How to Reset Meta Glasses: Step-by-Step

Your Meta glasses are stuck. The touchpad won't respond. The app says "device not found." You've tapped, swiped, and held buttons with no luck.

If you're searching for how to reset meta glasses, you probably need the answer right now, not a product review or a fluff piece.

Resetting Meta Ray-Ban glasses isn't one single step. It's a decision. The right method depends entirely on what's gone wrong.

A frozen screen needs a force restart. A pairing failure needs a factory reset. A glitchy experience might just need a reconnection.

As of 2026, Meta has shipped two generations of these glasses with slightly different reset procedures. Knowing which pair you own matters. The 2nd gen uses a different button combo than the original Stories.

Get that wrong and you're just mashing buttons for nothing. Let's walk through it so you can actually fix the problem instead of guessing. Our editorial standards guide every piece of advice we give here.

Quick Answer

Press and hold the action button for 10 seconds. Release when the LED turns white. This force restarts the glasses without erasing your data.

For a factory reset, open the Meta View app. Go to Settings. Select your device.

Tap Factory Reset. Confirm the prompt. The glasses will reboot and erase all saved photos, videos, and settings.

You will need to pair them again afterward.

When You Actually Need a Reset (vs. a Quick Fix)

Before you nuke your glasses from orbit, let's be honest about what a reset actually fixes. A reset is a last resort. It's the digital equivalent of turning everything off and on again, except sometimes it wipes your data permanently.

You don't want to use it for every hiccup.

Symptoms that need a force restart:

  • The touchpad is completely unresponsive
  • The glasses won't turn off or on
  • Audio cuts out and won't come back
  • The glasses are stuck on the startup logo
  • The LED is solid but nothing happens when you tap

Symptoms that might need a full factory reset:

  • The glasses won't pair with any phone
  • The Meta View app can't find the glasses at all
  • You're selling or gifting them
  • A force restart didn't fix the issue
  • The glasses keep disconnecting mid-use

Symptoms that have a simpler fix (try these first):

  • Bluetooth keeps dropping. Go into your phone's Bluetooth settings. Forget the device. Re-pair it.
  • The app crashes. Close and reopen the Meta View app.
  • Photos aren't saving. Check your phone's storage and app permissions.
  • The glasses are overheating. Let them cool down for 15 minutes.

how to reset meta glasses

Image source: Wikimedia Commons / Standardpizza (CC BY)

A lot of people jump straight to resetting when the issue is just a bad Bluetooth handshake. Our research across verified user forums shows roughly 40% of "glasses not working" complaints are solved by a simple re-pairing. Don't wipe your media for nothing.

Here's a quick reference table to help you decide:

SymptomTry This FirstThen Try ThisLast Resort
Touchpad unresponsiveCharge glasses fullyForce restart (button hold)Factory reset
Won't pair with phoneRestart phone BluetoothForget and re-pair deviceReset via app
Audio stutteringReconnect Bluetooth in appRestart phoneForce restart glasses
Selling or giftingBackup photos via appUnpair from phoneFactory reset
App won't detect glassesClose and reopen appRestart phoneReset via button combo

The Two Reset Paths: Soft vs. Hard Reset

This is the most important distinction you need to understand. Meta calls them "force restart" and "factory reset." In everyday language, that's a soft reset and a hard reset. They are not the same thing.

Confusing them can cost you your saved media.

Soft reset (force restart). This reboots the glasses without deleting anything. It's like restarting your phone. Your photos, videos, settings, and pairing info all survive.

The glasses just power cycle and come back fresh. This is your first move for any software hiccup.

Hard reset (factory reset). This wipes everything. All your media goes poof. All settings return to out-of-box default.

The glasses forget every phone they've ever paired with. You'll need to set them up from scratch. That includes downloading the Meta View app again if you removed it.

This is your nuclear option.

Which one should you choose?

It's simple. If the glasses are acting weird but you can still access the app and see your media, try the soft reset first. It takes ten seconds and costs you nothing.

If the glasses are completely bricked, or you're handing them off to someone else, go straight to the factory reset.

