8 ways you can wipe your BlackBerry

Many times you may come across a situation where you need to delete all your personal data from the BlackBerry device memory like your address book, messenger contacts, pictures or media anything. It could be when you are changing/upgrading your or sending the current BlackBerry back to vendor as it’s defective or selling it on ebay or giving away to your friends/family or you’re troubleshooting some device database problems. In some cases where the keypad does not work or screen is damaged other options listed below will be very helpful to achieve this task. This will bring back the BlackBerry to it’s default factory settings, the way you originally got it first.
The Wipe Handheld Option

This is the easiest way among all. If you’re able to use keypad, and screen is working fine then this will do the job.

Go to Options
Select Security Options
Select General Settings
Click the Menu key
Select Wipe Handheld
Click Continue
Type “blackberry”. All the data on the BlackBerry device is erased, it will reboot and bring back the default factory settings.

The Incorrect Password Method – Device Keypad

If you have device password security enabled then with 10 incorrect password attempts it will wipe/clean your BlackBerry device. When you enable the device security password, you may choose the Number of password attempt from 10 to 3. In fact this option is to protect your data, information from the other person if your BlackBerry is lost or stolen.
The Incorrect Password Method – PC Keyboard

When you have device password enabled and you connect your BlackBerry to Desktop Manager, it will also wipe all data after incorrect password attempts. In this scenario at the end it may ask you to load the operating system. This option is not advisable.
Delete Data Using The Desktop Manager – Application Loader Tool

You can also delete all your BlackBerry device data when you perform Operating System (OS) reload. During the process you need to make sure that Back up device data automatically is NOT selected. Check out this post "How to perform a clean reload of the BlackBerry Device Software using the Application Loader”.
Delete Data Using The Desktop Manager – Backup And Restore Tool


Click on Advanced button under the Back up and Restore option of your Manager and you’ll see the the screen look like above. Just select the Database Records from the right hand side Device Database box and click clear. Click OK if it shows the warning/confirmation window. This option may not delete your pictures/media stored into your device memory.
Remote wipe command through BES

If you’re part ofServer (BES) and in case if you’ve lost your BlackBerry, your BES admin can wipe it clean with remote wipe command.
Wipe through Command Prompt – resettofactory command


I like using this option where I have some problems with my BlackBerry device database. It will wipe clean your personal application data only. It does not delete any email service books or will not turn off your Mobile Network Radio which I like the most in this method.

Connect the BlackBerry smartphone to the computer.
Open Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
Type cd C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Apploader
Type loader.exe /resettofactory

For this option to work you need to have Desktop Manger 4.7 or 5.0 to be installed on your computer and will work with 4.3 to 4.5 device OS.
Through other third party apps

You can also wipe your BlackBerry through other third party apps like BBSAK or JL_Cmder app. Most of these apps are based on Java and it requires Java Run Time environment (JRE) to be installed on your PC. These apps provide many other functionality including wipe/reset to factory settings option. There are couple of other apps out there as well which will let you do this too.

N.B. Due to forum software setting link and images are not posted which are in my original post