[Android General] AB__CD:
So, we all know factory resetting in the easiest way to improve your battery life and performance, and is usually a good idea after major software updates, or every 6 months or so. We've usually thought of resets as chores, though, and it often takes a LONG time to get your stuff back to normal.

So what if I told you you can reset, enjoy all of the benefits of doing so, and get back almost everything in UNDER AN HOUR. That's right. Under sixty minutes. No computer required - merely a strong internet connection and a little tech knowhow, and that some of these settings be in place for your next reset (since backing stuff up online can take a little while: 60 minutes can only be done if your phone backs these up automatically overnight and not you doing them). Despite that, it does require only a little work from you, so here we go:

STEP 1: GET ALL OF YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW

Start off by backing up stuff to Google - Contacts, calendar, Gmail, Chrome data, and if you're on Android Marshmallow, App data. Go to Settings -> Accounts -> Google -> click on your email -> and turning everything on. This stuff should be on by default anyway, but just to be safe, check.

STEP 2: PHOTO BACKUP

Download the Google Photos app (it should be included by default on most recent Android devices, but if you have an older device, it might not be), then open the hamburger menu. Click Settings -> Back up & Sync, then select the account you want under Active Account. Also, select the upload size: high quality limits images to 16MP and video to 1080p, but is unlimited, while Original counts against your quota but allows full res images. I recommend the former, but do be warned panoramas are subject to the same limitations. Don't forget to select which folders you want backed up, under "Choose folders to back up...". Once this is done, scroll down and click "Back up all", then wait.

STEP 3: WHATSAPP BACKUP

WhatsApp is easily the most popular online messaging service, and thankfully, it's also the one that backs up and restores your stuff the most seamlessly. Go to WhatsApp, tap the overflow icon (three dots in the top right corner), Settings -> Chats and calls -> Chat backup, where you'll be greeted with settings for backing up either locally or Google Drive. Note that this feature was added in an update last year, so if you haven't updated, it may not be there. Also, it should've asked you all of this stuff when it first got updated with this feature, so the settings should already be in place, but tweak them if you'd like, then tap Back Up.

For other chat services, they have their own methods: for BBM, go to settings, then scroll down to the Chats subsection, then find the Save Chat History option, and tap "Backup Now". For LINE, each chat must be backed up individually - tap the arrow in the top-right corner and then "Chat Settings", "Backup Chat History", then "Backup All", then send it as an email to yourself.

STEP 4: EVERYTHING ELSE

You want to make sure the rest of the stuff you care about is saved. If you're running Android Lollipop or lower, you'll want to make sure all your apps are backed up: most apps with accounts theoretically don't need to be worried about, as they're supposed to sync. Be sure your games are backed up too: sign in to either Google Play Games or their own account-based systems. If you're running Marshmallow, Android automatically backs up your app data, up to 25MB.

For things like Messages and Phone, most manufacturers have their own systems: check under Settings -> Backup and reset. For example, here is the Samsung one:

If your manufacturer doesn't have it, I recommend checking out GCloud backup on the Play Store.

STEP 5: ACTUALLY FACTORY RESETTING THE DEVICE

You can do this from either the factory reset option in the Settings app, or by going to your device's recovery mode (to do that, Google "recovery mode [device name]"). Confirm you want to reset, then wait as the device reboots. Now it's time to go through the setup screen as if your device was new! If you're running Android 5.1 Lollipop or later, the device will ask you for your last signed in Google account and password, as a means of preventing thieves who've gained access to your device illegally and reset it.

STEP 6: SELECT WHICH APPS YOU WANT RE-INSTALLED

Image credit to Android Central

During the setup process, Google will ask you which apps you want restored from your old phone. I don't recommend reinstalling everything again, since you'll actually find that if you install them only when you need them, you'll actually find out a lot of these apps you don't actually need.

STEP 7: GETTING EVERYTHING BACK IN PLACE

Head to the Play Store and update all of your apps, then it's time to open each app and re-sign in back to your account. WhatsApp will ask you if you want to restore your data if you're using both the same phone number and Google account as before, so agree if you wish to. For LINE, re-download your backup, then you have to open each person you want your chats to be restored, open Chat Settings, then "import". Rinse and repeat. For most other apps and games, it's a matter of signing into the right account.

Now here's the one I used to loathe: getting photos back, since Google Photos doesn't provide a batch download option. Or does it? Search Google Takeout on google.com, and open the link (I recommend avoiding doing this with Chrome, for some reason it kept quitting on me while downloading). Tap "Select None" at the top, scroll down to Google Photos, open the dropdown menu, and select the albums you want to download (you may have to rotate to landscape to do this properly: Takeout is meant to be visited on desktop), then tap OK. Scroll to the bottom, and tap "Next". Wait for the email that your stuff is ready, open the link, then download the zip file. Use a file manager to extract the files to your "DCIM" folder, and you should be good to go! (Just a note: Google Photos may back all of this up again, just delete the backup once it does so).

And you're golden! Now you know the right way to enjoy the benefits of a fresh new phone without the cost of buying a new phone, or the big amounts of effort you thought a factory reset required.