In some cases, data can be recovered after a factory reset, but it is not guaranteed. A factory reset is a process that restores a device to its original factory settings, effectively wiping out all user data and settings. The purpose of a factory reset is to erase personal information and return the device to a clean state.
When a factory reset is performed, the device’s storage media is usually formatted or overwritten with zeros, which can make data recovery more challenging. However, it’s important to understand that a factory reset does not always completely erase all data from the storage media.
In certain situations, especially with traditional hard disk drives, some remnants of data may still be recoverable using specialised data recovery techniques. However, the chances of successful data recovery after a factory reset are significantly reduced compared to other data loss scenarios.
On the other hand, modern SSDs often use encryption and wear levelling, which make data recovery after a factory reset nearly impossible without the correct encryption key.
If you accidentally performed a factory reset and need to recover important data, it’s crucial to immediately stop using the device to prevent further data overwriting. Then, consult a professional data recovery service that specialises in handling such cases to assess the possibility of data recovery and explore potential options.