If your OnePlus 13R is freezing, stuck in a boot loop, riddled with malware, or you are about to sell it, a clean wipe is the surest fix. This guide walks you through an OnePlus 13R hard reset two ways: the simple route through OxygenOS Settings, and the recovery-mode route using the hardware buttons when the screen will not cooperate. Both erase everything on the phone and return it to factory condition, so read the preparation steps first.
When you need a hard reset
A factory reset is the right move when softer fixes have failed. Consider it if your 13R:
- Keeps crashing, lagging, or rebooting on its own after a software update.
- Is stuck on the OnePlus logo or stuck in a boot loop.
- Is locked by a forgotten PIN, password, or pattern (recovery method only).
- Is being sold, traded in, or given away and needs all personal data removed.
- Is bogged down by malware or settings you can no longer untangle.
If the phone still boots and the issue is minor, try clearing the cache or using recovery mode to fix your Android phone before erasing everything. A full wipe should be a last resort, not a first reflex.
Before you start
A hard reset deletes photos, messages, apps, accounts, and downloaded files permanently. Take a few minutes to prepare:
- Charge to at least 50%. A power loss mid-wipe can corrupt the system partition.
- Back up your data. Use OxygenOS Cloud or sync to your Google Account, and copy photos and files to a computer. Our guide to back up and restore Android devices covers the safest options.
- Know your Google login. Because of Factory Reset Protection (see below), you must remember the Google username and password already on the device.
Method 1 – factory reset from Settings
This is the cleanest way to perform an OnePlus 13R hard reset when the phone still turns on and you can unlock it. On OxygenOS 15 (Android 15):
- Open Settings.
- Tap System settings (sometimes shown simply as System).
- Tap Back up and reset.
- Tap Reset phone, then Erase all data (factory reset).
- Review the list of accounts and data that will be removed, then tap Erase all data.
- Enter your PIN, password, or pattern to confirm and let the phone reboot and wipe itself.
The process takes a few minutes. When it finishes, the 13R restarts to the initial setup screen, just as it looked out of the box.
Method 2 – hard reset from Recovery
Use this when the screen is unresponsive, the phone is stuck on the logo, or you cannot get past the lock screen. The OnePlus 13R uses the standard recovery button combo:
- Power the phone off completely. Hold the Power button and select Power off, or hold Power + Volume Up until it shuts down.
- With the phone off, press and hold Volume Down + Power together.
- Keep holding until the recovery screen appears, then release both buttons.
- If prompted, choose your language and enter your lock-screen PIN or password to authorize the wipe.
- Select Wipe data (factory reset) using the touchscreen, or use the volume keys to highlight and the power key to select if touch is unavailable.
- Confirm with Erase everything (or Format data).
- When the wipe completes, choose Reboot.
For brand-agnostic instructions you can keep handy, see our overview on how to hard reset any Android mobile.
A note on the Google FRP lock
OnePlus phones include Factory Reset Protection (FRP), Google’s anti-theft feature. After a reset, the 13R will ask you to sign in with the Google Account that was previously on the device. If you do not know those credentials, the phone stays locked and unusable, so confirm them before wiping. If the device was lost or stolen and you are the rightful owner, you can erase and sign out remotely first using Find My Device from Google. Should you later need to reconnect the phone to a computer for flashing or recovery tools, you may need to download Android USB drivers first.
Frequently asked questions
Will a hard reset remove the OxygenOS update on my OnePlus 13R?
No. A factory reset wipes your personal data and settings but keeps the current OxygenOS version installed. The phone stays on whatever Android 15 build it had before the reset; it does not roll back to older firmware.
What is the button combo to boot the OnePlus 13R into recovery?
With the phone fully powered off, press and hold Volume Down + Power at the same time until the recovery menu appears. You may be asked to enter your lock-screen PIN to authorize a data wipe before the options unlock.
Can I get back into the phone after a reset if I forgot my Google password?
Not easily. Factory Reset Protection requires the Google Account that was on the device before the wipe. Recover that password through Google’s account recovery page first, or sign the account out remotely with Find My Device, otherwise the 13R will stay locked at setup.
