Factory-reset your ProxyBox

If you're transferring a ProxyBox to a new owner, or the device is stuck in a weird state, a factory reset brings it back to "just plugged in for the first time." There are three ways to do this.

Method 1: from the app (preferred)

Open the app, open your device, tap the 3-dot menu, then "Factory Reset." Confirm. The server queues a wipe command; the ProxyBox receives it on next heartbeat and resets within 60 seconds.

This method works when the device is online and reachable. For offline devices, use method 2 or 3.

Method 2: force via admin

If you have admin access, the admin dashboard has a "Factory Reset" button per device. Same underlying mechanism as the app, but accessible regardless of device-sharing permissions.

Method 3: physical reset (if device is completely offline)

If your device is offline and you can't reach it via the app, you'll need to re-flash the SD card. This is a "nuclear" reset:

1. Unplug the ProxyBox. Pop the SD card out of the box.
2. Insert the SD card into a computer's card reader.
3. Download the latest ProxyBox firmware image from your order confirmation email.
4. Use balenaEtcher (or any SD-card imaging tool) to flash the image onto the SD card.
5. Put the card back in the ProxyBox, power on. Device boots as a fresh unit.
6. Re-pair in the app.

This is the last-resort method. If your device is online at all, prefer method 1 or 2.

What factory reset does

• Wipes device identity (device_id, device_secret).
• Wipes WireGuard keys.
• Wipes SSH host keys (regenerated on next boot).
• Wipes per-device admin password (regenerated on next boot).
• Wipes proxy admin password (regenerated on next boot).

What it does NOT wipe

• Does NOT wipe /opt/proxybox source files, those are the firmware.
• Does NOT wipe the Wi-Fi configuration, the device stays connected to the same network.
• If you want to remove Wi-Fi too, use "Deprovision". That wipes both identity AND Wi-Fi, putting the device back in pairing mode (BLE plus the captive Wi-Fi portal).

Transferring a device to a new owner

Best practice:

1. From the app, "Factory Reset" the device.
2. Also "Deprovision" to clear Wi-Fi.
3. Physically hand the device to the new owner.
4. They plug it in and pair via their own ProxyBox account using any of the three paths in Three ways to pair.

The device now belongs to them. Your old account shows no record of the device except an archived entry in the device log.

Last updated: 2026-04-29