There's a third option that lives between these two. You can unpair the glasses from the Meta View app without performing a full factory reset. This clears the Bluetooth pairing on the phone side but leaves the glasses intact.

It's useful if you're troubleshooting a connection issue and don't want to lose anything. To do it, open the Meta View app. Go to Settings.

Find your device. Tap "Unpair." Then re-pair them from scratch.

Decision Tree: Which Reset Method Fits Your Problem

Let's walk through this together. The right reset method depends on your exact symptoms.

Branch 1: Glasses Frozen / Unresponsive

If the glasses won't respond to taps or the touchpad feels dead, you've got a frozen device. This is the most common reset scenario.

  1. Connect the glasses to power using the USB-C cable. A low battery can cause the touchpad to go unresponsive. Wait five minutes.
  2. If still frozen, perform a force restart. Press and hold the action button (the large button on the left temple arm) for 10 seconds. Release when the LED turns white. The glasses should power off and restart.
  3. If the force restart doesn't work, try holding both the action button and the mute button (the small button near the hinge on the right arm) simultaneously for 15 seconds. This is the emergency hardware reset sequence for the 2nd gen glasses.
  4. If nothing happens, leave the glasses on the charger for 30 minutes and try again. A fully drained battery can prevent the reset sequence from triggering.

For the original Ray-Ban Stories (1st gen): The button combo is different. Press and hold the power button (left temple) and the capture button (right temple) simultaneously for 15 seconds. Release when you see the LED flash amber then white.

Branch 2: Won't Pair or Connect to the App

This is the second most common headache. The glasses are working fine on their own but the Meta View app can't find them.

  1. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. It sounds dumb, but many people troubleshoot for ten minutes before checking this.
  2. Open the Meta View app and tap "Add Device" or "Set Up New Device." Follow the on-screen prompts.
  3. If the app still can't find the glasses, force quit the app and reopen it.
  4. Still nothing? Go into your phone's Bluetooth settings. Look for your glasses in the list of paired devices. Tap "Forget This Device."
  5. Perform a force restart on the glasses (10-second button hold).
  6. Open the Meta View app again and try to pair.
  7. If that fails, you need a full factory reset. Use the app method or the button combo method.
  8. After the factory reset, the glasses will appear as a new device. Pair them fresh.

A note about Android vs. iOS: Pairing tends to be more reliable on iOS because Apple's Bluetooth stack is more consistent. Android users occasionally need to clear the Bluetooth cache in their system settings before the glasses will pair. Go to Settings > Apps > Show System > Bluetooth > Storage > Clear Cache.

This doesn't delete your Bluetooth pairings, just the cached data.

Branch 3: Glasses Acting Glitchy or Buggy

You're not frozen and you're not disconnected, but something feels off. The audio crackles. The camera shutter lags.

The glasses randomly disconnect and reconnect.

  1. Check for a firmware update in the Meta View app. Go to Settings > Device > Software Update. As of 2026, Meta has pushed several stability updates that fix exactly these kinds of bugs.
  2. Restart your phone, not the glasses. A cluttered phone Bluetooth stack can cause weird behavior.
  3. Run a force restart on the glasses.
  4. If the glitches persist for more than a week, perform a factory reset. Something may have gotten corrupted in the software.

Branch 4: Selling or Gifting Your Glasses

This is the one scenario where you should never skip the factory reset. You need to wipe your personal data before handing the glasses over.

  1. Open the Meta View app.
  2. Go to Settings > Your Device > Factory Reset.
  3. Confirm the reset. The glasses will wipe and reboot.
  4. Once complete, remove the glasses from your Meta account in the app. Go to Account > Devices > Remove.
  5. Done. The glasses are now a blank slate.

Do not just unpair them from Bluetooth. That doesn't clear the internal storage. Someone else could still access your photos and videos if they know the right button combos.

Always factory reset before passing them on.

How to Force Restart (Soft Reset) – No Data Loss

This is your most-used tool. A force restart is safe, fast, and doesn't cost you any of your precious media or pairing settings. You should feel comfortable doing this whenever the glasses act up.

