Last Updated on August 5, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

Smartphone operating systems might not always be as easy to navigate as desktop OSs—finding files nested on the Android operating system can sometimes be a complex task in comparison to using File Explorer on the Windows operating system—but one thing that does work in their favor is problem-solving.

Rarely do you ever have to spend time trying to figure out the solution to a problem with the Google Pixel 2 smartphone because most things can be fixed by simply taking a hard reset instead, a bit like utilizing a get out of jail free card.

Despite many people saying otherwise, a hard reset and a factory reset on the Google Pixel 2 device will yield the same outcomes: the phone will be restored to its default, factory state on both occasions. In other words, the same state that it was in when it left the factory responsible for manufacturing it. This means you shouldn’t expect to find any applications that you installed yourself still on the device. Any settings that you changed will be returned to how they were when you first opened the Google Pixel 2 out of the box too. And, of course, unless you took a backup, all the data that you accumulated—pictures, documents, music, so forth—will no longer be available once the hard reset is complete.

There are numerous similarities between computers and smartphones: they are made up of many of the same components, and all have the same heart, veins, and brain, so to speak. When it comes to resetting the software though, there are some differences. A modern-day computer operating system will offer three ways to reset: rebooting the OS, force-closing all open applications and forcing a reboot, and then a third way, which will return the device to its factory state, if desired. The mobile operating system offers the factory reset option, and the only alternative being the soft reset, which is the same as a straightforward reboot of the operating system.

You shouldn’t worry about a hard reset causing any harm to your Google Pixel 2 smartphone; provided that you’ve backed up any data that you didn’t want to lose, very little else can go wrong.

This guide is also suitable for anyone who wants to learn:

  • How to factory reset Google Pixel 2 smartphones.
  • How to wipe all data on Google Pixel 2 smartphones.
  • How to bypass screen lock on Google Pixel 2 smartphones.
  • How to restore defaults on Google Pixel 2 smartphones.
  • How to master reset Google Pixel 2 smartphones.

This is what you need to do to apply a hard reset by using the hardware keys and the settings that already come with your device.

How to Hard Reset Google Pixel 2

1. Hold the Power button on the Google Pixel 2 to turn it off completely.

2. Once switched off, press and hold the Volume Down button for about three seconds.

3. Keeping the Volume Down button firmly pressed, use another finger to press the Power button down for about a further three seconds.

4. Once the six seconds has elapsed, release both the Power and Volume Down keys simultaneously.

5. From the Restart Bootloader screen, select the “Recovery” option from the menu. (Scroll with the Volume buttons and confirm the option by pressing the “Power” button.

6. When the Android logo appears, hold down the Power button for about two seconds.

7. Keeping the Power button pressed in, quickly press the Volume Up button.

8. Navigating with the Volume buttons, highlight the “Wipe data/factory reset” option and then confirm the action with the Power button.

9. Using the Volume and Power buttons for navigating and selecting, highlight and choose the “Yes–delete all user data” option from the next screen.

10. Wait for the Google Pixel 2 smartphone to erase all personal data and customized settings.

11. When complete, select the “Reboot system now” option to reboot the device.

The Google Pixel 2 has been hard reset.

Applying a hard reset is probably one of the more commonly exchanged phrases for when people are referring to implementing a factory reset, but the same guide above is also good for a few other causes. The same steps would also work if you just wanted to wipe all of the data on your Google Pixel 2 smartphone, for instance. Likewise, you could also use the same steps for bypassing the screen lock or just to restore the defaults on the Google Pixel 2 device.

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