If you own a Sony TV, you may need to reset it for various reasons. Whether you’re experiencing technical difficulties or simply want to start fresh, resetting your TV can solve many problems. In the case of Sony TV, you have several different ways to do this. You can use your remote control or use the buttons on your Sony TV.
You should know that Sony TVs have many versions of the OS, and the number of control buttons on the TV also varies. Sony orders some televisions, especially budget models, from OEM, ODMs. OEMs usually use their development of electronic components. The reset order can vary not only depending on the year of manufacture of the Sony TV but also on the model of the TV even of the same year.
If your TV is unstable, streaming video apps like Amazon or Netflix don’t work, and there’s no need to reset your TV to factory defaults. You can clear the TV’s cache memory. Very often, the problem can be a large amount of cached information that causes the TV to malfunction. In addition, the cache can fill up free memory, which also causes the TV to malfunction.
Soft reset or clearing the cache memory of your Sony TV
There are two ways to clear the cache memory.
Clearing the cache memory is a soft reset. The cache information is stored in RAM, so you must clear the TV’s RAM.
First way: Unplug the TV for 2 minutes; in principle, 30 seconds is enough, but 2 minutes is guaranteed to discharge the power supply, which in turn will de-energize the memory chips, and the information will be deleted.
Second way: Press and hold the power button on the remote control for at least 20 seconds; all this time, the remote control has to be turned to the TV, as during this time, the infrared signal from the remote control is transmitted to the TV. Prolonged reception of the power on command initiates the TV to start a cache-cleaning subroutine. If you hold down the power button, the TV will turn off; it will turn on again and start the memory clear subroutine. You will see if the power LED is flashing to indicate the start of the cache cleanup program. Usually, the TV clears the memory cache in 3-7 seconds. The power LED will stop flashing when cleaning is complete.
Depending on the version of your operating system, the reset procedure may be different. The reset procedure is almost the same for Android or Google TV TVs. Televisions released from 2015-2020 run Android, while Google TV runs from 2021. If you want to know what OS is installed on your TV, read more in this article: Sony TV operating system by year
How to reset Sony TV using the remote control
If you are experiencing issues with your Sony TV or want to sell it, you may need to reset it to its factory settings. Doing so will wipe all custom settings, including wireless network settings, Google account settings, apps, and channels. Resetting your Sony TV can also be a helpful troubleshooting step if you are experiencing issues with the TV’s software. To do this, you will need the following:
- To begin resetting, turn on your Sony TV and grab the remote control. Look for the Quick Settings, Home, or Action Menu buttons on the remote control, depending on your TV/remote control model. Press the button to open the Quick Settings menu.
- Once the Quick Settings menu is open, select the settings gear icon or arrow icon. This will open the Settings menu.
- Next, depending on your TV menu options, the steps to reset your Sony TV will vary. Look for one of the following options and select it:
- System → About → Reset → Factory data reset → Erase everything → Yes
- Device Preferences → Reset → Factory data reset → Erase everything → Yes
- Storage & Reset → Factory data reset → Erase everything → Yes
After you select the reset option, your Sony TV will begin the reset process. This process may take a few minutes, so be patient and do not turn off the TV or remote control. Once the reset process is complete, the TV will automatically start the initial setup.
After the reset process, you must go through the initial setup again, similar to when you first activated the TV. This includes selecting your language, connecting to your wireless network, and signing in to your Google account. Ensure you have any necessary login information, such as your Google account username and password.
How to reset Sony TV using the Help button on remote
If you’re having trouble resetting your Sony TV using the remote control, another option is to use the Help button on the remote. This method is a little different from using the quick settings or home buttons, but it can still effectively reset your TV.
- To begin, locate the Help button on your Sony TV remote control. Once you’ve found it, press it to bring up the Help menu.
- From there, select “How to use your TV” and then choose “Help Guide (Manual).”
- Next, select “Settings” and then navigate to “Configuring the TV.”
- Depending on your TV’s menu options, you may need to choose “Watching TV” or “TV” now.
- Once you’ve done that, select the “Settings” arrow to proceed.
- Now it’s time to perform the factory reset. Again, the steps may vary depending on your TV’s menu options. Look for either “Device Preferences” or “Storage & Reset,” and then select “Factory data reset.”