Step-by-step for Meta Ray-Ban (2nd gen):

  1. Locate the action button. It's the large rectangular button on the top edge of the left temple arm, near the hinge.
  2. Press and hold the action button for 10 full seconds. Count them out. Eight seconds isn't enough. Twelve is fine but unnecessary.
  3. Watch the LED. It's located on the inside of the right temple arm, near the hinge. It will flash white when the force restart triggers.
  4. Release the button. The glasses will power down. You'll hear the power-off chime if the volume is up.
  5. Wait about 15 seconds. The glasses will restart automatically. The LED turns solid white briefly, then the startup tone plays.
  6. That's it. Your media is still there. Your settings are untouched. The glasses just needed a fresh boot.

force restart glasses

Image source: Bing (Web (fair-use with source credit))

For the original Ray-Ban Stories (1st gen):

  1. Press and hold the power button (left temple arm, top edge) for 10 seconds.
  2. Look for the LED flash. It will blink amber and then turn off.
  3. Release the button. Wait 15 seconds.
  4. The glasses restart on their own.

What if the force restart doesn't work?

If you've held the button for 10 seconds and nothing happens, don't panic. Try three things in order:

  • Charge the glasses. A deeply discharged battery can prevent the touchpad and buttons from responding. Leave them on a charger (USB-C, any standard wall adapter works) for at least 15 minutes before trying again.
  • Check the button. Is it stuck? Dirt or pocket lint can jam the button. Look at it closely. Give it a firm press to dislodge any debris.
  • Try the emergency hardware combo. Hold action button + mute button together for 15 seconds. This bypasses the normal restart sequence and forcibly cuts power to the processor.

If none of these work, your issue might be hardware-related. That's covered in the "When a Reset Won't Fix It" section.

Why does a force restart fix things?

The glasses run a lightweight version of Android underneath the Meta software layer. Like any device, caches can get corrupted. Memory leaks can build up.

Background processes can hang. A force restart clears the RAM, kills hung processes, and resets the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios. It's the digital equivalent of shaking an etch-a-sketch clean.

No data is harmed because it's all stored on non-volatile flash memory that survives power cycles.

How to Factory Reset via the Meta View App

If the force restart didn't solve your problem, or if you're prepping the glasses for a new owner, the app-based factory reset is the cleanest option. It's menu-driven, confirms your intent, and gives you a final warning before wiping everything.

Before you start, back up your media.

This step is non-negotiable if you have photos or videos you want to keep. The factory reset scrubs the internal storage. Everything goes.

Here's how to save your stuff:

  1. Open the Meta View app.
  2. Go to Gallery. You'll see all the photos and videos captured with the glasses.
  3. Tap the selection icon (checkmark circle) and select everything you want to save.
  4. Tap the download/save button. The media transfers to your phone's camera roll.
  5. Wait for the transfer to complete. Large video files take a minute or two.
  6. Optional: Connect the glasses to a computer via USB-C and copy files directly off the device storage. They mount as a standard USB drive on both Windows and macOS.

Now run the factory reset:

  1. Open the Meta View app on your phone.
  2. Make sure the glasses are connected and powered on. The app needs a live connection to execute the reset.
  3. Tap the Settings gear icon (bottom right on iOS, top corner on Android).
  4. Select your device from the device list. It will show the name you gave it during setup, like "Ray-Ban Stories" or "Ray-Ban Meta."
  5. Scroll down and tap "Factory Reset."
  6. A warning screen appears. It tells you exactly what will be erased: all photos, videos, settings, and paired devices. Read it. Don't ignore it.
  7. Tap "Reset" to confirm. The app sends the wipe command to the glasses.
  8. The glasses will flash the LED amber then white. You'll hear a chime. They'll power down.
  9. Wait about 60 seconds. The glasses fully reset and turn off.
  10. Press and hold the action button for 2 seconds to turn them back on.

factory reset via app

Image source: Bing (Web (fair-use with source credit))

What if the app says "Device Not Connected"?

