How to Do a Hard Reset on Your Samsung Tablet

A hard reset wipes your tablet and restores it to factory settings

A hard reset (also called a factory reset) erases all data on your Samsung tablet—apps, photos, files, accounts, everything—and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This is different from a soft reset, which straightforward restarts the device without erasing anything. You would do a hard reset when your tablet is frozen or sluggish beyond repair, before selling or giving it away, or when you want to start completely fresh.

The steps vary slightly depending on whether your tablet will turn on. If it powers on normally, you can reset it through Settings. If it is stuck or won't boot, you will use hardware buttons instead. Both methods take about 10 to 15 minutes, though the actual wipe can take longer depending on how much data is stored.

Key Takeaways

A hard reset erases everything on your tablet and cannot be undone, so back up any files or photos you want to keep before you start.
If your tablet turns on, go to Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset to wipe it through the menu.
If your tablet is frozen or won't start, hold Power and Volume Up together until the recovery menu appears, then select Wipe Data.
After a hard reset, your tablet will restart and ask you to set up as if it were new—you will need to sign in with a Samsung or Google account.
If you are locked out by a Samsung account or Google account after reset, you may need to contact Samsung support or use your recovery email to regain access.

Back up your data before you begin

A hard reset is permanent and irreversible. Once you start, all photos, videos, documents, messages, and installed apps are gone. Before you proceed, move anything you want to keep to a computer, cloud storage, or an external drive.

The easiest way is to use Samsung Cloud or Google Drive. Open Settings, search for "Backup," and follow the prompts to upload photos and documents to the cloud. You can also connect your tablet to a computer via USB cable and copy files manually. If you have a microSD card slot, you can move files there as well, though the reset will still erase anything stored in the tablet's internal memory.

Hard reset through Settings if your tablet turns on

If your Samsung tablet powers on and responds to touch, use the Settings menu to reset it. Open Settings and tap General Management (on some older models, this may be called "Backup and Reset" or straightforward "Reset"). Scroll down and tap Reset or Factory Data Reset. You will see a warning that all data will be erased; read it and tap Reset or Delete All.

Your tablet will ask you to confirm by entering your PIN, pattern, or password if you have one set. After you confirm, the reset begins. The screen will show a progress bar or spinning icon. Do not turn off the tablet or remove the battery during this time. When it finishes, the tablet will restart and show the initial setup screen, as if it were brand new.

Hard reset using hardware buttons if the tablet won't start

If your tablet is frozen, won't turn on, or is stuck in a boot loop, you can force a reset using the physical buttons. First, make sure the tablet is powered off completely. If it is stuck on a screen, hold the Power button for 10 to 15 seconds until it shuts down.

Once it is off, hold the Power button and the Volume Up button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until you see the Samsung logo or a menu with white text on a black background (called the recovery menu). This usually takes 10 to 20 seconds. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to "Wipe Data" or "Factory Reset" and press the Power button to select it. The tablet will ask you to confirm; select "Yes" and wait for the reset to complete. This process can take several minutes.

What happens after the reset is complete

When the reset finishes, your tablet will restart and show the setup screen you saw when it was brand new. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with a Samsung account or Google account. If you want to restore your photos and documents from Samsung Cloud or Google Drive, sign in with the same account you used to back them up, and the tablet will offer to restore them.

Your tablet will not automatically reinstall apps you had before the reset. You can read them again from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store using the same account. If you had a microSD card in the tablet before the reset, it will still be there with its files intact—only the internal storage is erased.

Troubleshooting if you are locked out after reset

Some Samsung tablets require you to sign in with the Samsung account that was previously registered on the device before you can use it after a reset. This is a security feature called Reactivation Lock. If you remember the account email and password, sign in with those credentials and you will be able to proceed.

If you do not remember the password, go to the Samsung account recovery page on a computer and use your recovery email or phone number to reset the password. If you do not have access to the original account, contact Samsung Support with proof of ownership (receipt, serial number, or IMEI). They can help you regain access or may be able to remove the lock if you can verify you own the device.

When to call Samsung support instead

If your tablet will not turn on at all—no logo, no vibration, no response to button presses—the problem may be a dead battery or a hardware failure rather than a software issue. Plug it in and charge for at least 30 minutes, then try the hard reset again. If it still does not respond, contact Samsung Support or visit an authorized service center.

If the hard reset starts but gets stuck on a progress screen for more than 30 minutes, or if the tablet restarts but when ready shows an error message, there may be a deeper problem with the system files. In these cases, Samsung Support can walk you through more advanced recovery options or arrange a repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a hard reset remove my Google account?

Yes. A hard reset erases all accounts from the tablet. After the reset, you will need to sign in again with your Google account to use the Play Store and restore your apps and data. If you do not remember your password, use the Google account recovery page on a computer to reset it before you start the hard reset.

Can I undo a hard reset?

No. A hard reset is permanent and cannot be reversed. This is why backing up your data beforehand is so important. If you have files backed up to Google Drive or Samsung Cloud, you can restore them after the reset, but anything not backed up is gone.

How long does a hard reset take?

The actual reset process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how much data is on the tablet. The initial setup after the reset—signing in, connecting to Wi-Fi, and downloading apps—can take longer. Do not interrupt the process by turning off the tablet or removing the battery.

Do I need to remove my microSD card before a hard reset?

No. A hard reset only erases the tablet's internal storage, not the microSD card. Any files on the card will remain. However, if you want to be extra cautious, you can remove the card before resetting and reinsert it afterward.

What if I forgot my PIN or password and cannot access Settings?

Use the hardware button method instead. Hold Power and Volume Up until the recovery menu appears, then select Wipe Data. You do not need to enter a PIN or password to reset from the recovery menu.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.