How to factory reset your Android phone without unlocking it first

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Recently, I set up a new Android phone to review. The process went exactly as expected, and I ended up with a phone configured with the unlock PIN I typically use for review phones. After an update, the phone required the PIN for unlocking, but no matter how many times I typed the PIN, it would not unlock. Something had gone wrong, and I needed to access the phone for the review. Fortunately, I had encountered this situation before and knew exactly what to do. My only option was to perform a factory reset, which meant I would need to set the phone up again. This wasn't too problematic, as I hadn't had much time to use the device yet. Had the phone been in use for months, however, it could have been a bigger issue. Also: Wiping your Android phone? Here's the easiest way to erase all personal data Factory resetting an Android device is not all that hard. This is especially true if you use a password manager for all your accounts, which means you do not have to worry ... Read full article.