- Finally, choose “Erase everything” and confirm by selecting “Yes.”
Wait for the factory reset process to complete, which may take a few minutes. Once it’s finished, your Sony TV will start the initial setup process again, just like when you first activated the TV. Remember that all custom settings in the TV will be erased, including Google account settings, apps, channels, and wireless network settings. You’ll need to set everything up again from scratch.
How to reset Sony TV using buttons on the TV body
If you’re experiencing persistent issues with your Sony TV and can’t access the TV Settings menu using the remote control, a manual (forced) Factory Data Reset using the buttons on the TV may help. This reset type returns the TV to its original out-of-the-box settings and can solve more stubborn issues like the TV restarting itself. The way to perform the manual reset differs depending on the number of buttons your TV has. Here are the steps for each type of TV:
Before we start, you must locate the buttons on the TV body. The steps for a manual factory data reset depend on the number of buttons available on your Sony TV.
If your TV model has only one button
- Unplug the power cord from the electrical socket.
- Press and hold the Power button on the TV body, and plug the power cord back in, while holding the button down.
- Continue holding the button until a white LED light appears near the Sony logo on the TV front, which may take around 10-30 seconds.
- Release the button once the LED light turns white. Repeat the process from the beginning if the light doesn’t turn white within 30 seconds.
Wait a few minutes for the factory data reset, and the TV will restart twice. If the TV doesn’t turn back on automatically, press the Power button to turn it on. The initial setup screen will appear. Follow the instructions to set up your TV.
If your TV model has three buttons
- First, unplug the power cord from the electrical socket.
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Down (-) buttons on the TV body, and plug the power cord back in, while holding the buttons down.
- Continue holding the buttons until a green LED light appears near the Sony logo on the TV front, which may take around 10-30 seconds.
- Once the LED light turns green, release the buttons. Repeat the process if the light doesn’t turn green within 30 seconds.
Wait a few minutes for the factory data reset, and the TV will restart twice. Once the welcome screen appears, follow the instructions to set up your TV.
If your TV model has more than three buttons
Start with performing a manual factory reset by using the TV buttons, allowing you to access the settings menu to perform a second factory data reset with your remote. To do this, you will need the following:
- Unplug the power cord from the electrical socket.
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Down (-) buttons on the TV body, and plug the power cord back in, while holding the buttons.
- Hold the buttons and wait until a green LED light appears near the Sony logo on the TV front.
- The LED light will take around 10-30 seconds to turn green, and then you can release the buttons.
- The TV will restart twice, and the welcome screen will eventually appear. Skip most of the steps of this first initial setup to save time.
- Once you’re past the initial setup, go to Home → Settings → Storage & Reset → Factory Data Reset → Erase Everything → Yes.
- The TV will perform a factory data reset again. After the factory reset process, the TV will start the Initial Setup. This time, take your time to complete your preferred settings.
Remember, before you start the process, understand that a factory data reset removes all custom settings in the TV, including Google account settings, apps, channels, and wireless network settings. Once you complete the reset, you must go through the initial setup again, similar to when you first activated the TV.
Why you may need to perform a Reset for your Sony TV
There are several reasons why you may need to perform a reset on your Sony TV. Here are some common reasons:
- System glitches: Sometimes, your Sony TV may encounter system glitches, such as freezing or crashing. This may occur due to software bugs, conflicts between apps or components, or other reasons. When these issues become persistent or impact the overall functionality of the TV, a reset can be a helpful solution.
- Network connectivity issues: If you’re having problems connecting to the internet or streaming content, it may be due to network connectivity issues. A reset can help clear up any network settings that may be causing the problem.
- Factory settings restoration: Over time, your Sony TV’s settings may become customized to your liking, and restoring them to their original factory settings may be challenging. If you wish to undo any changes made and start from scratch, performing a reset can help you do that.
- Selling or donating the TV: If you plan to sell or donate your Sony TV, you may want to perform a reset to ensure that all of your personal information, including login credentials, browsing history, and app usage, is wiped clean.
Overall, performing a reset on your Sony TV can help resolve persistent issues, restore the TV to its original settings, and protect your personal information. It is an effective way to start fresh and ensure optimal performance from your TV.
