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How to factory reset the LG G2 for better performance

LG G2 press
© LG

We raved about the LG G2, but it’s not immune to the bugs and other issues that all smartphone owners experience. If your G-phone is no longer a G-whiz, here’s how to factory reset the LG G2.

LG G2 press
The LG G2 is still a great phone. Resetting it can solve niggling problems. / © LG

We reckon the LG G2 was one of the very best smartphones of the last few years, and while it was released way back in 2013 - an eternity in smartphone years - many LG G2's are still going strong and delighting their owners each and every day.

Unfortunately, though, like any Android smartphone, over time the lumps, bumps and app-related bugs can take their toll and rob the G2 of its gee-whiz, causing stability issues and the odd performance problem. The good news is that in many cases, you can solve all of your problems with a hammer. Sorry, a reset. We meant reset. Don’t get a hammer.

How to reset the LG G2: there are two ways to do it

There are two ways to reset the LG G2: the hard way, which involves pressing buttons quite a lot, and the easy way, which involves pressing buttons a bit less. As you might have guessed, we like the second method the best.

lg g2 gold
You can reset the G2 in two ways: via the Settings menu or using the hardware buttons. / © LG/Americanas
  • How to speed up the LG G2

A very important reminder before you reset your LG G2 by any method

Back up. Back up. Back up! A reset returns your LG G2 to something like the state it was in on the day it came from the factory. So while it’ll still have any Android updates installed - you’re not going to be bounced back to Android Exciting Biscuit (or whatever version of Android it shipped with if you’ve updated it since), it won’t have your apps, your data, your passwords or that fantastic wallpaper picture you really like. If you don’t backup before performing a reset, people around you will soon discover terrible words they didn’t know you knew.

If you don’t already practice good backup, LG has made it easy. From your home screen go into Apps > LG Backup > Backup and tick the boxes for the things you want to back up. That backs up to your device, but a master reset will kill that, so you need to transfer it via USB to your computer. To do that:

  • Make your backup using the LG Backup app
  • Find a USB cable and plug it in three times until it goes in right (why does it always take three goes? It makes no sense!)
  • When your G2 prompts you to Select USB Connection Method, tap Media Sync
  • On your computer, navigate to your phone’s storage and look for the LGBackup folder
  • Copy it to your computer
  • Disconnect your phone
LG G2 sim card
Resetting won't affect your SIM card, but it does wipe the internal storage. / © ANDROIDPIT

How to reset your LG G2: the easy way

When we said it was easy, we weren’t kidding. Backup your data, and then:

  • Tap the Menu button
  • Go to System Settings
  • Go to General
  • Scroll to Personal
  • Tap Backup & Reset
  • Tap Factory Data Reset
  • Tap Reset Phone
  • Tap Erase Everything
  • Confirm that you want to go ahead
  • Under no circumstances remove the battery until your phone has finished resetting and rebooting unless you want to brick it.

If you can’t use that method because your phone isn’t booting, doesn’t stay on long enough or you just really like pressing hardware buttons, there’s a slightly less easy but still quite easy way to reset it:

How to reset your LG G2 the slightly less easy but still quite easy way

  • Switch off your G2 and make sure it isn’t connected to any USB things
  • Hold down the Power key and the Volume key for around 10 seconds until you see the LG logo
  • Release and then re-press the Power button
  • Wait until you see the Factory Hard Reset screen and then release the buttons
  • Press the Power button to select the reset option or use one of the volume keys to cancel
  • Press the Power button again to confirm
LG G2 power
Resetting via hardware means a bit of fiddling with these. / © ANDROIDPIT

Have you reset your LG G2 and found your hair more shiny, your teeth brighter and your disposition sunnier - or did you encounter a problem that even the nuclear option of a factory reset couldn’t fix? We’d love to know your experiences. Let us know in the comments!

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Gary Marshall

Gary Marshall
Freelance writer

Former lion tamer, Girls Aloud backing dancer and habitual liar Gary Marshall has been writing about technology since Google was two guys in a garage. He's written for many fine magazines, newspapers and websites, written a range of how-to-books and a novel, co-written a BBC documentary series and dishes out weekly tech advice on BBC Radio Scotland.

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6 comments
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  • 1
    Bill Rubin Sep 29, 2015 Link to comment

    So what does one do after the machine is wiped and shiny and new? Run the backup program again and restore from the file? Do all of the installed apps come back or do they need to be reinstalled?


  • 1
    Jessica Holl Sep 11, 2015 Link to comment

    I absolutely love my G2 as well, and this is why I'm very upset about what is happening. yesterday, completely out of the blue, it just went to the LG screen and that was it. ive never done any mods other than changing personal settings, so i have no idea why this happened.I did a factory reset last night and it was working seemingly normal for about 10 hours - then back to LG it went. Since then it just constantly reboots itself, never staying on the home screen for more than a few minutes. trying another factory reset now and hoping for the best. this sucks so much!


  • 2
    Tatiana Quintero May 4, 2015 Link to comment

    I had to hard reset my phone this past Saturday and found that the instructions were not right or at least not working for me. Somewhere in Net heaven someone suggested pressing Power and Down first, until LG logo, then releasing those two and immediately pressing Power and Up until the magic and long awaited for Factory Reset screen appeared. The necessary changes have to do with a Kit Kat update on certain phones, or sso my Net Angel commented.


    • Valer Batcu 1
      Valer Batcu Feb 8, 2018 Link to comment

      Many thanks!
      "Power + Down" first until LG logo, then releasing those two and immediately pressing "Power + Up" worked for me. The other combinations don't.


  • 6
    Xochitl Shatt May 3, 2015 Link to comment

    Yes i reset my LG G2 and found my hair shiny.


  • Carmelo Rivera 20
    Carmelo Rivera May 3, 2015 Link to comment

    I have soft-bricked my G2 many times, modding it and tweaking it and doing lots of things to it. You can customize and personalize this phone to your heart's content. I have used most of the custom ROMs out there. And my phone is as good as new, not even a scratch. This phone can handle anything you throw at it. I ❤ my G2.

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