The RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS option puts your Recalbox back into the state of a fresh installation, without reinstalling and without touching your games: it is the clean way out when your configuration is in a dubious state and you want a fresh start.
Your games, bios, saves, music, screenshots, overlays and shaders are kept: only configuration data is erased.
START to open the MAIN MENU, then enter ADVANCED SETTINGS.RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS.YES to continue.WARNING! window asks for a final confirmation: answer YES.FACTORY RESET IN PROGRESS) then Recalbox reboots immediately and automatically.📷 Screenshot to come:
factory-reset-menu.png
After the second confirmation, there is no way back: deletion starts and the reboot is automatic.
The following boot is noticeably longer than a normal one: Recalbox rebuilds its factory configuration (a waiting video plays during the recreation). This is normal — do not cut the power.
| Erased (back to factory state) | Kept |
|---|---|
recalbox.conf and all options |
Games (roms/) |
| All emulator configurations | Bios (bios/) |
| EmulationStation settings (language, selected theme…) | Saves (saves/) |
| Themes you installed | Music, screenshots |
| Bluetooth pairings of your controllers | Custom overlays and shaders |
| CRT configuration and screen rotation | Boot videos, user scripts |
| The machine's SSH keys (regenerated) | Kodi content |
In practice, the whole share/system folder and the system modifications are deleted, then recreated with factory values on reboot — the rest of the SHARE partition is untouched.
Think about the practical consequences: your Bluetooth controllers will need to be paired again, your downloaded themes will have to be reinstalled, and the interface language will be asked again on first boot.
Since Recalbox 10, a gentler option sits right above in the same menu: RESET EMULATOR SETTINGS. It returns all emulators to their factory defaults (RetroArch included) but does not affect any Recalbox setting: options, network, pairings and themes stay in place, and no reboot is needed.
It is the right first move when a single emulator misbehaves, before going for the full factory reset.
Do my game saves survive? Yes — everything in share/saves is kept, along with roms and bios.
Can I trigger the reset remotely? Yes, from the web manager: the round button at the bottom right unfolds an actions menu containing Reset to factory settings. Over SSH, however, there is no dedicated command.
Recalbox reboots in a loop and I cannot reach the menus? Recalbox has an automatic protection: after several failed boots in a row, it cleans up the offending system modifications by itself. If the problem persists, ask for help on the Recalbox Discord.