Does a factory reset delete everything on a Chromebook?

It deletes everything stored on the Chromebook itself. That means apps, settings, accounts and the Downloads folder. Google says files saved in Google Drive or on an external drive are not deleted.

How do I factory reset a Chromebook without the password?

Use the keyboard shortcut from the sign in screen. Press and hold Ctrl, Alt, Shift and R, select Restart, then Powerwash and Continue. You do not have to sign in first.

Is a hard reset the same as a factory reset on a Chromebook?

No. Google says a hard reset restarts the hardware, like the keyboard and touchpad. It may delete some files in Downloads, but it does not wipe the Chromebook. Powerwash is the factory reset.

How do I factory reset a school Chromebook?

You cannot do it yourself. Google says a work or school Chromebook has to be wiped and enrolled again by its administrator. Ask the school's tech staff.

What do I do if my Chromebook says ChromeOS is missing or damaged?

Restart it first. If the message stays, use recovery mode. Press and hold Esc and Refresh, tap Power, then choose Recover using internet connection. If that option is not there, make a recovery USB drive of 8 GB or more on another computer.

Who owns the Chromebook after a Powerwash?

The first Google Account that signs in. Google says that account becomes the owner account. If you are selling it, shut it down at the welcome screen and let the buyer sign in.

Factory Reset a Chromebook With Powerwash, Not a Hard Reset

You are holding a Chromebook you want to wipe. Maybe it is slow and acting strange. Maybe you sold it and the buyer is on the way. You search for a reset and find three key combos that all look the same.

They are not the same. Only one of them wipes the Chromebook. Google calls it Powerwash. It takes a few taps from the sign in screen. The work that matters comes before it.

Three Resets That Sound Alike

Chromebooks have three kinds of reset. Pick the right one for the job.

Hard reset. Turn the Chromebook off. Press and hold Refresh, then tap Power. Google says this restarts the hardware, like the keyboard and touchpad. It may delete some files in Downloads. It does not wipe the device.
Powerwash. This is the factory reset. Google says it erases the hard drive, including settings, apps and files in Downloads. Your Google Drive files stay where they are.
Recovery. This puts a fresh copy of ChromeOS on the Chromebook. Google says it is for the error that says ChromeOS is missing or damaged. It erases everything on the drive too.

A frozen keyboard calls for a hard reset. A buggy profile or a sale calls for Powerwash. A Chromebook that will not start ChromeOS at all calls for recovery.

Google suggests two small steps before a full wipe. Turn off your Chrome extensions one at a time and check after each one. Then try a hard reset. If the problem is still there, Powerwash.

Check Whether It Is a School or Work Chromebook

Do this before anything else. It saves you a wasted hour.

Google says you cannot reset a work or school Chromebook yourself. The admin has to wipe the data and enroll the device again. Dell's guide says plainly not to use its reset steps on a managed device.

Did a school or an employer hand you this Chromebook? Then treat it as managed. Stop here and ask the tech staff.

Back Up Before You Wipe

A Powerwash cannot be undone. Anything stored only on the Chromebook is gone after it. Go through this list first.

The Downloads folder. Open the Files app. Move anything you want to Google Drive or a USB drive. Google says files already in Drive or on external storage are not deleted.
Linux apps and files. If you turned on Linux, those files are on the device. Google's steps are Settings, then Advanced, then Developers, then Linux, then Back up and restore. Click Back up and save the file under My files. It ends in .tini. Then copy that file to Drive or a USB drive, or the Powerwash erases it with everything else.
Settings and bookmarks. Sync turns these into part of your Google Account. Google tells you to sync before a reset. They come back when you sign in again.
Android app data. Some apps keep their saves only on the device. Open each app you care about and check its own backup or sign in option.

Plug the Chromebook in before you start, so it does not shut off halfway.

How to Powerwash a Chromebook Step by Step

The keyboard shortcut works on every Chromebook with a keyboard. You do not have to be signed in. Google's steps are short.

Sign out of the Chromebook.
On the sign in screen, press and hold Ctrl, Alt, Shift and R.
Select Restart.
In the box that appears, select Powerwash, then Continue.
Follow the steps on the screen and sign in with your Google Account.

That last step matters. Google says the account you sign in with becomes the owner account.

