The basic method depends on your tablet's operating system
How you turn off a tablet depends on whether you own an iPad, an Android tablet, or a Windows tablet. Each system has a different button combination or menu path. The steps take less than a minute, and the tablet will power down completely rather than going to sleep.
Most tablets also have a sleep mode (pressing the power button once) that uses far less battery than being fully on. If you only need to step away briefly, sleep mode is usually the better choice. A full shutdown is useful when you are not going to use the tablet for several hours, when you are troubleshooting a problem, or when you are preparing to store it.
Key Takeaways
- iPad tablets shut down by holding the power button and volume button together until the power-off slider appears, then dragging the slider.
- Most Android tablets shut down by holding the power button for several seconds until a menu appears, then tapping "Power off" or "Shut down".
- Windows tablets shut down through the Settings menu or by holding the power button, depending on the model.
- Sleep mode (pressing the power button once) uses much less battery than a full shutdown and is fine for brief breaks.
- If your tablet is frozen and will not respond to button presses, try holding the power button for 30 seconds to force a shutdown.
How to shut down an iPad
On an iPad with a home button (iPad Air 2 and earlier, iPad mini 4 and earlier, or iPad 5th generation and earlier), hold down the top power button until the "slide to power off" slider appears on the screen. Drag the slider to the right. The iPad will shut down in a few seconds.
On newer iPads without a home button, hold down the top power button and one of the volume buttons at the same time. Keep holding both until the power-off slider appears. Drag it to the right. The iPad will power down.
If you are not sure which iPad you have, look at the top and sides of the device. If there is a circular button on the front below the screen, you have an older model with a home button. If the front is all screen, you have a newer model.
How to shut down an Android tablet
On most Android tablets, hold down the power button (usually on the right side or top edge) for about 3 to 5 seconds. A menu will appear with options including "Power off," "Shut down," or "Turn off." Tap the option to shut down. The tablet will power down in a few seconds.
On some Android tablets made by Samsung, the menu may say "Power off" or show additional options like "Restart" or "Emergency mode." Tap "Power off" to shut down completely.
If the menu does not appear after holding the power button, your tablet may have a different shutdown method. Check the manufacturer's manual or website for your specific model, as some older or less common Android tablets use different button combinations.
How to shut down a Windows tablet
On a Windows tablet, the fastest method is usually to hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until the screen goes black. This forces a shutdown. Alternatively, swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open the action center, tap "Power," and then tap "Shut down."
Some Windows tablets also allow you to use the Settings menu. Swipe in from the right, tap "Settings," then tap "Power," and select "Shut down." This method is gentler on the system than holding the power button, but both work.
What to do if your tablet will not turn off
If your tablet is frozen and does not respond to the normal shutdown steps, try a force shutdown. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds without releasing, even if nothing appears on the screen. The tablet should power down. This works on iPad, Android, and Windows tablets.
After a force shutdown, wait 10 seconds before pressing the power button again to turn the tablet back on. If the tablet still will not respond after a force shutdown, the battery may be completely drained. Plug it into a charger for at least 15 minutes, then try turning it on again.
Sleep mode versus full shutdown
Sleep mode (also called standby) turns off the screen and slows the processor to save battery, but the tablet remains powered on and ready to wake when ready. You enter sleep mode by pressing the power button once. Sleep mode uses only a small amount of battery per hour and is fine if you plan to use the tablet again within a few hours.
A full shutdown powers down the entire device and uses no battery at all. It takes longer to restart (usually 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on the tablet), but it is better if you will not use the tablet for many hours or if you are storing it. If your battery is very low, a full shutdown is also safer because the tablet will not drain the last bit of power while sitting unused.
Restarting instead of shutting down
If your tablet is running slowly or acting strangely, a restart (power off and back on) often fixes the problem faster than a full shutdown. On iPad, hold the power button and volume button until the power-off slider appears, then release and when ready hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears. On Android, hold the power button until the menu appears, then tap "Restart." On Windows, use the Settings menu and select "Restart."
A restart clears the tablet's memory and closes all running programs, which solves many common issues like apps freezing, the screen not responding, or the tablet running hot. If you restart and the problem returns within a few minutes, try a full shutdown and leave the tablet off for a minute before turning it back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad to hold the power button to shut down my tablet?
Holding the power button for a normal shutdown (until the menu appears) is fine and is the intended method. However, forcing a shutdown by holding the power button for 30 seconds should only be done when the tablet is frozen and will not respond to normal steps. Frequent force shutdowns can occasionally cause file corruption, so use them only when necessary.
Will my tablet lose data if I shut it down?
No. Shutting down saves all your data to storage before powering off. You will not lose photos, documents, messages, or settings. The only data that might be lost is unsaved work in an app (like text you typed but did not save in a document), so save your work before shutting down.
How long does it take a tablet to shut down?
Most tablets shut down in 5 to 15 seconds after you confirm the shutdown. Restarting takes longer, usually 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on how many apps and files the tablet has. If shutdown takes much longer than that, the tablet may be frozen.
Can I turn off my tablet while it is charging?
Yes, you can shut down a tablet while it is plugged in. The tablet will power off and remain off, and the charger will continue to charge the battery. This is safe and does not damage the tablet or battery.
What is the difference between turning off and restarting?
Turning off (shutting down) powers the tablet completely off and stops all processes. Restarting powers the tablet off and then when ready turns it back on, which clears memory and reloads the operating system. Restart when you want to fix a problem; shut down when you want the tablet to stay off.