’s hardware is giving you issues, it could be time for a hard reset. A hard reset will clear your downloads folder and may also reset your hardware. Before performing a hard reset, ensure all of your files are backed up.
Only do a hard reset if all other attempts to resolve the issue have failed. It will restart the hardware on your Chromebook, including the keyboard and touchpad, and it could also erase certain files from the Downloads folder. This is how to hard reset Chromebook hardware:
- Turn off your Chromebook.
- Press and hold the Power and Refresh buttons at the same time.
- Release the Refresh button once the Chromebook is done restarting.
- Long-press on the Power and Volume Up buttons on your Chrome OS tablet for about 10 seconds before releasing it.
Your hardware issues should be resolved as a result, ideally. However, this should be the last resort after you’ve tried every other troubleshooting step.
Some Chromebooks have a particular reset button that you may push, disconnect the power cord from, or take out and replace the battery to reset the hardware.
A hard reset of a Chromebook restores it to its default settings and can be used to resolve problems like a frozen screen or sluggish performance. All information and settings on the device are deleted during this process.
Consequently, before beginning the reset process, it is crucial to back up all important files and ensure your Chromebook is either plugged in or has a battery charge of at least 50%.
Restoring your Chromebook to its factory defaults is like taking a deep breath. Setting up ChromeOS after a hard reset is easy because everything is stored in the cloud.
We sincerely hope this information was helpful, feel free to drop in your comments in the section below.