Cache Partition Management

If your smartphone is not working correctly, you may need to master reset it. However, before doing so, you could try clearing the cache partition. While master resetting will wipe your personal data from the phone, wiping the cache does not result in personal data loss. To clear the cache:

  1. Turn off your smartphone
  2. Press and hold the "Volume Up", "Volume Down" and the "Power" buttons at the same time, for about 10 seconds
  3. After a while, an image of an Android lying on its back should appear
  4. Press the "Volume Down" key in order to navigate to "Recovery mode"
  5. Press the "Power" button to restart in "Recovery mode". An image of an Android with a red triangle should now appear on the screen
  6. While pressing the "Power" button, tap the "Volume Up" button
  7. The "Android System Recovery" screen should now appear. You should now release all buttons
  8. Use the volume buttons to scroll up / down, and highlight "wipe data cache partition"
  9. With "wipe data cache partition" highlighted, press the "Power" button
  10. Your phone should now restart

Master Resetting

WARNING! Master resetting your smartphone will result in loss of personal data stored on the phone's internal memory, such as ringtones, photos, contacts, downloaded content and applications. NOTE: master resetting your smartphone will not delete data stored on your SIM card.

Master Resetting Using the Settings Menu:

  1. If necessary, perform a backup on your apps, media and more. To learn how to back up and restore, please follow this link!
  2. While on the home screen, tap "All apps"
  3. Tap "Settings"
  4. Under "Personal", tap "Backup & reset"
  5. Tap "Factory data reset"
  6. In case your smartphone prompts you to do so, enter your PIN, password or security pattern
  7. Tap "Erase everything"

Master Resetting Using Hardware Keys:

If your phone is "bricked", frozen or can't boot all the way, you can try and reset your smartphone using the hardware buttons instead of the software menu. To do so:

  1. Back up all the data if necessary. To learn more on how to back up and restore, please visit this link!
  2. Turn off your smartphone
  3. Press and hold the "Volume Up", "Volume Down" and "Power" buttons simultaneously, for roughly 10 seconds. An image of an Android lying on its back should appear
  4. Press the "Volume Down" button until you reach "Recovery mode"
  5. Press the "Power" button to restart in "Recovery mode". An image of an Android with a red triangle should appear
  6. While holding down the "Power" button, tap "Volume Up"
  7. The "Android System Recovery" screen should appear. You should now release all buttons
  8. Use the volume buttons to scroll to and highlight "Wipe data / factory reset", then press the "Power" button to select
  9. Using the volume keys, highlight "Yes – erase all user data" and press the "Power" button to select
  10. Highlight "Reboot system now" using the volume buttons, and press the "Power" button to confirm
  11. The phone should now restart

Safe Mode

Assuming that you have installed a 3rd party application that is now preventing you from booting up your smartphone, you can restart in safe mode where 3rd party apps are disabled. Then, you can uninstall the application that causes these issues.

Enabling Safe Mode:

  1. Press the "Power" button
  2. Tap and hold the "Power off" option in the dialog box
  3. Tap "OK" in the next dialog box to boot your smartphone in safe mode
  4. Once in safe mode, access the "app drawer" and localize the app. Tap and hold, then uninstall the application

Turning Off Safe Mode:

  1. To exit safe mode, press and hold the "Power" button
  2. Tap "Power off"
  3. Press and hold the "Power" button once more


› See More: LG Nexus 5: Master Reset, Clear Cache Partition and Boot in Safe Mode