Reset factory default itself

[Xartin]

My Xperia Z3 Compact reset itself to factory default in my pocket ...

The screen was locked and the option tape" twice on screen to wake-up" disactivate.

There is a combo of button to reset the phone ?

[dsw]

Same thing happened to me, twice. Phone reset randomly in my pocket and I was presented with the "select your language" screen when I needed it. At first I was hoping that it just overheated in my pocket, but after the second time I'm sure it's not that, as the phone was not in a hot environment.

Great phone, unforgivable flaw.

[Markn]

Rohitech - Thanks for your response, but do the maths.  Everyone is experiencing resets when their phone is in their pocket.  If you assume  5 complaints to date, all reseting in the pocket and If your phone is in your pocket 8 hours a day (ie.  not when you sleep/shower/swim or sit at your desk at work), then the chance that the 5 peoples phone reset by chance while in their pocket is just....0.3^5 =  0.24%....So while you may be correct, the probability is not in your favour.  Even if you assume its in your pocket for 16 hours a day, the odds only increase to 12.5%.  So, while not being a betting man.....I conclude it has to be something about being in your pocket.

For me, I think it was my corporate Exchange security settings resseting my phone after 10 incorrect password attempts - which was taking place inside my pocket. It happened 3 times in 6 weeks.  Mr Lu probably got it right with his post back in january.

So, I moved my corporate Exchange settings to the Mailwise and bypassed exchange security (think carefully whether you should be doing that).  I  have not had a reset ...yet.

I also bought a flip case to avoid pushing the screen while in my pocket.

Still a shortcoming of the phone if you ask me.  Give me back my old Blackberry which made you spell "Blackberry" after 9 wrong attempts!

[VadimS]

I had the same factory reset in my pocket several days ago. I wrote about it in another topic.
It looks suspicious that the forum gurus keep on insisting that the problem is due to google account compromising ignoring the fact that described factory resets occur ONLY in pockets with no reported exceptions.
I noticed several times when I took my phone from my pocket its screen was turned on (thanks to Xperia convex power button) and many symbols were accidentally typed on PIN field. And after recent update there is no ok button when you typing PIN - 4 symbols pressed and then it either become unlocked or incorrect pin error is displayed. So the idea of factory reset due to spontaneous typing illegal pins many times in the pocket seems to be the real cause.
The question is: How to avoid repeating this? Any suggestions?
I realize that I could turn off PIN but it's not a possible case for me because I need to use corporate email on my phone.
Is any other way to turn off factory reset due to incorrect pin? Or any other suggestions?

[mattrauch]

My phone resetted itself 3 times last week after I updated to Lollipop 5.1. The issue never happened before with Lollipop 5.0. I have setup an exchange account for my work on the phone, that needs the permission to wipe my data, if the PIN code is entered wrongly a couple of times. I also noticed, that after the update the PIN code is automatically accepted after 4 entered digits. Before I had to tap ENTER explicitly and so I'm pretty sure that this change is the cause for the recent factory resets.

Is there any possibility to restore the old behaviour with the epxlicit ENTER button or maybe a different workaround for my problem? Otherwise I would have to switch to a different phone manufacturer, since the current state is unacceptable for me. 

[Qatrium]

Are you sure it's resetting itself and not just changing user? Some users reported that phone selects other user profile (or guest profile) while in pocket, and I think it's possible without unlocking device.

[Rickard]

I'm afraid it's not possible to restore the old behaviour where you had to tap enter after entering the PIN. A possible workaround if you keep the phone in such a way that you power on the display and tap the screen accidentally is to add another screen lock on top of the preinstalled. This can be done by installing another lock screen like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.next

[AVO]

Have the exact same problem. What I've tried yesterday is to bypass the additional security for Exchange using the MailWise application. So far so good, but only a day in the process...

Hope it works, because I have absolutely no more trust in the phone...

[freespace]

Hi,

My phone as also reset to factory default twice once I guessed was my fault (one of the kids had found it and playing on the lock screen) 2nd time just now in my pocket.  Both times the SD card has been completely formated as well.

It is real pain as this is a business phone (with Exchange policy) and it takes hours to setup each time.

Is this a 5.1 fault or too many pin attempts?  I have double tap enabled to wake the phone.

[Gober]

This has happened 3 times for me as well. Same as others, in my pocket. I have 2factor Google authentication so I do not believe that can be the problem. Also connected to work via exchange, but they say they have not enable any wipe settings. Horrible flaw by Sony. I have a z3.

[evil_sausage]

Just reposting what I put on another thread about the same problem (/t5/Xperia-Z3-Z3-Dual/Z3-rebooted-to-factory-settings-while-having-it-in-my-pocket/td-p/849991/page/... :

Just adding my name to the list of people this is happening to. Sony Xperia Z3 has performed a factory reset while in standby in my pocket.

Facts to consider:

• Xperia Z3 Compact bought in February 2015
• Active Exchanged enabled for corporate email usage
• All information on the phone was deleted, SD card was preserved
• Incident has occured 3 times since purchase
• Same behaviour occured on my previous Sony Xperia L handset
• 2 other collegues in my company have the Xperia Z3 Compact and have had the exact same problems.

My Xperia is not my personal handset, but one given to me through work. Since this has been happening me with Xperias for the last 2 years, I have been reluctant to use it for anything but reading work mail. Lack of confidence in it storing or keeping anything of value.