How-to

Reset a Zebra Android device: TC22, TC53e, MC3400, MC9400, ET401

Restart, hard reset, Enterprise Reset and Factory Reset on Zebra TC22/TC27, TC53e/TC58e, TC501/TC701, MC3400, MC9400, ET401, ET60/ET65 and VC8300: what each one erases and the keys for each device.

15 min Difficulty: Medium Updated: By SCANSHOP team
In this guide

    Zebra Android devices have four levels of reset, from a simple restart that keeps everything to a Factory Reset that wipes the device completely. This guide covers the TC22/TC27, TC53e/TC58e, TC501/TC701, MC3400/MC3450 and MC9400/MC9450, the ET401 and ET60/ET65 tablets and the VC8300 vehicle computer.

    Which reset do you need?

    Reset When to use it What happens to your data
    Restart (soft reset) An app or the device is slow or misbehaving Everything is kept
    Hard reset The device has stopped responding Installed apps and saved data are kept, but unsaved work in open apps can be lost; a fitted microSD card can be damaged
    Enterprise Reset Prepare a device for a new user while keeping company configuration Erases all user data in the /data partition, including internal storage (/sdcard). Keeps the /enterprise folder.
    Factory Reset Return the device to factory-fresh condition, for example before selling or returning it Erases /data, /cache and /enterprise. A removable microSD card is not erased.

    Differences between the devices

    Device Hard reset Open recovery mode (during restart) Move / select in recovery mode
    TC22, TC27 Power + Volume Up, at least 4 seconds Hold PTT until the device vibrates Volume Up / Volume Down; Power
    TC53e, TC58e, TC501, TC701 Power + left scan button + Volume Up, at least 4 seconds Hold PTT until the device vibrates Volume Up / Volume Down; Power
    MC3400, MC3450 See the note in step 2 Hold the trigger (gun) or the right scan key (straight shooter) until the device vibrates Up and down arrow keys; Enter
    MC9400, MC9450 Trigger + Power + keypad Scan, at least 6 seconds Hold Trigger until the device vibrates Up and down arrow keys; Enter or Power (see step 4)
    ET401 Power + Volume Up + top scan button Hold Volume Up + Power until the Zebra logo appears, release Power and keep holding Volume Up Volume Up / Volume Down; Power
    ET60, ET65 Power + Scan (on the back) + Volume Up, at least 4 seconds Hold P3 until the recovery screen appears + / -; Power
    VC8300 Hold Power for at least 16 seconds Reset package via USB drive or ADB only: see our VC8300 troubleshooting guide Follow Zebra's VC8300 reference guide

    Before you erase anything

    Important

    Remove any personal Google account from the device before an Enterprise or Factory Reset. Google's Factory Reset Protection can otherwise ask for that account's password after a reset that was not started from Settings. Zebra says that if the account details are lost, the device has to go to Zebra for repair to clear it.

    • If your company manages the device with an EMM (MDM) or Zebra StageNow, ask IT first. Depending on their setup, the device re-applies its saved configuration after an Enterprise Reset or has to be enrolled again.
    • Back up anything you need from internal storage. Zebra recommends preparing the configuration files you need and restoring them after an Enterprise Reset.
    • Charge the battery or put the device in its cradle.

    Restart the device

    1. Press and hold Power until the menu appears.
    2. Touch Restart.

    This works the same on all models and keeps all apps, data and settings. Try it first for any freeze or app problem.

    Force a hard reset if the screen is frozen

    Use a hard reset only when the device no longer reacts to the screen or the Power menu. Remove a microSD card or USB drive first: Zebra warns that a hard reset can damage or corrupt it.

    Press the keys from the table above at the same time for the time given. Release them when the screen turns off, or on the MC9400 and VC8300 when the Zebra logo appears. The device restarts.

