Four Finger Hard Reset for the N97 Mini
I’ve just got myself an N97 mini (well recently) and decided today to do a hard reset on it.
I got thinking to myself, how do you do the four finger hard reset (as is so commonly used on the N97) on the N97 mini?
Well the answer is simple:
- Turn the device off
- Press the four buttons at the same time as shown in the image below (On button, Right Shift, Space bar & delete)
- If its worked, you’ll know when the phone turns on as it will ask you for your location (i.e. country then city).
Some pointers:
- Backup EVERYTHING on your phone memory as this will be wiped – it doesn’t touch your mass memory so you’ll need to format that from the file manager
- You’ll need to re-install all your applications etc so make sure you have copies saved or you can redownload the installation files
- It took me three attempts to actually get it to work as you need to make sure all the buttons are fully pressed, not partially pressed!
The four buttons you need to press to hard reset the n97 mini
If there’s anything else you want me to cover, leave a comment and I shall do my best to cover it (I’m currently in the middle of a N97 v N97mini review/comparison so don’t ask for that 
!)
Update: You need to hold the three buttons & then press the power button. Make sure you KEEP HOLDING the buttons, otherwise it won’t hard-reset.
You might like:
- N97-mini available Today. Contract Options 29th October.
- N97 Mini in White – Mid November Release
- N97 Mini White available in Phones4u now
- Vodafone 360 Launched, N97 Mini now available
- Opera Browser & Opera Widgets
Category: Opinion
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Thanks very much for the tip. I have been trying for 2 days by now to figure out how to restart the N97 mini.
Mine Aint Resetting
..why is this?
Excellent Thank you this worked for me
hi thanks it work on my phone but all my files are gone… i haven’t backed up it before my phones hang up….anyway thanks a lot
@rhea:
A hard reset of the device will restore it to how it was brand new… None of ur settings, contacts, files etc will stay.
If you need to do it again, I’d recommend using the backup facility on the phone or through your PC and Ovi Suite.
Hi thanks for the hard reset procedures. I have been looking for it as my N97 mini 2nd encounters having the start up white screen blue nokia problem.
I also tries a few attempts to do the hard reset and finally managed to perform.
Some additional information would like to add, you need to hold the 3 buttons even when the white screen and blue nokia wording is out until you see the hand-shake picture then can release your finger.
Thanks again for the information on hard reset. Its really helpful
When I try to do the hard reset than nothing happens.. It won’t even start! DOes anyone know why?
did u press on the power button,,, u must press on the three buttons then the power button and keep holding them until it starts and ask u for the pin code
thanks alot. All my n97 mini problems has gone after hard resetting it. thank you.
woW thx ! it worked and nothing gone but hust some apps and games gone
it has worked with my N97 mini , thank you very much
perfect solution. Phone is really good…but this issue is changing the opinion on this phone
Doesn’t keying in *#7370# with pass key 12345 do the same thing?
Thx for help i got this problem today and find here the solution, thx very much. My mobile work again but all files and programs are on mobile , nothing is erased.
yaaaaaaaayyyy … i am soo in love with u for this post u just saved me from literarrly giving up on my life
oh yea .. one more thing .. i did it without ny sim inserted in my n97 mini bronse
n ye ai lost sum of my apps. frm the ovi store rest everythings there
xD
xoxox
thanks a lot it worked for me.
Worked for me. Great advise. My n97 mini phone hanged 3x already in the last 2 months alone. Had to bring the unit to Nokia previously until I found out you can hard-reset the phone yourself.
Thank you very much ^^ it really helped me a lot.
I wish you health and luck.
Goodbye.
My n97 mini phone hanged 3x already in the last 2 months alone. Had to bring the unit to Nokia previously until I found out you can hard-reset the phone yourself.
Awesome !! Really works !! But lost all my contacts and sms before i’m able to backup…Thanks man !!
many application comes with the phone are lost after hard set.
thank you so much
THANKS MAN, SAME PROBLEM LIKE OTHERS AND SEARCH FOR COUPLE DAYS FOR SOLUTION, ALMOST CALL AND RETURN THE PHONE, BUT I HATE TO RETURN STUFF..YOUR STUFF WORK MAN,,SO MUCH GIVE YOU A THUMB UP, CREDIT…HOPEFULLY NOKIA SEE THESE POSTS AND HIRE YOU AS A TROUBLE SHOOT FOR THEM…LOL THEY AREN’T HELPFUL.. I AM DISAPPOINTED ON THEM…
can u help me out.whenever i open the photos on my nokia n97 mini it gets hanged..how can i solve this problem?????
tnxs a lot it worked
Thank you so much!
Thanx. it really saved my time. i think the problem was with the new maps available at ovi store which was an updated or a diiferent version as that installed on the telphone. i lost out on all my contacts only….
Thank you very much, i got my phone overseas and i sent it back to get it fixed cost me $250.00 this time nothinking thank you so much …
Hey..do i have to take out the sim card before i do the hard reset? And…if there are some viruses in the phone will they disappear with this reset?
this actually worked for me first time….however i did not need to reinstall anything or format my mass memory….my phone is working as it did before it went weird….thanks again.
