Hard reset is the process of restoring a device to its original factory settings, deleting all user-installed applications, custom configurations, settings and data stored on the device's internal memory. Use this procedure to resolve persistent software issues such as freezes, application crashes, or unresponsiveness that cannot be resolved by regular troubleshooting methods. This is a drastic step that wipes the device clean and is often used when preparing a device for resale, recycling, combating malware, or troubleshooting significant slowdowns. However, performing a hard reset permanently deletes all data, requiring you to back up the necessary information first.