You can also start from Settings. ASUS lists the path as the status bar at the bottom right, then Settings, then Advanced, then Reset settings. Under Powerwash, click Reset, then Restart. The menu names move around between ChromeOS versions. If you cannot find it, type Powerwash in the search box at the top of Settings.

Some Chromebooks fold into a tablet with no keyboard attached. ASUS gives a button method for its detachable models. Hold Power, Volume Up and Volume Down for about 10 seconds, then follow its menu steps. Check your maker's support page for your model.

Reset a Chromebook That Will Not Start

If you see the message that ChromeOS is missing or damaged, Powerwash will not help. You need recovery mode. Google's recovery page lays it out.

Unplug anything attached, like a mouse or a USB drive.
Press and hold Esc and Refresh, then press Power. Let go of Power, then the other keys when a message appears.
On some models the combo is Esc and Maximize instead.
On a Chromebook tablet, hold Volume Up, Volume Down and Power for at least 10 seconds.
Choose Recover using internet connection and follow the steps.

No internet option? Make a recovery drive on another computer. You need Chrome, the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension and a USB drive of at least 8 GB that you can erase. Open the extension, pick your model or type the model number from the error screen, and click Create now. Then choose Recover using external disk on the broken Chromebook.

Google adds one warning. Older Chromebooks that no longer get updates may not support recovery.

Selling or Giving It Away

A Chromebook keeps very little on the device. That makes handing one on easy. Do it in this order.

Check the update date. Google says ChromeOS devices get 10 years of updates from the platform release date. It lists the end date by maker and model. A buyer will ask.
Back up, then Powerwash. Use the steps above.
Stop at the welcome screen. Do not sign in again. Shut it down. The buyer signs in and becomes the owner.
Remove it from your Google Account. Go to myaccount.google.com, then Security and sign in, then Manage all devices. Google's steps say to tap the device, then Sign out.

Advice to Ignore

"Hold Refresh and Power to factory reset it." That is the hard reset. It restarts the keyboard and touchpad. Your files, apps and accounts are still there afterward.

"Press Ctrl and D on the recovery screen to wipe it." That switches the Chromebook into developer mode. The ChromiumOS developer docs say the switch does wipe the device, but it also makes the device less secure and lets it run software Google did not sign. Google does not support those changes. Use Powerwash instead.

"Powerwash will get you past the school lock." It will not. Google says only the admin can wipe and re-enroll a managed Chromebook. Dell warns its reset steps are not for managed devices at all.

"Recovery mode first, to be safe." Recovery is for a Chromebook that cannot start ChromeOS. If yours starts, Powerwash does the job with far fewer steps.

If your Chromebook works but the screen keeps blinking, try the steps for a flickering Chromebook screen before you wipe anything. If a slow laptop is the reason for the reset, the slow computer guide covers the cheaper fixes. Before you hand the Chromebook on, back up your photos and files somewhere you trust.

From the Inbox

Does a factory reset delete everything on a Chromebook?: It deletes everything stored on the Chromebook itself. That means apps, settings, accounts and the Downloads folder. Google says files saved in Google Drive or on an external drive are not deleted.
How do I factory reset a Chromebook without the password?: Use the keyboard shortcut from the sign in screen. Press and hold Ctrl, Alt, Shift and R, select Restart, then Powerwash and Continue. You do not have to sign in first.
Is a hard reset the same as a factory reset on a Chromebook?: No. Google says a hard reset restarts the hardware, like the keyboard and touchpad. It may delete some files in Downloads, but it does not wipe the Chromebook. Powerwash is the factory reset.
How do I factory reset a school Chromebook?: You cannot do it yourself. Google says a work or school Chromebook has to be wiped and enrolled again by its administrator. Ask the school's tech staff.
What do I do if my Chromebook says ChromeOS is missing or damaged?: Restart it first. If the message stays, use recovery mode. Press and hold Esc and Refresh, tap Power, then choose Recover using internet connection. If that option is not there, make a recovery USB drive of 8 GB or more on another computer.
Who owns the Chromebook after a Powerwash?: The first Google Account that signs in. Google says that account becomes the owner account. If you are selling it, shut it down at the welcome screen and let the buyer sign in.

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