Thanks a lot for the tip! i just had the problem today after 4 months with this phone, to those who still have trouble, be patient and dont press too hard or you might dont lose grip on any of the other buttons.
i have a problem with my n97 when i start it it shows the nokia logo then “flight mode ask” and shut’s down none of the solutions found on this blog worke’d ca somebody help me please?
Hi, My N97mini will not turn on.it comes on with the white screen with NOKIA at the bottome but stays like that..any tips on what to do
i have a problem with my n97 when i start it it shows the nokia logo then “flight mode ask” and shut’s down none of the solutions found on this blog worke’d ca somebody help me please?
Thanx, it worked fine for me!
i did it
it worked
i have a n97 nokia
I have issue with the video and camers of N97 mini. Soemtimes the videos turn just blank.
Any help?
it’s work really
thank you
hi all i had the samething happen to me done as you said and gess what my n97 is up and running thanks
Oh my god,THank you for saving my nookeah fone…how can i ever repay you! THANKS!
Hey!
I`m from Brazil and I have spent some 90 dollars on trying to solve this problem.. Every time I download something new for my mobile, this happens again and again…. Thank you for a fast, cheap sollution!
Fernanda.
thanX man, thanX very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you saved me!
That’s more than perfect
thanks to all beautifull minds, but it might takes time to install, i’m waiting
I’ve got a new Nokia 97 Mini this week and it sucks!
Dead Nokia logo screen all the time!
Hard reset is a bad solution since all data is erased!
Thanks a lot man.u saved my life
Working perfect
yaaaay worked perfectly thnnnxx very much u saved my phone!! XD
for some reason since i reset my phone when ever somebody texts me it doesnt come up with there name instead it comes up with the number so i have to play guessing games. does anyone know how to fix this?
thanks man! it worked.. though everythng was lost, that’s fine.. =)
OMG OMG OMG OMG !! Thanks !!!! I was so depressed n when i found this website , it did work , now its like “Preparing memory card” =)
NOKIA NOT WORTH OF MONEY……… HANGING.. HOW MANY TIMES PUPIL U WANT TO HARD RESET UR PHONE? EVERY DAY? I DISAPPOINTED WITH NOKIA, HANGING HANGING .. DONT BUY NOKIA N97… FASE ADVERTISEMENT.. CHEATING PUPIL.. 32GB.. FILL IT THE SIZE MORE THAN 5GB PHONE WILL HANG, TRANSFER RATE.. BABE CAN BE BORN.. RUBBISH.. WHATS THE POINT LOOK GOOD BUT NOT WORTH………………….. TIME TO CHANGE NOT NOKIA.. WHY NOKIA.. COMING WITH NEW DIVICE FOR WHAT WHEN IT NOT WORKING PROPERLY..
n97 locked up before that 5800 want wrong any more problems bye bye nokia and hello iphone
Simply… THANKS.
_Help them, and they will help u in the same or different way_
It worked for my phone but i didn’t lost all of the applications that i installed.
Thank u very very very much!!!
ive tried to hard reset my n97 mini, still no luck =( any other tips?!
Thank you, it solved my system error.
Thanks but this n97 & n97 mini is a piece of junk by nokia
give it some time, rome didnt build in a day…
It works!! Though thing are lost but i get a working phone back without gg to the serivce centre.
i just bought a brand new n97 mini it is al working then i go to make a phone call help
Thank u very very very much!!!
hi, I’ve been facing problems installing files i download from the Ovi Store. eg: Opera mini, farm frenzy trial, checkers, tube maps, and many more. it always says “Installation failed”. Do you know what is wrong with my phone?
Thanks mate, It’s works for me after several times
thx man u saved me n my mobile,mass memory didnt get formated during da process but i will after i back up,the repairers asked me 15 usd to fix dis i am gona show dem da way to fix it!!!!!!!!!1 thx again man!!!!!!!
I have problem during start up, it just display NOKIA and stay there? And this is my second time after sending it for repair….i hav very important photos of mi kid n want 2 develop them……….will they get deleted if i do this………please rply
sonia_metha123@yahoo.com
Thanks
, a lot of help
thanks guys for lovely and helpful tips …..this tips really worked well…but has some problems as all your data will be lost …….
i’ve been trying this and it just still takes me to the lock code screen. can’t get past this. has anyone else found this?
hard reseted n97 mini twice restored factory settings before tht but still get same error message when trying 2 recieve or make a call please help
thank you for showing us how to hard reset. sent one happy client out the door with a reset N97 Mini.
worked for me
ty for this
thanks bro.
it works
doesnt work!
What seems to be the problem?
What steps have you tried?
Hi does some one know how use the gps on it
it worked very well.
You just saved my life!!! My work life definitely!
