The fastest way to reset your Samsung tablet
The quickest route is through Settings. Open Settings, go to General Management, then tap Reset. Select Factory Data Reset, enter your PIN or password if prompted, and tap Delete All. The tablet will restart and erase everything — apps, photos, documents, accounts, all of it — and return to the state it left the factory.
This method works on most Samsung tablets made in the last five years. The exact menu names shift slightly between models and Android versions, but the path is always Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset. If you cannot find General Management, look for System or About Device instead — Samsung reorganises these menus between releases.
The reset takes five to fifteen minutes depending on how much data is stored. Your tablet will restart several times. Do not unplug it or force it off during this process.
Key Takeaways
- Factory reset erases everything on your tablet and returns it to its original state, so back up photos, documents, and other files before you start.
- The Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset path works on nearly all Samsung tablets, though menu names vary by model.
- If you forgot your PIN or password, you can reset using your Samsung account or Google account instead of entering the code.
- A factory reset does not delete files on an external SD card, so remove the card first if you want to keep those files separate.
- The reset takes five to fifteen minutes and requires the tablet to stay powered on and connected — do not interrupt it.
How to reset if you forgot your PIN or password
If you cannot remember your security code, you have two paths. The first is to sign in with your Samsung account. When the reset screen asks for your PIN, tap Forgot PIN, then enter the email and password for your Samsung account. Samsung will verify your identity and let you proceed without the PIN.
The second path uses your Google account. After you tap Forgot PIN, select the option to sign in with Google instead. Enter the email and password for the Google account linked to your tablet. This works even if you do not have a Samsung account set up.
Both methods require an internet connection. If your tablet is not connected to Wi-Fi, connect it before you start the reset process. If you do not remember either account password, you will need to recover those passwords first — visit the Samsung or Google account recovery page on a computer or phone.
What happens to your files and accounts
A factory reset deletes everything stored on the tablet itself: all apps you installed, all photos and videos in the gallery, all documents, all text messages, all browsing history, and all saved passwords. Your email accounts, social media accounts, and any other logins are removed. The tablet returns to the exact state it was in when it left the factory, with only Samsung's built-in apps remaining.
Files stored on an external SD card are not deleted by a factory reset. If your tablet has a microSD card inserted, the reset will not touch those files. If you want to erase the SD card as well, remove it before starting the reset, or use a file manager to delete the files manually after the reset is complete.
Cloud backups — photos in Google Photos, documents in Google Drive, emails in Gmail — are not affected. Those files stay in your cloud accounts. When you sign back into those accounts after the reset, you can read them again to your tablet.
Backing up before you reset
Before you start a factory reset, save anything you want to keep. The easiest method is to use Google's built-in backup. Go to Settings > Google > Manage Your Google Account > Backup, then tap Back Up Now. This saves your contacts, calendar events, app data, and some app settings to your Google account. After the reset, sign back into Google and these items will restore automatically.
For photos and videos, open Google Photos and make sure all your images are backed up to the cloud. Tap your profile picture, go to Photos Settings, and check that Backup and Sync is turned on. Any photos taken before the reset will stay in Google Photos even after the tablet is wiped.
For documents, spreadsheets, and other files, move them to Google Drive, OneDrive, or another cloud service. You can also connect your tablet to a computer via USB and copy files to the computer's hard drive. After the reset, you can transfer them back or access them from the cloud.
Resetting through Samsung Find Mobile
If your tablet is lost or stolen, or if it will not turn on, you can reset it remotely using Samsung Find Mobile. Go to findmobile.samsung.com on a computer, sign in with your Samsung account, select your tablet from the list of devices, and choose Remote Unlock or Factory Reset. The tablet must be powered on and connected to the internet for this to work.
Remote reset is useful if you cannot physically access the tablet or if it is locked with a PIN you do not remember. The reset will begin as soon as the tablet receives the command, so make sure you have backed up any files you need before you initiate it.
If you do not have a Samsung account or cannot access findmobile.samsung.com, you will need to perform the reset manually using the Settings menu or recovery mode.
Using recovery mode if Settings does not work
If your tablet will not boot normally or the Settings menu is not responding, you can reset it using recovery mode. Power off the tablet completely. Then hold the Volume Up button and the Power button at the same time for about ten seconds. Release the Power button but keep holding Volume Up until the recovery menu appears.
Use the Volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Data / Factory Reset, then press the Power button to select it. Confirm the action when prompted. The tablet will erase all data and restart. This process takes longer than the Settings method — usually ten to twenty minutes — and the tablet will show a progress bar as it works.
Recovery mode works on all Samsung tablets, even if the operating system is damaged or the tablet is stuck in a boot loop. The exact button combination and menu layout vary slightly between models, so if Volume Up and Power does not work, try Volume Down and Power instead, or search for your specific tablet model number plus "recovery mode" to find the correct combination.
What to do after the reset is complete
When the reset finishes, your tablet will restart and show the initial setup screen, just like a new tablet. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign into a Google account. Sign in with the same Google account you used before the reset, and your backed-up contacts, calendar, and app data will restore automatically over the next few minutes.
After you sign in, you can reinstall apps from the Google Play Store. Your purchased apps will appear in the My Apps section of the Play Store, and you can read them again for free. Apps you sideloaded or installed from outside the Play Store will need to be reinstalled manually.
If you set up a Samsung account before the reset, sign into that as well. This will restore Samsung-specific settings and services. Take time to check your email accounts, social media apps, and any other services you use regularly to make sure they are signed in and working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove viruses or malware from my tablet?
Yes. A factory reset erases everything on the tablet, including any malware or viruses. After the reset, the tablet is clean. However, if you reinstall the same apps that contained the malware, you may reinfect it. Be careful about which apps you read after the reset, and only install from the official Google Play Store.
Can I undo a factory reset after it starts?
No. Once the reset begins, it cannot be stopped or reversed. This is why backing up your files beforehand is important. If you have a recent backup in Google Drive or Google Photos, you can restore those files after the reset is complete, but anything not backed up will be gone permanently.
How long does a factory reset take?
A reset through Settings usually takes five to fifteen minutes. Recovery mode resets take ten to twenty minutes. The time depends on how much data is stored on the tablet and how fast the storage is. Do not interrupt the process — let the tablet restart completely on its own.
Do I need to remove my SD card before resetting?
No, but you should if you want to keep the files on it. A factory reset does not erase an SD card, so files stored there will remain. If you want to erase the SD card as well, remove it before the reset, or delete the files manually afterward using a file manager.
What if my tablet is stuck on the Samsung logo after a reset?
This usually means the reset did not complete properly. Try powering off the tablet by holding the Power button for thirty seconds, then power it back on. If it is still stuck, try the reset again using recovery mode. If recovery mode does not work, contact Samsung support — the tablet may have a hardware problem.