Chromebook - Hard Reset or Powerwash

What is the difference between Hard Reset or Powerwash on a Chromebook?

Hard Reset

To fix some Chromebook problems, you might need to reset your Chromebook hardware, also called a hard reset.It will restart your Chromebook hardware (like your keyboard and touchpad), and might delete some files in your Downloads folder. It resets your Chrome settings back to default.

Here's how you would perform a hard reset of your Chromebook:

1. Turn off your Chromebook.

2. Press and hold Refresh + tap Power . 

3. When your Chromebook starts up, release Refresh .

Powerwash

If a hard reset doesn’t fix the problem, you could go to a powerwash which is setting everything back to factory settings. It cleans the entire system. A powerwash factory reset erases all the information on your Chromebook's hard drive, including your settings, apps, and files. The factory reset won't delete any of your files on Google Drive or an external hard drive.

Here's how you would perform a Powerwash (factory reset) of your Chromebook:

1. Sign out of your Chromebook.

2. Press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r.

3. Select Restart.

4. In the box that appears, select Powerwash Continue.

5. Follow the steps that appear and sign in with your Google Account.

6. Once you've reset your Chromebook:

Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your Chromebook