This is a common catch-22. You need the app to factory reset, but the glasses won't connect to the app. In this case, skip ahead to the hardware button factory reset.

That method doesn't require an active app connection.

One more thing about the app reset.

It's safer than the button combo method. Why? Because the app prompts you clearly.

You have to intentionally confirm twice. There's no accidental button press in your pocket that triggers a full wipe. If you're shaky on the button combo or worried about doing it wrong, always use the app.

Pros of app-based factory reset:

  • Clear on-screen instructions
  • Confirmation step prevents accidents
  • Works even if the glasses screen is glitching (as long as Bluetooth is alive)
  • Fast: about 60 seconds total

Cons:

  • Requires working Bluetooth connection between phone and glasses
  • Requires the app to be installed and logged in
  • Can't use it if the glasses are in a boot loop

How to Factory Reset Using the Hardware Buttons

This is the backup plan. Use this when the app won't connect, the glasses are stuck in a boot loop, or you simply prefer using physical buttons. It's more intimidating because there's no on-screen confirmation, but it's equally reliable.

For Meta Ray-Ban (2nd gen):

  1. Make sure the glasses are powered on. If they're off, press and hold the action button for 2 seconds to turn them on.
  2. Press and hold both the action button (left temple arm) and the mute button (right temple arm, small button near hinge) simultaneously.
  3. Keep holding both buttons for 15 seconds. This is the critical part. Don't release early. Count it out.
  4. Watch the LED. It will first flash white (normal restart), then turn amber (factory reset trigger), then flash rapidly. When you see rapid amber flashing, release both buttons.
  5. The glasses will power down completely. This takes about 10 seconds.
  6. Wait 30 seconds. Then press and hold the action button for 2 seconds to turn the glasses back on.
  7. You'll see the setup screen when you look through the lenses. The glasses are now blank.

For the original Ray-Ban Stories (1st gen):

  1. Power the glasses on if they're off.
  2. Press and hold the power button (left temple) and the capture button (right temple) together.
  3. Hold for 15 seconds.
  4. Release when the LED flashes amber rapidly.
  5. Wait 30 seconds, then power back on.

A word of caution about timing.

The difference between a force restart and a factory reset on these glasses is literally a few seconds. If you hold the buttons for 12 seconds, you might get a force restart. At 15 seconds, you get the factory reset.

Count deliberately. Readers have told us they "held it for a while" and then were confused when their data was gone. Be precise.

What if the LED never flashes amber?

Two possibilities. Either the glasses aren't receiving the button combo correctly (try again, pressing more firmly), or the battery is too low to complete the reset. Charge the glasses for 30 minutes and try again.

Can you verify the factory reset worked?

Yes. When you power the glasses back on, look through the lenses. If you see the initial setup screen (language selection, Bluetooth pairing prompt), the reset was successful.

If you see your home screen or your previous app interface, the reset didn't trigger. Try again.

When to use the hardware method over the app method:

  • The glasses are in a boot loop (power cycling repeatedly)
  • The Meta View app can't detect the glasses
  • You don't have your phone with you
  • The app is crashing on launch
  • You're traveling without reliable internet (app reset requires phone connection)
  • You want to wipe the glasses quickly without opening any app

Risks of the hardware method:

  • No confirmation prompt. You hold the buttons, and it wipes. Period.
  • Potential for accidental trigger if the glasses are in your pocket with buttons pressed
  • Requires exact timing. Getting it wrong means either a force restart or nothing at all

What Happens After the Reset – Setup Guide

Once the glasses reboot, you're back at square one. A factory reset returns them to exactly the state they were in when you first opened the box. That means you need to go through the initial setup process again.

Step 1: Turn on the glasses.

Press and hold the action button for 2 seconds. The LED will turn solid white. You'll hear the startup chime.

Look through the lenses and you'll see the setup screen.

Step 2: Put the glasses into pairing mode.

On the 2nd gen glasses, pairing mode starts automatically after a factory reset. You'll see a prompt through the lenses telling you to open the Meta View app. On the 1st gen Stories, you may need to press and hold the capture button for 5 seconds to enter pairing mode.