Thanks!!!
its working. i tried 4 times…and in the 5th try i made it….you have to keep them pressed even after the NOKIA shows on the display. keep them pressed until it askes you the country…and be sure the keys are pressed, and only those keys. it will work for everyone
That’s for providing such informative information. I’m glad I found this site! I’ll continue to check back for updates.
thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cool, worked the first time, thanks man…
hi there.. any one has a problem with the nokia browser… mine is not working after i install several apps. i try to do the reset and also do the factory setting.. but somehow nothing will do to fix that problem.. any help here..
Thanks, works perfect!
Suddenly, the touchscreen of my n97 does not work anymore.
If I turn it of for the night, it works in the morning, but after a while the touchscreen goes dead
Will the hard reset wipe out the operator settings? i.e. the answer machine number, internet access settings etc.
Thanks
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you very much,, worked like magic!!! XOXOXOX!!!
Hello,
My Nokia N97 mini stuck when I switching it on and it works for very few second after @ restart. what could be the problem? will the four finger reset work?. thank you in advance
Thanks it works for me in first time………
I have always bought Nokia as my preferred handphone since year 2000. However, this issue with my problematic N97 mini has given second thoughts. Am considering iPhone4 at the moment. For now, I am just struggling with my Nokia phones addiction before I can change my mind. Sigh.
Thanking the support discussion forum for the better insight in Hard rebotting device: 1. Please, please first back up your device, since contacts, calendar entries, notes, etc will be lost. Then type the #*7370# and the call button. Your device will reboot and all information will be lost, during the boot process. Selaelo waga Makgato (Pretoria)
Mersi de pont! A mers:D…
Thanks alot, my problem is solved now. i love you
Muneer
omg now way it works! i love you guys man!
um..the reset worked but i have a different problem. when i take out the headphones it still shows the headphone sign and acts like there is still headphones in the phone when there is none. i can only use it when i plug in headphones. please help!
Thank you!!!! I can dial again!
Sure, pleasure to be a help.
Mobile Users
i bought a used N97 mini , apparently the old owner changed the lock code… and i couldn’t contact him .. so i did the reset thingi and still it didnt work … i mean it did reset but the code is not 1234/12345/0000/00000 … ?!?!!?! plz some one help mee !!!! plzzz
i bought a used N97 mini … and apparently the old owner changed the lock code … i need to lock my mobile cuz i have very private stuff in there … i couldn’t contact him; so i did the reset thing on my mobile .. and it worked only the code is supposed to be one of these four :
1234
12345
0000
00000 ….. but it isnt !!! plz ppl i need this plz plz help me !!!
Hi there,
You’d have to get in touch with the original owner as I’m not aware of breaking the master lock code on Symbian^1 handsets!
Thanks
Hi,
I am unable to get my N97mini to detect wlan connections.
How do I get it to work? Earlier, it was working properly, but since
last few weeks, I cant get it to work. I tried reinstalling the firmware,
but to no avail. Please help…
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i did what u said but then when the phone switched on it asked for the lock code once again
hey.. i bought a n97mini on ebay..its simlocked to orange network..could u tell me how to unlock it…
Will I lose my texts if I do this?
Thanks Man. Ay3 adwuma ama me.
thanks.. it works.. but it is tough to hold the 4 keys – all at the same time.
wheni turn my n97 mini on its say lock code 4 iv 4 got it how do i rest that or bi pass it wb asp plez
it works..i didn’t try too much,i made it from the first shot..thx
Saying thank you is an understatement for helping with this problem. Will always be grateful to you Cheers!
Thank you.
BTW i was looking for Right Shift for a while and then i looked at the picture and figured it out that you mean other right.
thnx ..it worked
my green & red button isnt working, how can i fix this?
thanks man thanks a ton …. god bless
*******************____________N97 Is BEST_____________********************
ive tried to hard reset my n97 mini, still no luck =( any other tips?
Hmm… have you had any error messages? What happens when you try the three finger reset?
Thanx a ton friend it helped me a lot, i was suppose to visit the nokia gallery for this issue but by ur method while sitting at home i resolved it in 5 mis. though the phone memory gets erased but its worth.
Glad we could be of help
Thanks a lot.. It worked right away the first time .. I had problem with the messages earlier there wasn’t any notification earlier when i get messages no msg symbol or sound or vibration or atleast an indication . now it works absolutely fine..
Glad it worked for you!
I was recommended this website by means of my cousin. I’m now not certain whether or not this put up is written by way of him as nobody else know such special about my difficulty. You are amazing! Thank you!
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, however great topic. I needs to spend a while studying much more or working out more. Thanks for magnificent information I used to be searching for this information for my mission.
Continue to keep working
Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote the guide in it or something. I believe that you could do with some percent to force the message house a little bit, however instead of that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read. I’ll certainly be back.
GREAT STUFF IT WORKED THANKS ALOT BUT LOST 465 CONTACTS & PHOTOS
Unfortunately that can happen, its always worth backing up when you can.
Thanx dude. U savd ma Rs 3500.
GREATTT IT WORKED FOR MEEE I WAS IN A MESS FOR LAST 2 YEARS
same condition applied for me :/
thanks man! really appericiate it
Thanx a lot it worked
All i can say is patience is a virtue!!!!
Always worth it in the long run!