To format (factory reset) your Lenovo Chromebook, you'll need to access the settings menu. Here's how:
- Open Settings: Click on the time displayed in the bottom-right corner of your screen. This will open a quick settings panel.
- Navigate to Reset: From the quick settings panel, find and click on the "Settings" icon (it looks like a gear).
- Find Advanced Settings: Within the Settings menu, look for "Advanced" settings (often found at the bottom of the left sidebar or at the bottom of the main settings page). Click to expand the Advanced options.
- Powerwash: Within the Advanced settings, locate the "Powerwash" option. This is the factory reset feature. Click on "Powerwash".
- Confirm: A confirmation prompt will appear explaining that Powerwash will erase all local data and reset the device to its original factory settings. Click "Restart" or "Powerwash" to confirm that you want to proceed.
- Follow On-Screen Prompts: Your Chromebook will restart and begin the Powerwash process. Follow any on-screen prompts to complete the process. This may include selecting your language and network.
Important Considerations:
- Back Up Your Data: Before performing a factory reset, back up any important files stored locally on your Chromebook. This includes files in your Downloads folder. Powerwash will erase these files. Files stored on Google Drive are safe and will not be affected.
- Account Information: You will need to know the username and password of the Google account you used to originally set up the Chromebook. After the Powerwash, you will need to sign in with this account again.
- Chromebook Locked: If the Chromebook is managed by a school or organization, Powerwashing might not fully reset it. Contact your IT administrator for further assistance in this case.
