There comes a time in every user’s life when they have to reset something back to its factory default. Perhaps the device is acting wonky and needs a fresh start, you’re getting rid of it, or you want a clean slate for some other reason. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to factory reset your Android TV box, regardless of the manufacturer.
The first thing you’ll want to do is jump into the Settings menu by heading to the bottom of the home screen and selecting the cog icon.
From there, find and select the “Storage & rest” option.
This menu is simple, as there are only two choices: “Internal storage” and “Factory data reset.” You want the latter.
Depending on which box you’re using, there could be a few options here. For example, Nexus Player will just offer “Full reset” and “Cancel” options, where NVIDIA’s SHIELD also has a “Fast reset“ option. Select the one that makes the most sense for your situation—if you plan on getting rid of the box completely, always do a ”Full reset.“
Once you’ve selected the desired option, there will be one more screen confirming that you’re sure that’s what you want to do. Select “OK” (or whatever the confirmation for your particular box is) to get started.
Depending on the amount of storage your device has, this could take quite a while. My 500GB SHIELD notes that a factory reset could take up to two hours. The good news is you don’t have to sit around and watch it—the process is pretty much on autopilot anyway. You could go outside or something. I hear it’s nice out there.
Factory resetting any Android device is simple, but an oft-necessary part of being a responsible owner. Even if you plan on keeping the box, it’s always good to know how to start fresh if things seems to be going awry.
