What a factory reset does and when you need one

A factory reset wipes your ASUS tablet back to the state it left the factory—all your apps, photos, documents, and settings disappear, and the operating system reinstalls itself clean. You would do this if the tablet is running slowly, freezing constantly, won't start up properly, or you're selling it and want to erase your personal data before handing it over.

Before you reset, understand that this is permanent. Everything on the device will be gone unless you back it up first. If your tablet still turns on, take 10 to 15 minutes to back up photos, documents, and any files you want to keep—use Google Drive, OneDrive, or your computer to copy them off.

There are two ways to reset an ASUS tablet: through the Settings menu (if the tablet still responds) or through the recovery menu (if it won't start or Settings won't open). The method you use depends on whether your device is working well enough to navigate menus.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and returns it to original factory settings—back up your files first if the device still turns on.
  • If your tablet responds to touch and opens Settings, use the Settings menu to reset; this is the safest method.
  • If your tablet won't start or Settings won't open, use the recovery menu by holding Power and Volume Down together until the boot menu appears.
  • After a reset, your tablet will restart and ask you to set it up again, just as it did when new.
  • A factory reset does not fix hardware problems like a broken screen or battery that won't charge.

Resetting through Settings (the standard method)

If your ASUS tablet turns on and responds to touch, this is the easiest and safest way to reset it. Open the Settings app—usually a gear icon on your home screen or in the app drawer. Scroll down and look for a section called System or About (the exact name varies by ASUS model and Android version).

Tap System, then look for Reset options or Reset. You should see an option that says Erase all data or Factory reset. Tap it. The tablet will ask you to confirm—it may ask for your PIN, pattern, or password to make sure you really want to do this. Enter it, then tap the final confirmation button. The tablet will restart and begin the reset process, which takes 5 to 10 minutes. Do not turn it off during this time.

When the reset finishes, your tablet will restart and show a welcome screen, just as if it were brand new. You can then set it up with a new account or sign back into your Google account to restore some apps and settings.

Resetting through recovery mode (when Settings won't open)

If your tablet won't turn on, won't respond to touch, or Settings won't open, you can force a reset using the recovery menu. This method works even when the tablet is completely unresponsive. First, make sure the tablet is powered off completely. If it's stuck on a frozen screen, hold the Power button for 10 to 15 seconds until it shuts down.

Once the tablet is off, hold down the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons for about 10 seconds. You should see a boot menu appear on the screen—it will show options like "Recovery Mode" or "Fastboot Mode". Release the buttons once the menu appears.

Use the Volume Down button to navigate to Recovery Mode and press the Power button to select it. The tablet will load into recovery mode, which shows a menu with options like "Reboot system now", "Wipe data/factory reset", and others. Use Volume Down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, then press Power to select it. The tablet will ask for final confirmation—select Yes using the volume buttons and Power button. The reset will begin and take 5 to 10 minutes.

What happens after the reset is complete

When the reset finishes, your tablet will restart automatically and show the initial setup screen—the same one you saw when you first unboxed it. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign into a Google account. If you have a Google account, signing in will restore many of your apps and some settings automatically.

If you do not want to use a Google account, you can skip this step, but you will not be able to read apps from the Google Play Store without one. After setup is complete, your tablet will be ready to use, and you can reinstall apps and restore files from your backups.

Backing up your files before a reset

If your tablet still turns on and responds, spend a few minutes backing up anything you want to keep. The easiest way is to use Google Drive—open the app, tap the plus icon, and upload photos, documents, or other files. They will stay in your Google Drive account even after the reset.

You can also connect your tablet to a computer using a USB cable and copy files directly to your computer's hard drive. On a Windows computer, your tablet will appear as a removable drive in File Explorer; on a Mac, use Android File Transfer (a free app from Google). straightforward drag files from your tablet to your computer and they will be safe.

When a factory reset won't fix the problem

A factory reset solves software problems—apps crashing, the system running slowly, freezing, or not starting up. It does not fix hardware problems. If your tablet has a cracked screen, the battery won't charge, the speakers don't work, or the charging port is loose, a reset will not repair those issues. In those cases, you will need to contact ASUS support or take the tablet to a repair shop.

If you reset your tablet and it still won't turn on or still freezes when ready after setup, the problem is likely hardware-related, and a reset cannot help. Contact ASUS customer support with your tablet's model number (usually found on the back or in Settings under About) and describe what happens when you try to use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Google account?

Yes, a factory reset removes all accounts from the tablet. After the reset, you can sign back into your Google account during setup, and the Play Store will recognize your account so you can read apps you owned before. Some settings and app data stored in your Google account will restore automatically.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset process itself takes 5 to 10 minutes. After that, the tablet restarts and shows the setup screen, which takes another 5 to 10 minutes to complete if you are signing into an account. Total time is usually 15 to 25 minutes.

Can I stop a factory reset once it starts?

No. Once you confirm the reset, do not turn off the tablet or remove the battery. Let it run to completion. Interrupting it can leave the tablet in an unusable state. If the reset seems to be taking much longer than 15 minutes, the tablet may be stuck, and you can try holding Power for 10 seconds to restart it, then attempt the reset again.

What if I forgot my PIN or password and can't open Settings?

Use recovery mode instead. Hold Power and Volume Down together to boot into recovery mode, then select Wipe data/factory reset. You do not need to know your PIN or password to reset through recovery mode.

Will resetting my tablet make it faster?

A reset can help if the slowness is caused by too many apps running, corrupted files, or a cluttered system. After the reset, the tablet will be clean and fast—but only if the slowness was a software problem. If the tablet is old or has limited memory, it may still feel slow after the reset.