The Basic Power-Off Steps

To turn off most tablets, press and hold the power button until a menu appears on your screen. The power button is usually on the top or right edge of the device. Hold it down for three to five seconds — do not just tap it, or the tablet will stay on.

Once the power menu appears, look for an option that says "Power Off," "Shut Down," or "Turn Off." Tap that option with your finger. The tablet will then display a countdown or a message saying it is shutting down. Wait for the screen to go completely black and stay black for a few seconds. Your tablet is now off.

If you are using an iPad, the steps depend on which model you own. Newer iPads without a home button use the same hold-and-wait method, but older iPads with a home button require you to hold both the power button and the home button at the same time until the power menu appears.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the power button for three to five seconds until a menu appears on your screen.
  • Tap the "Power Off" or "Shut Down" option from the menu that appears.
  • Wait for the screen to go completely black before assuming the tablet is off.
  • If your tablet has a home button, you may need to hold both the power button and home button together.
  • If the tablet does not respond to the power button, try plugging it in and waiting a few minutes before trying again.

What to Do If the Power Button Does Not Work

If pressing the power button does nothing, your tablet may have a very low battery. Plug the tablet into a charger using the correct cable for your model, and leave it plugged in for at least 15 minutes. Then try the power button again. Some tablets will not respond to button presses when the battery is completely drained.

If the tablet still does not turn off after charging, try a forced restart. On most Android tablets, hold the power button and the volume-down button together for 10 to 15 seconds. On iPads, the method varies by model — newer models require holding the power button and volume-down button, while older models may require a different combination. A forced restart will turn the tablet off even if it is frozen or unresponsive.

The Difference Between Sleep Mode and Powering Off

Many people confuse putting a tablet to sleep with turning it off completely. When you press the power button once quickly, the tablet enters sleep mode — the screen goes dark, but the device is still using a small amount of battery power and can wake up when ready when you press a button or tap the screen.

Turning off the tablet completely is different. When powered off, the tablet uses almost no battery and will not wake up unless you press the power button again. If you plan to leave your tablet unused for more than a few days, turning it off completely will preserve the battery better than sleep mode.

Restarting Your Tablet Instead of Turning It Off

Sometimes you may want to restart your tablet rather than turn it off. A restart closes all running programs and clears the device's temporary memory, which can fix freezing or slow performance. To restart, follow the same steps as turning off — hold the power button until the menu appears and tap "Power Off." Then wait 10 to 15 seconds and press the power button again to turn it back on.

On some tablets, you may see a "Restart" option in the power menu instead of having to turn it off and back on manually. If that option is available, tap it and the tablet will restart on its own without you having to press the power button again.

Scheduled Power-Off Features

If you want your tablet to turn off automatically at a certain time each day, many tablets have a built-in scheduling feature. On Android tablets, go to Settings, then look for "System" or "Device Care," and search for an option called "Scheduled Power On/Off" or "Auto Power On/Off." You can set a time for the tablet to shut down each night and turn back on each morning.

iPad users can use the built-in Screen Time feature to set a downtime schedule, though this does not fully power off the device — it straightforward restricts access to apps during certain hours. To fully schedule an iPad to power off, you would need to use a third-party app or manually turn it off each time.

What Happens When You Turn Off Your Tablet

When you power off your tablet, all running programs close when ready. Any work you have not saved will be lost, so always save your documents, photos, or other files before turning off the device. Most tablets will warn you if you try to close an unsaved document, but it is good practice to save regularly anyway.

Turning off your tablet does not delete any of your files, photos, or settings. Everything stored on the device will still be there when you turn it back on. The only thing that changes is that all programs stop running and the screen goes dark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off my tablet damage the battery?

No. Turning off your tablet does not harm the battery. In fact, letting the battery drain completely to zero and then recharging it fully once a month can help keep the battery healthy over time. Regular power-offs and sleep mode are both safe for your tablet's battery.

How long does it take for a tablet to turn off?

Most tablets shut down within 5 to 10 seconds after you tap the power-off option. If it takes longer than 30 seconds, the tablet may be frozen or have a software problem. In that case, try a forced restart instead.

Can I turn off my tablet while it is charging?

Yes, you can turn off your tablet while it is plugged in. The tablet will power down normally, and you can leave it plugged in to charge while it is off. This is actually a good way to charge your tablet fully without using the battery.

What if my tablet turns back on by itself after I turn it off?

Check your settings for a scheduled power-on feature that may be enabled. Some tablets also turn on automatically when you plug them in to charge. If neither of those is the cause, your tablet may have a software issue and should be restarted or taken to a repair shop.

Is it better to leave my tablet on or turn it off when I am not using it?

If you will not use your tablet for more than a few hours, turning it off completely saves battery power. For short breaks of an hour or less, sleep mode is fine and lets you resume work faster. For overnight or longer periods away, turning it off is the better choice.