Two ways to reset your Surface tablet, depending on what you need

A soft reset (restart) closes all open programs and clears temporary files without erasing anything you saved. A hard reset (factory reset) wipes the tablet completely and returns it to factory settings — use this only when the tablet is frozen, you are selling it, or you need to fix a serious problem. Most of the time, a soft reset solves the issue.

The steps differ slightly between Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Laptop Go models, but the principle is the same. This guide covers the most common models and what to do if your tablet will not respond to normal commands.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft reset (restart) closes programs and clears temporary files without deleting your files, photos, or documents.
  • A hard reset erases everything on the tablet and returns it to factory condition, so back up your files first if possible.
  • If your Surface tablet is frozen and will not respond to clicks, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then turn it back on.
  • You can also reset through Settings > System > Recovery if the tablet is still responsive enough to navigate menus.
  • After a hard reset, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and reinstall programs.

Soft reset: restarting without losing your files

A soft reset is the first thing to try when your Surface tablet is slow, an app is frozen, or something feels off. It takes two to five minutes and does not delete anything.

Method 1: Using the power menu. Press the power button on the side or top of your tablet. A menu will appear with options including "Power off" and "Restart". Tap "Restart". The tablet will shut down and turn back on automatically. Wait for the lock screen to appear and sign in again.

Method 2: Using keyboard shortcut. If you have a keyboard attached, press Alt + F4 to close the current window, then press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and select "Sign out" or "Restart" from the menu that appears. This works on Surface Pro and Surface Laptop Go models.

Method 3: Using Settings. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen (or press Windows key + A) to open the Action Center. Tap the power icon, then tap "Restart". The tablet will restart within a few seconds.

Hard reset when your tablet is frozen or unresponsive

If your Surface tablet will not respond to taps, clicks, or button presses, force it to shut down first. Press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes black. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This is a forced shutdown, not a reset — it does not erase anything, but it stops a frozen tablet.

If the forced shutdown does not fix the problem and you want to erase everything and start fresh, you can perform a factory reset. This erases all your files, photos, programs, and settings.

Factory reset through Settings (if the tablet still responds)

If your Surface tablet is slow or buggy but still responds to taps and menu navigation, you can reset it through Settings without losing the ability to back up first.

Step 1: Open Settings by swiping in from the right edge and tapping the gear icon, or press Windows key + I.

Step 2: Tap "System" in the left menu, then scroll down and tap "Recovery".

Step 3: Under "Reset this PC", tap "get your free guide". A window will ask whether you want to keep your files or remove everything. Tap "Remove everything" for a full factory reset.

Step 4: The tablet will ask whether you want to remove files locally or remove them and clean the drive. For a tablet you are keeping, "Remove files locally" is faster. For a tablet you are selling or giving away, choose "Remove files and clean the drive" — this makes recovery harder.

Step 5: Tap "Reset". The tablet will restart and begin the reset process. This can take 30 minutes to an hour. Do not unplug the tablet or turn it off during this time.

Step 6: When the reset finishes, the tablet will show the Windows setup screen. Sign in with your Microsoft account, choose your region and language, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete setup.

Factory reset using recovery keys (if Settings does not open)

If your tablet is too frozen or damaged to open Settings, you can reset it using the physical recovery key combination. This method works on all Surface models.

Step 1: Shut down the tablet completely. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds if it is frozen.

Step 2: Press and hold the volume-down button, then press the power button once. Keep holding volume-down until you see the Surface logo and a spinning gear icon. This takes 10 to 15 seconds.

Step 3: Release the buttons. The tablet will boot into the Windows Recovery Environment. You will see a blue screen with options.

Step 4: Tap "Troubleshoot", then tap "Reset this PC", then tap "Remove everything".

Step 5: Choose whether to remove files locally or clean the drive (see Step 4 in the Settings method above for the difference). Tap "Reset".

Step 6: The reset will begin. Do not interrupt it. When it finishes, sign in with your Microsoft account and complete the setup process.

What to do before a hard reset

A factory reset erases everything, so back up your important files if the tablet is still responsive. Use OneDrive (Microsoft's cloud storage) to save documents, photos, and other files — they will be there after the reset if you sign in with the same Microsoft account.

If the tablet is too frozen to use OneDrive, you can still recover files after the reset by signing in with your Microsoft account. OneDrive will re-read your backed-up files automatically. If you never set up OneDrive, those files are gone after a factory reset.

Write down your Microsoft account password before you reset. You will need it to sign in after the reset is complete. If you forgot your password, visit account.microsoft.com on another device and reset it there.

After the reset: what to expect

Once the factory reset finishes and you sign in, your tablet will look like it did when it was brand new. All your programs, files, and settings are gone. Windows will be a fresh install with no third-party apps.

Your Microsoft account will restore some things automatically: your OneDrive files, your Microsoft Store apps, and your browser bookmarks if you use Microsoft Edge. Everything else — programs you installed, documents stored locally, photos not backed up to OneDrive — will need to be set up again.

Reinstall the programs you use most by opening the Microsoft Store or downloading them from their official websites. This usually takes an hour or two depending on how many programs you had.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a soft reset delete my files?

No. A soft reset (restart) closes programs and clears temporary files, but everything you saved — documents, photos, emails, installed programs — stays on the tablet. Only a factory reset deletes files.

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes 30 minutes to an hour. Do not turn off the tablet or unplug it during this time. If it takes longer than two hours, something may have gone wrong — try the forced shutdown and start over.

Can I cancel a factory reset once it starts?

Once the reset begins, you should not interrupt it. If you do, the tablet may not start up properly. If you need to stop it, wait for it to finish or perform a forced shutdown and try again.

What if my tablet still will not turn on after a hard reset?

Plug the tablet into power and let it charge for at least 30 minutes. A completely drained battery can prevent startup. If it still will not turn on, try the forced shutdown again: hold the power button for 15 seconds, wait 30 seconds, then press power once.

Do I need to reinstall Windows after a factory reset?

No. A factory reset reinstalls Windows automatically as part of the process. You do not need to do anything except sign in with your Microsoft account when it finishes.