If you have an Android device and it’s not working the way you want it to, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the problem. But if that doesn’t work, there’s one last resort: unbricking your device. Unbricking is a term used to describe restoring a device from a bootloader or factory reset state. This is different from rooting, which is the process of gaining administrative privileges on your Android device. Rooting allows you to install custom applications and change system settings. There are two ways to unbrick an Android device: using a computer and using an app called ClockworkMod (CWM). CWM is available for free on Google Play, but it’s not always easy to find. If you don’t have CWM or don’t want to use it, you can use the instructions below with any other method. To unbrick your Android device using a computer:

  1. Turn off your phone and disconnect all cables.
  2. Boot your phone into recovery mode by pressing and holding down the “Power” button and selecting “Recovery Mode” from the menu that pops up when you press the “Power” button again. (If you’re using an older phone with no physical buttons, try this instead: hold down the “Volume Down” button while turning on your phone.) (If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, try this instead: hold down both of the buttons at once—the home button and the side button—while turning on your phone.)
  3. When in recovery mode, choose “Wipe Data/Factory Reset.”
  4. Choose “Reboot System Now.” ..