How to reset a TV: from a quick restart to a factory reset
A factory reset deletes your apps and sign-ins, so the makers all say to try the lighter resets first. Work down this page in order, and stop as soon as the problem is gone. The menu path for your brand and year is in the sections below.
Updated 18 October 2026
Reset in this order
- Restart. On many TVs you hold the power button on the remote for a few seconds. It deletes nothing. Our guide to a TV that is frozen or slow has the steps for each brand.
- Power cycle. Unplug the TV, wait, and plug it back in. Sony says this usually keeps all settings.
- A lighter reset. Reset only the picture or the sound, or on a Samsung the Smart Hub. Your channels and most settings stay.
- Factory reset. Everything back to the state it left the factory in. Sony calls it the last resort, and Google says to try other steps first.
Before a factory reset
- Know your PIN. Most Samsung TVs use 0000 unless you changed it. LG asks for a password only if the TV lock is on, and LG Canada gives 0000 as the default. Sony asks for the parental lock PIN you set yourself and has no default. TCL and Philips may also ask for a PIN.
- Note your Wi-Fi password. Samsung UK advises it, even though Samsung's US and Australian pages say the reset keeps the network settings. Sony and TCL say their reset clears the Wi-Fi settings.
- Have your streaming logins ready. You sign in to every app again afterwards.
- Unplug USB drives. Sony asks for this before a reset.
- Close every app. On a Samsung the reset is not available while an app is open, so switch to a TV channel or an HDMI input first.
What a factory reset deletes
| TV | What goes, in the maker's words |
|---|---|
| Samsung | The Samsung account and all downloaded apps. The network settings stay, according to Samsung US and Australia. |
| LG | Installed apps, account sign-ins and personal settings. Some 2024 and newer models can keep the network settings. |
| Sony | All settings, channels, the Google account, downloaded apps, Wi-Fi and the parental lock. |
| Google TV | All your data on the device. |
| Roku TV | All apps and account information. The TV is unlinked from your Roku account. |
| Fire TV | All downloaded content, including in-app purchases. |
| Panasonic (older Viera) | Picture calibration and network accounts. Software updates stay. |
Samsung
The factory reset sits in a different place depending on the year of your TV. Our Samsung model number guide tells you the year from the code on the back.
| Year | Factory reset |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, Factory data reset |
| 2023 and 2024 | Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, Factory data reset or Reset |
| 2022 | Home, Menu, Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, Reset |
| 2017 to 2021 | Settings, General, Reset |
| 2016 | Settings, Support, Self Diagnosis, Reset |
| 2015 | MENU/123, Menu, Support, Self Diagnosis, Reset |
| 2013 and 2014 | Support, Self Diagnosis, Reset |
Enter the PIN, 0000 if you never changed it. If the TV is online, a Samsung service center can also reset it remotely through Settings, Support, Remote Management.
Lighter resets. Reset Picture and Reset Sound are under Expert Settings in the picture and sound menus. Resetting the Smart Hub signs you out of all apps and your Samsung account, and removes every app that did not come with the TV. On 2022 to 2024 models it is under Settings, All Settings, Support, Device Care, Self Diagnosis, Reset Smart Hub; on 2020 and 2021 models under Settings, Support, Device Care, Self Diagnosis, Reset Smart Hub; on 2025 models under Device Care, Reset Smart Hub; on 2016 to 2019 models under Settings, Support, Self Diagnosis, Reset Smart Hub. It does not work from inside an app either.
Without a remote. Samsung describes no factory reset without a remote. The button on the TV opens a small menu, but Samsung says it cannot reach every setting. The SmartThings app on your phone can stand in for the remote, and so can our TV Remote app.
LG
| Year | Factory reset |
|---|---|
| 2021 and newer (webOS 6.0 and later) | Settings button, All Settings, General, System, Reset to Initial Settings |
| 2020 (webOS 5.0) | Settings button, All Settings, Support, Reset to Initial Settings |
| 2019 and older (webOS 4.5 and earlier) | Settings button, All Settings, General, Reset to Initial Settings |
On webOS 24 and 25 you get two choices: Reset All, which also clears the network settings, and Reset all except network settings. LG asks for a password only if the TV lock is on. Our LG model number guide tells you the year of your TV.
Lighter resets. All Settings, Picture, Advanced Settings, Reset, and the same under Sound. LG says these keep your apps, channels and LG account.
Without a remote. The button on an LG TV opens an on-screen menu that includes Settings. The LG ThinQ app works as a remote with a pointer. LG describes no factory reset with the TV's buttons alone.
Sony
- Google TV: Quick Settings or HOME, Settings, System, About, Reset, then Factory reset or Factory data reset, Erase everything.
- Android TV: HOME, Settings, Device Preferences, Reset (on some models Device Preferences, About, Reset, or Storage & Reset), Factory data reset, Erase everything.