    MC3400: Zebra's MC3400 guide gives Power + left scan button + Volume Up for at least 4 seconds. This does not match the MC3400's keys: it has no separate volume buttons (volume is a keypad shortcut), and the gun model has a trigger instead of side scan buttons. If your MC3400 is completely frozen, contact us first.

    Run an Enterprise Reset from Settings

    1. Open Settings › System › Reset options › Erase all data (enterprise reset).
    2. Touch Erase all data, then touch it again to confirm.
    3. The device erases user data, restarts and opens the setup wizard.

    Zebra documents this path for the TC22, TC27, MC3400, MC9400, ET60 and ET65. If the menu names differ slightly on your Android version, look under Settings › System.

    • ET401, TC501 and TC701: Zebra's guides name the last entry Erase all data (factory reset) but call the result an Enterprise Reset. Check the label on your device. If the /enterprise folder must survive, use the Enterprise Reset package instead, or contact us.
    • TC53e, TC58e and VC8300: Zebra's guides describe the Enterprise Reset only with a reset package, so use the next step.

    Zebra describes the full Factory Reset only with a reset package on all these models.

    Reset from recovery mode with a reset package

    Use this for a Factory Reset, or for an Enterprise Reset when Settings does not offer it. You need a microSD card (some models also accept a USB drive) and the reset package for your exact model.

    1. Download the Enterprise Reset or Factory Reset package for your exact model from Zebra's support page, for example the MC3400 support page.
    2. Format the microSD card in the device, then copy the ZIP file to the root of the card, using a computer or by connecting the device by USB. On the ET401, ET60 and ET65 you can instead copy it to the root of a USB drive and plug the drive in.
    3. Press and hold Power and touch Restart.
    4. Straight away, use the recovery keys from the table above. The System Recovery screen appears.
    5. Move to Apply upgrade from SD card (with a USB drive: apply update from USB drive on the ET401, Apply upgrade from USB drive on the ET60 and ET65) and select it.
    6. On the MC3400, move to Full OTA Package and press Enter. On the MC9400, select Full OTA Package, then move to the reset file and press Power. On the other models, move to the reset file and press Power.
    7. Wait while the reset runs. The device returns to the recovery screen.
    8. Select Reboot system now on the MC3400, or press Power on the other models, to restart.
    Note

    Zebra's MC9400 steps select menu entries with Enter on some pages and with Power on others. If Enter does nothing in recovery mode, press Power.

    After the reset

    After an Enterprise or Factory Reset, the device starts the setup wizard with the "Hi there" screen. Set it up again with the setup guide for your model: TC22/TC27, TC53e/TC58e, MC3400, MC9400, ET401, TC501/TC701, ET60/ET65 or VC8300. Then test scanning in your own app. If your scan settings are gone, our DataWedge setup guide shows how to set them up again. If the problem returns, see troubleshooting for the TC53e/TC58e, MC9400, ET401, TC501/TC701, ET60/ET65 or VC8300.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the difference between an Enterprise Reset and a Factory Reset?

    Both erase user data and apps. An Enterprise Reset keeps the /enterprise folder, where companies store configuration that should survive. A Factory Reset also erases /enterprise and returns the device to factory-fresh condition.

    Does a restart or hard reset delete my data?

    No. Both restart Android and keep your installed apps and saved data, though unsaved work in open apps can be lost. Remove the microSD card before a hard reset, as it can be damaged.

    Why does my Zebra device ask for a Google account after a reset?

    That is Google's Factory Reset Protection. It appears when a personal Google account was on the device during a reset not started from Settings. Enter that account's details, or contact us if they are not known.

    Can I factory reset a Zebra device from Settings?

    Most models offer an Enterprise Reset in Settings; Zebra documents none for the TC53e, TC58e and VC8300. For a full Factory Reset, Zebra describes its Factory Reset package, installed in recovery mode from a microSD card (or a USB drive on some models) or with ADB.

    Why does the hard reset not work on my Zebra device?

    The keys and the hold time differ by model, so check the table above. Press all keys at the same time.

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