What a Factory Reset Does and When You Need One

A factory reset wipes your Samsung tablet back to the state it left the factory — all your apps, photos, files, and settings vanish. The operating system stays the same, but everything you added or changed is gone. You should do this if the tablet is running slowly, freezing constantly, or you plan to sell it or give it away. A factory reset is also the fix when an app keeps crashing and nothing else stops it.

Before you start, understand that this action cannot be undone. Back up anything you want to keep — photos, documents, contacts — to a cloud service like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud, or to a computer. Once you press the final button, those files are deleted from the tablet itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your photos, files, and contacts to Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or a computer before you begin, because a factory reset deletes everything on the tablet.
  • You can start a factory reset from Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset on most Samsung tablets.
  • The tablet will ask you to enter your Samsung account password or Google account password before it proceeds, so have that ready.
  • The reset takes 5 to 15 minutes, and the tablet will restart several times — do not turn it off during this process.
  • After the reset completes, the tablet boots up as if it is brand new and asks you to set up your accounts and preferences again.

How to Back Up Your Data Before Resetting

Open Settings and tap Accounts and Backup (or Accounts, depending on your tablet model). Select Samsung Cloud and tap Back Up. Choose what you want to save — contacts, calendar, messages, app data — and tap Back Up Now. Samsung Cloud stores this data for six months at no cost.

For photos and videos, open the Gallery app, tap the menu icon (three lines or three dots), and select Settings. Turn on Cloud Sync or Backup if it is available. If your tablet has a Google account, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, and turn on Backup and Sync. This uploads your photos to your Google account automatically.

For documents and files, connect your tablet to a computer with a USB cable, or open Google Drive on the tablet and upload files manually. Once everything is backed up, you are ready to reset.

The Step-by-Step Reset Process

Open Settings on your tablet. Scroll down and tap General Management (on some models this is under System or About Device). Look for Reset or Reset Options and tap it. Select Factory Data Reset or Erase All Data.

The tablet will show a warning that all data will be deleted. Read it, then tap Reset or Delete All to confirm. You will be asked to enter your Samsung account password or the Google account password linked to the tablet. Type it in and tap Continue or Next. This step prevents someone else from wiping your tablet without permission.

The tablet will restart and begin the reset process. You will see a progress bar or spinning icon. Do not turn off the tablet, do not unplug it, and do not remove the battery (if it is removable). The process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. The tablet may restart two or three times — this is normal.

What Happens After the Reset Completes

When the reset finishes, the tablet boots up and shows the initial setup screen, just like when it was new. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in to a Google account. You can use the same Google account you used before, or a different one.

After setup, your tablet is blank. Your backed-up data does not return automatically — you have to restore it. Open Settings, go to Accounts and Backup, and tap Restore under Samsung Cloud. Select the backup you made and choose which items to restore. For Google Photos, open the app, sign in, and your photos will read again. For files in Google Drive, open the Drive app and they will be there.

If Your Tablet Is Frozen or Will Not Start

If the tablet is frozen and you cannot reach Settings, you can force a factory reset using hardware buttons. The button combination varies by model. For most Samsung tablets, hold the Power button and Volume Up button together for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears. Release the buttons and wait for the recovery menu.

Use the Volume buttons to scroll down to Wipe Data / Factory Reset and press the Power button to select it. Confirm the action by scrolling to Yes and pressing Power again. The reset will begin. This method does not require you to enter a password, but it also means you cannot cancel once it starts.

Troubleshooting a Reset That Is Not Working

If the reset starts but gets stuck on a loading screen, wait at least 30 minutes before assuming it has failed. Some tablets take longer than others. If it is still stuck after 30 minutes, hold the Power button for 30 seconds to force the tablet to shut down, then try the hardware button method described above.

If you see an error message about your Google account, it means the tablet is asking you to verify your identity before it allows the reset. This is a security feature. Enter the correct password for the Google account that is linked to the tablet. If you do not remember the password, you will need to recover it through Google's account recovery process on a computer before you can proceed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove the Samsung account from my tablet?

Yes. After the reset, the tablet has no accounts on it. During setup, you can add the same Samsung account back, or a different one. If you want to use the tablet without a Samsung account, you can skip that step and use only a Google account.

Can I factory reset my tablet if I forgot the password?

If you forgot your Google account password, you will need to recover it on a computer using Google's account recovery tool before you can reset the tablet. If you forgot your Samsung account password, you can reset it on Samsung's website. Without the correct password, the tablet will not allow the reset to proceed.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. The tablet may restart multiple times during this period. After the reset finishes, the initial setup takes another 5 to 10 minutes depending on your Wi-Fi speed and how many accounts you add.

Will I lose my apps after a factory reset?

Yes, all apps you installed will be deleted. Apps that came with the tablet will return. After setup, you can read your apps again from the Google Play Store. If you backed up app data through Samsung Cloud, some apps will restore their settings when you reinstall them.

Can I stop a factory reset once it starts?

If you started the reset through Settings, you can usually cancel it before the final confirmation. Once you confirm the password and the reset begins, you cannot stop it. If you started it using hardware buttons, you cannot cancel it at all.