How to Reset a Nikon D3500

Here’s a guide on how to reset a Nikon D3500 back to factory settings. This can be useful if you’re troubleshooting an issue, selling or trading-in your D3500, or just want to start again with a clean slate of settings.

Text & Photos By David Coleman

Last Revised & Updated: April 18, 2024

Filed Under: DSLRs

Topics: Nikon, Nikon D3500

I MAY get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Whether you’re troubleshooting an issue, selling or trading in your D3500, or just want to start again with a clean slate of settings, resetting a Nikon D3500 back to factory settings can be a useful step.

The Nikon D3500 has a few different types of reset. The Reset all options setting wipes all settings back to their factory defaults. There are also more targeted methods that focus only on one of two categories: setup options and shooting options.

Here’s a rundown of the options for resetting a D3500 and what the options do. I’ve also included tables with the defaults for individual settings in case you just want to reset specific settings.

Reset Nikon D3500 Back to Factory Settings

There is a nuclear option, which resets all the shooting and setup settings on a D3500.

It is functionally the same as using the “Reset setup options” and the “Reset shooting menu” simultaneously.

This function is located at the very end of the Setup menu options. Scroll down to the bottom–it’s the second-to-last setting, right above the firmware version menu option.

Setup Menu (wrench icon) > Reset all settings

Reset Setup Options

This is a more targeted approach that resets everything under the Setup Menu but leaves everything under the Shooting Menu untouched.

You can find this function under:

Setup Menu (wrench icon) > Reset setup options

These are the settings it affects. I’ve included the default options here in case you just want to change individual settings back to factory defaults.

Menu Option	Default Setting
Date stamp	OFF
Time zone and date	UTC-1 / Date Format (
Language	English (regional variations)
Monitor brightness	0
Info display format	Graphic
Auto info display	ON
Auto off timers	NORM
Self-timer	10s / 1
Image comment	OFF
Copyright information	OFF
Beep	L
Flicker reduction	AUTO
Buttons	Fn (ISO) / AEL-AFL (AE/AF lock) / Shutter release AEL (OFF) / AF activation (ON)
Rangefinder	OFF
Manual focus ring in AF mode	ON
File number sequence	OFF
Storage folder	100
File naming	DSC
HDMI	Output resolution (AUTO) / Device control (ON)
Airplane mode	OFF
Send to smart device (auto)	OFF
Bluetooth	OFF
Slot empty release lock	LOCK

Reset Shooting Menu

This resets everything under the Setup Menu but leaves everything under the shooting menu untouched.

You can find this option under:

Shooting Menu (camera icon) > Rest shooting menu

These are the settings it affects. I’ve included the default options here in case you just want to change individual settings back to factory defaults.

Menu Option	Default Setting
Image quality	NORM
Image size	L
ISO sensitivity settings	(100) / Auto ISO (ON) / Max sensitivity (25600) / Minimum shutter speed (AUTO)
White balance	AUTO
Set Picture Control	SD
Color space	sRGB
Active D-Lighting	ON
Noise reduction	ON
Vignette control	NORMAL
Auto distortion control	OFF
Focus mode	Viewfinder (AF-A) / Live view-movie (AF-S)
AF-area mode	Viewfinder (Auto-area AF) / Live view-movie (Wide-area AF)
Built-in AF-assist illuminator	ON
Metering	Matrix metering
Flash cntrl for built-in flash	TTL
Optical VR	ON
Movie settings	Frame size-frame rate (1080p60) / Movie quality (NORM) / Microphone (A) / Wind noise reduction (OFF) / Manual movie settings (OFF)

Things Worth Knowing

None of these reset options will roll back firmware to factory settings. If you’ve updated the firmware, the newer firmware will remain in place.
They also do not format the memory card or delete photos or videos. (Of course, if you want to be extra-safe, there’s no harm in downloading your photos and videos first or removing the SD card during the reset.)

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David Coleman

I'm a professional photographer based in Washington, DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and many places in between. I've been shooting for 30+ years, and my photos and time-lapse videos have appeared in a bunch of different publications, from major newspapers to magazines and books, billboards, TV shows, professional sports stadiums, museums, and even massive architectural scrims covering world-famous buildings while they're being renovated. You can see some of my travel photography here and here.

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