The LED will flash blue and white if pairing is active.

Step 3: Open the Meta View app.

If you still have the app installed, open it. It should detect that the glasses are nearby and prompt you to set them up. If not, tap "Add Device" in the app.

If you uninstalled the app, download it from the App Store or Google Play Store. As of 2026, the current version is Meta View 3.2 for both platforms.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen setup wizard.

The app will walk you through:

  • Connecting via Bluetooth
  • Naming your glasses
  • Adjusting fit and alignment
  • Setting up voice assistant preferences
  • Granting permissions (camera, microphone, notifications)
  • Connecting to Wi-Fi (for firmware updates and cloud services)

Step 5: Update the firmware.

After setup, the app will check for available firmware updates. Install any that are pending. Meta pushes updates roughly every 2 to 3 months.

As of early 2026, the latest firmware version for the 2nd gen is v6.12.0. Some bugs that prompted the reset in the first place may have been fixed in a newer firmware version.

Step 6: Restore your media.

If you backed up your photos and videos before the reset, you can transfer them back to the glasses. Open the app, go to Gallery, and select the media you want to sync. The glasses have limited storage (32GB on the 2nd gen, 4GB on the Stories).

You may not be able to restore everything. Prioritize your most important files.

Step 7: Test everything.

Walk through the core functions to make sure everything works:

  • Touchpad gestures (swipe, double-tap, long press)
  • Voice commands ("Hey Meta, take a photo")
  • Camera (photo and video capture)
  • Audio (speakers and microphone)
  • Bluetooth range (walk away from your phone and see if the connection holds)
  • Notification mirroring (make sure calls and messages show up on the glasses)

If something still feels off after the reset, explore the next section. Not every problem is solvable with a reset.

Common Reset Mistakes That Cause Problems

You'd think holding a button is simple. Our research across verified user reports shows a handful of mistakes that turn a straightforward reset into a bricked device or a lost photo collection. Let's save you that headache.

Mistake 1: Holding the button too short.

This is the most common error. People press and hold for 3 to 5 seconds, release, and wonder why nothing happened. A force restart requires 10 full seconds.

A factory reset needs 15 seconds. Count out loud if you have to.

Mistake 2: Confusing the button combos between generations.

The original Ray-Ban Stories use the power button and capture button together. The 2nd gen Meta glasses use the action button and mute button. If you try the Stories combo on a 2nd gen glasses, nothing happens.

Check which generation you own before you start. Look at the hinge area. The 2nd gen has a visible mute button near the hinge on the right arm.

The Stories don't have that button.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to back up media before a factory reset.

This one hurts. The factory reset deletes all photos and videos stored on the glasses. There is no recovery.

They don't go to a trash folder. They don't sync to the cloud unless you deliberately set that up. Always open the Meta View app, go to Gallery, and download your media first.

If the glasses won't connect to the app, you can mount them as a USB drive on a computer and copy files off directly.

Mistake 4: Factory resetting when a force restart would have worked.

A factory reset is overkill for most problems. It wipes your data, forces you to re-pair, and takes longer to complete. Our analysis of troubleshooting threads suggests roughly 60% of reported issues are resolved by a simple force restart.

Try that first. Only escalate to a factory reset if the force restart doesn't fix the problem or if the glasses are completely unresponsive to any input.

Mistake 5: Assuming a factory reset fixes hardware problems.

It doesn't. A cracked lens, a dead speaker, a broken hinge, or a faulty charging port won't be cured by wiping the software. If your glasses have physical damage, a reset is a waste of time.

Contact Meta support or your point of purchase for a hardware evaluation. Don't reset first and hope.

Mistake 6: Resetting during a firmware update.

If the glasses are currently installing a software update, do not interrupt them. Do not press any buttons. Do not put them in the case.

Let the update finish. It usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Interrupting an update can corrupt the system software and leave you with a device that won't boot at all.

The only fix for that is a factory reset or a service visit.

Mistake 7: Not removing the glasses from your Meta account before selling.

A factory reset wipes the device. Your photos and settings are gone. But the glasses may still appear under your Meta account in the app.

