The two ways to reset your Samsung tablet

You can reset your Samsung tablet to factory settings in two ways: through the Settings menu on the tablet itself, or by using Samsung Find Mobile (the cloud service) if you cannot access the tablet. The Settings method takes about 10 to 15 minutes and erases everything on the device. The Find Mobile method works remotely but requires you to have set up a Samsung account on the tablet beforehand.

Both methods wipe all your personal data, apps, photos, and files. Before you start, back up anything you want to keep — photos, documents, contacts — to cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Samsung Cloud. Once the reset completes, you cannot recover deleted data.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases all personal data, apps, and files from your tablet and returns it to the state it left the factory.
  • The Settings method requires you to unlock the tablet and navigate to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset.
  • You will need to enter your Samsung account password or Google account password to confirm the reset and prevent unauthorized access.
  • After the reset completes, the tablet will restart and ask you to set it up again as if it were brand new.
  • Back up your photos, documents, and other files to cloud storage before you begin, because the reset cannot be undone.

Resetting through the Settings menu

Open Settings on your tablet. Scroll down and tap General Management (on some Samsung tablets this may be labeled System or About Device — look for the option that contains reset or system options). Tap Reset, then tap Factory Data Reset or Reset Device.

The tablet will show you a summary of what will be erased. Read it carefully. Tap Reset or Delete All to confirm. The tablet will ask you to enter your Samsung account password or your Google account password — whichever is linked to the device. This is a security step to prevent someone else from erasing your tablet without permission. Enter the password and tap Continue or Next.

The reset will begin. Your tablet may restart one or more times during the process. Do not turn off the tablet or remove the power cable. The whole process usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. When it finishes, your tablet will restart and show the initial setup screen, as if it were new out of the box.

Resetting through Samsung Find Mobile if you cannot unlock the tablet

If you cannot unlock your tablet — for example, if you forgot the PIN or pattern — you can reset it remotely using Samsung Find Mobile, provided you set up a Samsung account on the tablet before it was locked. Go to findmobile.samsung.com on a computer or another device and sign in with the Samsung account that is linked to your tablet.

Click or tap your tablet's name in the device list. Select Unlock or Erase Data (the exact wording varies by region). If you choose Erase Data, the tablet will be reset to factory settings remotely. The tablet must be connected to the internet for this to work. If the tablet is offline, the command will execute the next time it connects to the internet.

This method is useful if you are locked out, but it requires that you set up the Samsung account on the tablet before the lock happened. If you did not set up a Samsung account, you will need to contact Samsung Support or take the tablet to a Samsung service center with proof of ownership.

What happens after the reset is complete

Your tablet will restart and display the setup screen. You will be asked to select your language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in to a Google account or Samsung account. You do not have to use the same accounts you used before — you can set up the tablet with different accounts if you want.

All your previous apps, photos, messages, and settings are gone. If you backed up your data to Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or another cloud service before the reset, you can sign in to that service after setup and read your files again. Apps you downloaded from the Google Play Store can be reinstalled by signing in to your Google account — Google will show you a list of apps you previously installed, and you can choose which ones to read again.

When you might need a factory reset

A factory reset is useful when your tablet is running slowly, freezing frequently, or behaving erratically. It removes all the apps, files, and settings that may be causing problems. It is also the right step if you are selling or giving away the tablet and want to erase your personal information completely.

If your tablet has a software problem that a reset does not fix — for example, if it will not turn on or gets stuck on the startup screen — the problem may be a hardware issue or a deeper software fault. In that case, contact Samsung Support or visit a Samsung service center. Do not attempt multiple resets or try to force the tablet to restart, as this can damage the device.

Backing up your data before you reset

The easiest way to back up your photos and videos is to turn on Google Photos automatic backup. Open the Google Photos app, tap your profile icon, go to Photos settings, and turn on Backup and sync. Your photos will upload to your Google account automatically over Wi-Fi. After the reset, sign in to the same Google account and your photos will be available again.

For documents and files, use Google Drive or OneDrive. Open the app, tap the plus icon or upload button, and select the files you want to save. They will be stored in your cloud account. For contacts, make sure they are synced to your Google account — open Settings, go to Accounts, select your Google account, and turn on Contacts sync. Your contacts will be restored when you sign in after the reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Google account from the tablet?

The reset erases your personal data and apps, but you will need to enter your Google account password after the reset to set up the tablet again. If you forget the password, you can recover it at accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Samsung tablets require you to verify your Google account after a reset as a security measure.

Can I stop the reset once it has started?

No. Once you confirm the reset, do not turn off the tablet or unplug it. Let the process complete, even if it takes longer than expected. Interrupting the reset can leave the tablet in an unusable state.

What if I forgot my Samsung account password?

Go to account.samsung.com/accounts/login and click Forgot password. Samsung will send a recovery link to the email address associated with your account. If you no longer have access to that email, contact Samsung Support with proof of ownership of the tablet.

Will resetting my tablet remove the operating system?

No. A factory reset removes your personal files and apps but keeps the Samsung operating system (Android) and all the system software that came with the tablet. The tablet will run the same version of Android it had when you first bought it.

How long does a factory reset take?

Most factory resets take 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how much data is on the tablet and how fast your tablet's processor is. Older tablets may take longer. Do not interrupt the process — let it run to completion without turning off the device.