Easy Steps to Reset and Restore Your Raspberry Pi to Factory Settings

A guide on how to reset your Raspberry Pi to factory settings, allowing you to start from a clean slate and troubleshoot any issues that may be causing problems with your device. …


Updated October 9, 2023

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A guide on how to reset your Raspberry Pi to factory settings, allowing you to start from a clean slate and troubleshoot any issues that may be causing problems with your device.

  1. Locate the recovery.bin file on your SD card:

    • Insert your SD card into a computer and open it using a file explorer or command line interface.
    • Navigate to the boot partition (usually labeled as BOOT).
    • If you can’t find recovery.bin, download it from the official Raspberry Pi website and copy it to your SD card’s boot partition.

  2. Power off your Raspberry Pi:

    • Unplug any peripherals, including USB devices, HDMI cables or monitors, and power adapters.
    • Hold down the power button for 5-10 seconds to ensure the device is completely off.

  3. Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi:

    • Ensure that the SD card’s boot partition is visible on the device and insert it into the correct slot.

  4. Hold down the RESET button on your Raspberry Pi:

    • Locate the small reset hole next to the USB ports on your Raspberry Pi, and press and hold the button for around 5 seconds.

  5. Release the RESET button and wait for the LED light to flash:

    • Once you release the button, the LED lights should start flashing, indicating that the device is in recovery mode.

  6. Wait for the reset process to complete:

    • The reset process will take a few minutes to complete. Once it’s finished, the LED light will stop flashing and your Raspberry Pi will be back to its factory settings.

  7. Reconnect your peripherals and power up your device:

    • Connect any USB devices or HDMI cables, and plug in the power adapter. Wait for the Raspberry Pi to boot up.

Your Raspberry Pi is now reset and restored to factory settings. You can use this method to troubleshoot issues or start from scratch if necessary. Remember that resetting your device will erase all data on it, so make sure to back up any important files beforehand.