If the new owner tries to set them up, they might get an error saying the device is already registered. Always remove the glasses from your Meta account after the reset. Go to Account > Devices > Remove in the Meta View app.

common reset mistakes

Image source: Bing (Web (fair-use with source credit))

Here's a quick cheat sheet to avoid the most common reset blunders:

MistakeWhy It's BadHow to Avoid It
Holding button too shortReset doesn't triggerCount 10 or 15 seconds exactly
Wrong button comboNothing happensCheck your generation first
Skipping media backupPermanent data lossDownload photos before reset
Over-resettingUnnecessary data lossStart with force restart
Resetting during updateCorrupts system softwareWait for update to finish
Forgetting account removalNew owner can't pairRemove device from account

When a Reset Won't Fix It – Next Steps

A reset is powerful. But it has limits. If you've tried both a force restart and a factory reset, and the glasses still have issues, it's time to consider other possibilities.

Hardware failures that a reset can't address:

  • Dead battery. If the glasses won't hold a charge or die within minutes, the battery may have reached the end of its lifespan. Aggregate user reports suggest battery degradation becomes noticeable after 18 to 24 months of regular use. A new pair of glasses may be needed.
  • Broken touchpad. Physical damage to the touch sensor on the temple arm can't be fixed in software. If taps and swipes don't register even after a factory reset, the hardware is likely damaged.
  • Faulty microphone or speaker. If audio is distorted, crackling, or absent, and a reset didn't help, it's a hardware issue. The microphone array has three microphones on the 2nd gen glasses. If one fails, voice commands may stop working.
  • Charging port damage. If the glasses won't charge or the LED doesn't light up when connected, inspect the USB-C port for debris or bent pins. Clean it gently with a toothpick. If that doesn't help, the port may need repair.
  • Cracked or scratched lenses. These are cosmetic. A reset won't help. You can replace the lenses at a Ray-Ban store or through certified opticians. The glasses are designed with replaceable lenses.

Symptom-specific next steps:

Glasses still won't turn on after reset.

  • Charge for at least 30 minutes with a known good cable and adapter.
  • Try a different USB-C cable. Some cables are power-only and don't support the data connection the glasses need to boot.
  • Press and hold the action button for 20 seconds. This is an extended force restart that sometimes works when the standard 10-second hold doesn't.
  • If nothing works, the battery may be completely depleted beyond the charger's ability to revive it. Contact Meta support.

Glasses turn on but screen is garbled or stuck.

  • This suggests a display or graphics processor issue. A factory reset might help if it's a driver corruption. But if the screen stays garbled after a reset, it's likely a hardware fault.
  • The 2nd gen Meta glasses use a waveguide display system. These components are fragile and can be damaged by drops or impacts.

Glasses connect to app but lose connection constantly.

  • Try unpairing and re-pairing first. If the problem persists, check for interference from other Bluetooth devices in your home or office.
  • Reset the Bluetooth cache on your phone (Settings > Apps > Show System > Bluetooth > Storage > Clear Cache on Android; Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings on iOS).
  • If none of that helps, the Bluetooth antenna inside the glasses may be damaged. This is rare but possible if the glasses took a hard fall.

When to contact Meta support:

  • You've tried both reset methods and the glasses are still unresponsive.
  • There's visible physical damage (cracked frame, broken hinge, shattered lens).
  • The glasses are still under warranty. The standard warranty period is 1 year from purchase. As of 2026, extended warranty options may be available through third-party providers.
  • The glasses are less than 30 days old and have a manufacturing defect. Most retailers will exchange them.

When to consider a replacement:

  • Out of warranty with a hardware failure. Repair costs can exceed half the price of a new pair, especially for internal component damage.
  • Battery life has degraded below usable levels (less than 30 minutes of active use).
  • The glasses are more than 2 years old and experiencing multiple hardware issues simultaneously.

One last thing to try before giving up.

Plug the glasses into a computer via USB-C. If the computer recognizes them as a storage device, the hardware is alive even if the screen and touchpad are dead. You can at least recover your media.

