The quickest way to restart your Samsung tablet
The fastest reboot is a soft reset: hold the power button on the side or top of your tablet for about 10 seconds until the power menu appears, then tap Restart or Reboot. Your tablet will shut down and turn back on within 30 seconds. This fixes most freezing, app crashes, and slow performance without erasing anything.
A soft reset is what you should try first. It clears your tablet's temporary memory and closes all running apps, which solves the problem about 80 percent of the time. You do not lose files, photos, accounts, or settings.
Key Takeaways
- A soft reset using the power button is the safest first step and fixes most performance problems without deleting anything.
- If your tablet is frozen and the power button does not work, hold the power and volume down buttons together for 10 to 15 seconds to force a restart.
- A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and should only be used if the tablet is broken or you are selling it — back up your data first.
- Most Samsung tablets take 30 seconds to 2 minutes to restart, depending on how many apps you have installed.
Force restart when your tablet is completely frozen
If your tablet does not respond to the power button, you can force it to restart. Hold down the power button and volume down button at the same time for 10 to 15 seconds. The screen will go black, and then your tablet will restart. This works even if the screen is frozen or the tablet appears dead.
A force restart is harder on your tablet than a soft reset because it cuts power when ready instead of shutting down cleanly, but it is safe to do and will not erase your data. Use it only when the tablet will not respond to anything else.
Factory reset: erasing everything and starting over
A factory reset wipes your tablet completely and returns it to the state it was in when you first took it out of the box. All apps, photos, files, accounts, and settings are deleted. Do this only if your tablet is broken beyond repair, you are selling or giving it away, or you want a completely clean start.
Before you factory reset, back up anything you want to keep. You can back up photos and files to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Samsung Cloud. After the backup is done, go to Settings > General > Reset > Factory Data Reset (the exact path varies slightly by Samsung model and Android version). Tap Delete All, and your tablet will restart and erase itself. This takes 5 to 15 minutes.
What to do while your tablet restarts
During a restart, your tablet will show the Samsung logo or a loading screen. Do not unplug it, press buttons, or move it. Let it finish on its own. A soft restart usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes. A force restart may take slightly longer. A factory reset can take 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data was on the tablet.
If your tablet gets stuck on the loading screen for more than 20 minutes, try a force restart again. If it still does not work, the tablet may have a hardware problem and you should contact Samsung support or visit a repair shop.
When to restart versus when to try something else
Restart your tablet if it is slow, an app keeps crashing, the screen is frozen, or it is not responding to touches. A restart fixes most of these problems. If restarting does not help after two tries, the problem may be a broken app, a storage issue, or a hardware fault.
If one app keeps crashing, uninstall it instead of restarting. If your tablet is running out of storage, delete old files or apps. If your tablet is hot to the touch, let it cool down before restarting. If the problem started after you installed a new app, uninstall that app and see if the problem stops.
How to know which restart method to use
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tablet is slow or an app crashed | Soft reset: hold power button, tap Restart |
| Screen is frozen and power button does not work | Force restart: hold power + volume down for 10–15 seconds |
| You are selling the tablet or it is broken | Factory reset: Settings > General > Reset > Factory Data Reset |
| Tablet is stuck on loading screen after restart | Try force restart again; if it fails, contact Samsung support |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting my tablet delete my photos or files?
No. A soft restart and a force restart do not delete anything. Only a factory reset erases your data. If you are doing a soft or force restart, your photos, files, apps, and settings will all be there when the tablet turns back on.
How often should I restart my tablet?
Restart when you notice a problem — slow performance, freezing, or app crashes. You do not need to restart on a schedule. Most people restart once a month or less. If you find yourself restarting more than once a week, something may be wrong with the tablet or an app.
What if my tablet is stuck in a restart loop?
If your tablet keeps restarting on its own and will not stay on, try a force restart. If that does not work, plug it in and let it charge for 30 minutes, then try again. If it still loops, the tablet may have a software or hardware fault and you should contact Samsung support.
Can I restart my tablet while it is charging?
Yes. Restarting while plugged in is fine and does not damage the tablet. In fact, if your battery is very low, charging it first may help the restart go more smoothly.