The TV asks for the parental lock PIN you set. Sony says a power reset usually keeps settings, so try it first.
Without a remote, or with a forgotten PIN. Sony has a forced factory reset with the buttons on the TV, for Android 6.0 and later. Sony says to use the menu instead if you can reach it, and that you may need a second person. Unplug the TV, then:
- One button on the TV: hold Power, plug the TV back in, and keep holding until the white light appears, after about 10 to 30 seconds.
- Three buttons on the TV: hold Power and Volume Down together, plug the TV back in, and keep holding until the light turns green, or amber on some models.
On 2019 and older models, the welcome screen appears twice: do not set up the first one. Sony says the forced reset also clears a forgotten PIN.
Google TV and Android TV: TCL, Philips and others
- Google TV in general: Settings, System, About, Factory reset. Google says the steps vary by maker, and to try other fixes first.
- TCL with Google TV: Settings, System, About, Factory reset. It may ask for a PIN. Without the menu, TCL uses Recovery Mode: hold the TV's power button while you plug it in, then choose Wipe Data/Factory Reset. If Recovery Mode does not appear, unplug the TV for 5 to 10 minutes and try again.
- TCL with Android TV: Home, Settings, Device Preferences, Reset, Factory data reset, Erase everything.
- Philips with Google TV: Home, Dashboard, Settings, System, About, Reset. Factory settings resets only picture, sound and Ambilight, and keeps the channels and network. Factory reset reinstalls the whole TV and may ask for the PIN.
Hisense, Roku TV, Fire TV and Panasonic
- Hisense with VIDAA: Settings, Support, Factory Reset, according to the 2021 manual. Hisense USA says its newer Roku and Android TVs have a reset button on the back: hold it for 15 seconds. The picture and sound modes can also be reset on their own.
- Roku TV: Settings, System, Advanced system settings, Factory reset, Factory reset everything. Without the menu, hold the Reset button for 12 seconds. On a Roku Pro Series TV, hold Power and Find My Remote on the side for 12 seconds.
- Fire TV smart TVs: Settings, Device & Software, Reset to Factory Defaults. With the remote you can also hold Back and Right together for 10 seconds. Without a working remote, Amazon uses recovery mode: hold the power button on the TV while you plug it in.
- Panasonic (older Viera models): Setup, System, Factory default. Labels vary by series. On some 2013 to 2019 models without a working menu, hold Volume Down on the TV and MENU on the remote for more than five seconds.
When a reset will not help
Samsung says a reset cannot fix physical damage or failed parts. If one app still fails after a restart, an update, a reinstall and a Smart Hub reset, Samsung says the TV is ruled out: contact the app's maker. If the problem is still there after a factory reset, Sony and LG point to their support, and LG UK notes that an engineer visit costs money once the warranty has run out.
Questions people ask
How do I factory reset my Samsung TV?
On 2023 to 2025 models go to Settings, All Settings, General & Privacy, Factory data reset or Reset. On 2017 to 2021 models it is Settings, General, Reset. Enter the PIN, which is 0000 unless you changed it. Close any open app first, because the reset is not available while one is running.
How do I reset my TV without a remote?
It depends on the brand. Sony has a forced reset with the TV's buttons: unplug it, hold Power (and Volume Down if there are three buttons) and plug it back in. TCL uses Recovery Mode, Roku TVs a Reset button held for 12 seconds. Samsung and LG describe no reset without a remote, but a phone app can stand in for it.
What is the PIN for a TV factory reset?
Most Samsung TVs use 0000 unless you changed it, and LG Canada gives 0000 for LG TVs with the TV lock on. Sony asks for the parental lock PIN you set yourself and has no default. If you forgot it, Sony's forced reset with the TV buttons clears the PIN.
What does a factory reset delete?
Your apps, your sign-ins and your settings. Samsung deletes the Samsung account and downloaded apps, and its US and Australian pages say the network settings stay. Sony also deletes channels, the Google account and Wi-Fi. Some 2024 and newer LG TVs let you keep the network settings.
Will a factory reset fix a slow TV?
Sometimes, but try the lighter steps first: a restart, a power cycle, clearing the app cache and a software update. Sony calls the factory reset the last resort. Samsung says a reset cannot fix physical damage or failed parts.
Sources
Every step on this page comes from the makers' own support pages and manuals:
- Samsung: factory reset by year, resetting a Samsung TV, reset and PIN, Smart Hub reset, without a remote, apps not working
- LG: factory reset by year, reset options, password, picture and sound reset, TV button
- Sony: factory data reset, types of reset, forced reset with the TV buttons, Help Guide
- Google: restart and reset, unresponsive device
- TCL: Google TV reset, Android TV reset
- Philips: ways of resetting
- Others: Hisense 55A6GV manual, Hisense USA, Roku, Fire TV reset, Fire TV without a remote, Panasonic