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The following tasks delete all data, or all data and applications, on the BlackBerry smartphone. For information on backing up data on the smartphone, see KB12487.

Warning: Do not remove the battery from the smartphone while deleting data.

To delete all data from the BlackBerry smartphone, complete one of the following tasks:

• Select the Wipe Handheld option.
• Type an incorrect password ten times.
• Use the application loader tool in BlackBerry Desktop Manager to delete all data.
• Use Backup and Restore in the BlackBerry Desktop Manager to clear the application databases.

To delete all data and applications, perform the following task:

• In the application loader tool in BlackBerry Desktop Manager, type an incorrect password ten times.

Option 1 - Select the Wipe Handheld option

To delete all data from the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps. This option is available with BlackBerry® Device Software 4.5 to 4.7.

1. On the Home screen of the smartphone, click Options.
2. Click Security Options > General Settings. Otherwise, click Security.
3. Display the menu, and then click Wipe Handheld > Continue.
4. Type blackberry, and then press the Enter key. All data on the BlackBerry smartphone is deleted.

1. On the Home screen of the smartphone, click Options.
2. Click Security Options > Security Wipe.
3. Type blackberry in the field at the bottom, and then press Wipe.

Option 2 - Type an incorrect password ten times

To delete all data from the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:

1. Lock the smartphone, and then type an incorrect password ten times.
2. If prompted, type blackberry.
3. Once complete, all data on the smartphone is deleted.

Option 3 - Use the application loader tool to delete all data

To delete all data from the BlackBerry smartphone using BlackBerry Desktop Software 5.0.1 and earlier, complete the following steps:

1. Connect the smartphone to the computer.
2. Open the BlackBerry Desktop Software, and then type the password for the smartphone.
3. Double-click Application Loader, and then click Next.
4. On the Device Security Password screen, type the password of the smartphone, and then click Next.
5. On the Device Application Selection screen, click Next.
6. On the Completing the Application Loader Wizard screen, click Advanced. The Device Data Preservation screen is displayed.
7. To delete all application data from the smartphone, select the Erase all application data check box, and then click Next.
8. Select Do not automatically back up and restore the device application data during the loading process and then click Next.
9. Click Finish. The smartphone resets. This might take several minutes.

Option 4 - Use Backup and Restore to clear the application databases

To clear the application databases from the BlackBerry smartphone using BlackBerry Desktop Software 5.0.1 and earlier, complete the following steps:

1. Connect the smartphone to the computer.
2. Open the BlackBerry Desktop Software, and then type the password for the smartphone.
3. Double-click Backup and Restore, and then click Advanced.
4. Press and hold the Shift key while selecting all the databases in the Handheld Databases list box.
5. Click Clear.
6. Click OK on the warning window. All application databases on the smartphone are erased.

To clear the application databases from the BlackBerry smartphone using BlackBerry Desktop Software 6.0 and later, complete the following steps:

1. Connect the smartphone to the computer.
2. Open the BlackBerry Desktop Software, and then type the password for the smartphone.
3. Select the Device menu, and then click Delete Data.
4. Ensure All data is selected. Backing up the smartphone before removing the information is optional.
5. Click Delete.

Option 5 - Type an incorrect password in the application loader tool

To delete all data from the BlackBerry smartphone, complete the following steps:

1. Connect the smartphone to the computer.
2. Open the BlackBerry Desktop Software, and then double-click Application Loader.
3. In the Application Loader Wizard window, click Next.
4. On the Device Security Password screen, type an incorrect password, and then click OK. Perform this step 10 times to delete all data and applications.

Option 6 - Use loader.exe to reset to factory

To delete all user data and IT policies on the BlackBerry Device Software 4.3 and later using BlackBerry Desktop Software 4.5 and later, see KB18998. This option will not remove installed applications.

Option 7 - Use loader.exe to manually remove all applications

1. Connect the smartphone to the computer
2. On a 32 bit installation of Windows navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader
   On a 64 bit installation of Windows navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader
3. Launch loader.exe, click next and verify the device is connected then press next.
4. Uncheck all applications you wish to remove and press next
5. On the summary screen press the "Advanced..." button
6. Select "Delete all applications data" and press next
7. Select "Do not automatically backup and restore the device application data during the loading process" and press next
8. Review the changes and press finish

• BlackBerry® Desktop Software
• BlackBerry® smartphones