If your keyboard isn’t working, and you’re considering having it repaired by a service center, you might want to try a factory reset first. I’ve had quite a few customers come in with apparently mute keyboards that, in fact, just needed a factory reset.
Your Yamaha’s memory can become corrupted over time. This might be from being powered off suddenly—unplugged at an inopportune moment. It might be from a static shock. A keyboard with corrupted memory might not boot correctly, or it might not produce any sound. A factory reset can clear that corrupted memory and restore normal function.
Yamaha uses a handful of repeatable patterns—either a menu-driven reset from the screen or a power‑on key hold. Below I’ve grouped the most common procedures.
Always back up user data first, since these resets will clear stored settings and saved files.
Hold the highest (rightmost) white key while powering on
This applies to most digital pianos and keyboards in the Clavinova/CLP/CVP/YDP series, portable P series, Piaggero/NP series, PSR/YPT series, and reface/CS/CP/YC/DX series.
If a Yamaha Clavinova or portable keyboard isn’t producing any sound, or has any other unexplained misbehavior, I follow this procedure first. This is the most common way to perform a factory reset on Yamaha Clavinovas and portable keyboards, according to Yamaha’s public FAQs.
With power off, hold the rightmost white key (top/highest C) while turning the instrument on. This initializes “backup” settings (and on many models, general defaults) but typically does not delete computer‑transferred songs/styles unless stated.
Menu-based Factory Reset
The factory reset option is accessible through internal menus on many models. Names differ by family, but the idea is the same. These screens often let you choose scope (system setup, user memory, files) and sometimes create backups first.
The steps below are sourced from Yamaha’s public FAQ pages, forums, and Google Groups. I’ve personally executed some of these, but not all. Please reach out if you have anything to add!
PSR‑SX / Genos / pro arrangers
MENU → Utility → Factory Reset/Backup.
PSR‑S670 and similar
FUNCTION → I → TAB to SYSTEM → RESET; check desired items and press [7]/[8] (FACTORY RESET EXECUTE). A power‑on reset (holding the highest white key while powering on) also exists for system setup.
PSR‑A5000
MENU → Utility → Factory Reset/Backup.
MONTAGE / MONTAGE M / MODX / MODX+
UTILITY → Settings → System → Initialize All Data.
CP88/73 (stage pianos)
MENU → Job → Factory Reset.
YC61/73/88 (stage keyboards)
MENU → Job → Factory Reset.
CK61/88 (stage keyboards)
MENU → Job → Factory Reset.
MX49/MX61/MX88
UTILITY → JOB → 02: FactrySet (as labeled)
SY55
With the power on, press and hold SELECT + EXIT + UTILITY to enter Test Mode. Press SELECT, then +1/YES to proceed. Use PAGE> until you see J31: Factory Set, then press ENTER, +1/YES to execute.
Power‑on + the highest white key plus the three highest black keys (“Flash Clear”)
This applies to most keyboards in the DGX/YPG series, PSR‑E/YPT series, and NP‑V series.
This is the common Yamaha method to clear files in flash—User Songs and Styles transferred from a computer or USB—in addition to resetting backup data. With the power off, hold the top white key and the top three black keys, then power on.
Power‑on + the highest white and highest black (“All Memory Clear”)
On some early 2000s portables (e.g., DGX‑202), Yamaha documented an All Memory Clear by holding the top white and the top black at power‑on (“All Mem CLr”). Holding only the top black cleared just loaded song data. Check the model’s manual for the exact labeling.
Test mode resets
Most Yamaha digital instruments have a Test Mode that’s accessible by pressing some combination of keys and buttons while powering on the instrument. You do not usually need to enter Test Mode to perform a factory reset.
However, in most of their instruments, you can run the factory reset this way if you need to. And in some older instruments, it might be the only option. If you need to use Test Mode, the only certain instructions will come from the service manual.
On many Yamaha keyboards, it’s accessed by pressing the C#, F, and G# two octaves below middle C, while powering on the instrument.
Use test mode at your own risk! Undocumented service functions can erase content without warning.
