In cases like this, restoring your Chromebook to its factory state may be necessary. Another reason you may want to apply this break-glass method is if you’re turning your Chromebook over to a new owner and want to make sure that all your personal information is removed beforehand. In either scenario, the Powerwash feature can be used to return Chrome OS to its original condition.
What to Know Before You Powerwash a Chromebook
Although most of Chrome OS files and user-specific settings are stored in the cloud, either associated with your Google Account or located in a server-side Google Drive repository, there are still some locally-stored items that are permanently deleted with Powerwash. Files that are saved to your Chromebook’s local hard drive are often stored in the Downloads folder. The contents of this folder should always be backed up to an external device or to your Google Drive prior to initiating a Powerwash. All Google Accounts previously used on your Chromebook are removed during a Powerwash, as well as any settings associated with said accounts. As long as you have the respective usernames and passwords stored elsewhere beforehand, these accounts can be restored on your Chromebook at a later time.
Start a Powerwash Through the Chrome Browser
Restore your Chromebook to its default factory state:
How to Reset Chromebook From the Login Screen
Instead of initiating the Powerwash process via Chrome’s Settings interface, you can also reset your Chromebook from the login screen by taking the following steps.
