Before selling your Chromebook, you should clear your personal data from the device. One of the easiest ways to do this is by performing a factory reset. On Chromebooks, this is called a ‘Powerwash’. Not only does a Powerwash clear your data from the Chromebook, but it also logs you out of all your saved accounts on the device. Here are the top 4 ways to factory reset or Powerwash your Chromebook.
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In This Article
When should you factory reset your Chromebook
Powerwashing your Chromebook is essential before selling it to another party. It can also come in handy when you’re experiencing trouble with the device. However, this function should be reserved for exceptional cases as it completely wipes out the data on the device, logs you out of your accounts, and restores all customised settings. Here are some scenarios where Powerwashing your Chromebook may be valid:
- The Chromebook is having trouble booting up
- You frequently encounter glitches, stutters, and errors
- The Chromebook displays a message asking you to reset it
- You want to make sure the issue plaguing the device isn’t related to the software
Factory reset or Powerwash your Chromebook from the login page
Step 1: Sign out of your Chromebook.
Step 2: Upon landing on the login page, press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.
Step 3: Hit Restart.
Step 4: Select Powerwash and then click Continue.
Step 5: Once the Chromebook has been reset, log in using your Google Account.
Factory reset or Powerwash your Chromebook using settings
Step 1: Click the cog wheel icon in the quick settings menu to go to device settings.
Step 2: Expand the Advanced option in the left sidebar.
Step 3: Click on Reset settings.
Step 4: Hit Reset.
Step 5: Hit Restart in the popup box.
Factory reset or Powerwash your Chromebook when it is frozen
Step 1: Press and hold the power button until the device shuts off. Wait for 5 seconds after shutdown.
Step 2: Press and hold Esc + Refresh.
Step 3: Press and hold the power button. Release when you enter the Recovery Mode.
Step 4: Press Ctrl + D to go to Developer Options.
Step 5: Hit Enter to turn OS verification off.
Step 6: Follow the onscreen instructions. Your device will factory reset in 5-10 minutes.
Factory reset or Powerwash your Chromebook by changing the channel
Step 1: Click the clock tile at the bottom right corner of the screen and hit the Settings tile in the system tray.
Step 2: Select About Chrome OS from the sidebar.
Step 3: Scroll down and select Additional details.
Step 4: Click on Change channel.
Step 5: Select Beta or Developer.
Step 6: Hit Change channel and Powerwash.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does Powerwashing mean on Chromebook?
Performing a factory reset is called ‘Powerwash’ in Chromebook. A powerwash wipes all your data from the device and restores it to the settings it had out of the box.
How do I Powerwash my Chromebook?
Go to Settings>Advanced>Reset settings>Reset>Restart to Powerwash your Chromebook.
How do I hard reset my Chromebook?
If your Chromebook stops responding, press and hold the Power and Refresh buttons to perform a hard reset of the device. A hard reset does not wipe the data from the device; it simply reboots it.
What is the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop?
A Chromebook is a laptop that run's Google's lightweight ChromeOS. Chromebooks don't pack as much power as traditional laptops, and have comparatively less storage.
How do I update a Chromebook?
Go to Settings>About Chrome OS and click on ‘Check for Updates’. The latest OS version will start downloading automatically. Once it has downloaded, restart your device.
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Conclusion
These are the top 4 ways to factory reset or ‘Powerwash’ your Chromebook. If your Chromebook is frozen and doesn’t respond to anything, a hard reset might be in order. This will simply restart your device without clearing the data. You can perform a hard reset by long-pressing the power and refresh buttons.