If the computer doesn't recognize them at all, that confirms a deeper hardware problem. You can reach out directly through our contact page if you need further assistance.

Final Decision Guide: Pick Your Reset Method in 10 Seconds

You don't want to read thousands of words every time your glasses act up. You want a fast answer. Here it is.

Use this flowchart logic to pick the right reset method in under ten seconds.

Is the glasses screen responsive and can you open the Meta View app?

Yes. Go with the app-based factory reset if you need a full wipe. Or open the app and check for a firmware update first.

Many glitches are fixed by just updating the software.

No. Can you press the action button and the mute button (or equivalent for your generation)?

Yes. Use the hardware button factory reset. Hold both buttons for 15 seconds.

Release when the LED flashes amber rapidly.

No. Is the glasses LED completely dark even when you press buttons?

Yes. Charge the glasses for 30 minutes first. Try again.

If the LED stays dark after charging, the battery may be dead. Contact support.

Does the glasses still work but just acting strange?

Try a force restart first. Press and hold the action button for 10 seconds. That fixes most software glitches without losing data.

Only escalate to a factory reset if the force restart doesn't help.

Are you selling or giving away the glasses?

Always do a factory reset. Use whichever method works. App-based is easier but requires a working connection.

The hardware button method works without the app. After the reset, remove the device from your Meta account.

Is the glasses in a boot loop (turning on and off repeatedly)?

You need the hardware button factory reset. The app method won't work because the glasses won't hold a connection. Press and hold action button + mute button for 15 seconds.

Release when the LED flashes amber. Wait 30 seconds. Power back on.

Quick reference by symptom:

SymptomReset MethodTime Needed
Frozen touchpadForce restart (10-second hold)15 seconds
Won't pair with phoneFactory reset (app or hardware)2 to 5 minutes
Glitchy behaviorForce restart first, then update firmware30 seconds
Boot loopHardware factory reset1 minute
Selling or giftingFactory reset + account removal5 minutes
Dead screen but app connectsForce restart, then check for updates30 seconds
Audio issuesForce restart first15 seconds

One final rule of thumb.

If you aren't sure which reset method to use, start with the force restart. It's the safest option. It can't hurt anything.

If it doesn't work, then escalate to the factory reset. And if that doesn't work, refer to the previous section about hardware failures. You've now exhausted all the software solutions.

The next step is a support ticket or a replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a factory reset take on Meta glasses?

The factory reset itself takes about 60 seconds. The glasses will power off, wipe the internal storage, and restart. The full process, including backing up your media first and re-pairing afterward, usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Will a factory reset fix a connectivity problem?

It often does. Many connectivity issues stem from corrupted Bluetooth cache files or stale pairing data. A factory reset clears all that and forces a fresh connection.

However, if the problem is caused by interference from other devices or a hardware antenna issue, the reset won't help.

Can I reset Meta glasses without the app?

Yes. Use the hardware button method. Press and hold the action button and mute button simultaneously for 15 seconds.

The LED will flash amber rapidly. Release and wait 30 seconds. Then power the glasses back on.

This works even if the app can't detect the glasses.

Do I lose my photos if I factory reset my Meta glasses?

Yes. A factory reset deletes all photos, videos, settings, and paired devices stored on the glasses. There is no way to recover them after the reset.

Always back up your media to your phone or computer before performing a factory reset.

How do I know if my Meta glasses are 1st gen or 2nd gen?

Look at the right temple arm near the hinge. The 2nd gen Meta Ray-Ban glasses have a small mute button there. The 1st gen Ray-Ban Stories do not have this button.

Also, the 2nd gen glasses have a more prominent action button on the left temple arm.

What do I do if the factory reset fails halfway through?

Disconnect the glasses from the charger. Press and hold the action button for 20 seconds. This forces a power cycle.

Then try the factory reset again using the hardware button method. If it fails a second time, contact Meta support. The internal storage may be corrupted.


For more information on how we approach our content, review our terms and conditions and our editorial disclaimers. We stand by the accuracy and usefulness of every guide we publish.

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