What a factory reset does and when you need one

A factory reset erases everything on your tablet — all apps, photos, documents, settings, and accounts — and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This is useful when your tablet runs slowly, crashes repeatedly, or you are selling it and want to remove your personal data. It is also the fix for some software problems that restarting alone will not solve.

Before you start, understand that a factory reset cannot be undone. Back up anything you want to keep: photos, documents, contacts, and login information for apps. Most tablets let you back up to cloud storage like Google Drive, iCloud, or OneDrive. Once you start the reset, you cannot stop it partway through.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset deletes everything on your tablet and returns it to factory settings, so back up your photos and documents first.
  • On Android tablets, go to Settings, then System or About, then Reset Options, and choose Erase All Data.
  • On iPad, go to Settings, then General, then Reset, and choose Erase All Content and Settings.
  • The reset takes 5 to 15 minutes and your tablet will restart several times during the process.
  • After the reset completes, you will see the setup screen as if the tablet is brand new, and you can sign back into your accounts.

Factory reset on Android tablets

Open Settings and look for a section called System, Device, or About Tablet — the exact name varies by manufacturer. Scroll down and tap Reset Options or Reset. You will see choices like Reset Wi-Fi, Reset App Preferences, and Erase All Data. Tap Erase All Data or Factory Reset.

The tablet will ask you to confirm and may ask for your PIN, pattern, or password. Enter it if prompted. The reset will then begin. Your tablet will show a progress bar, restart several times, and take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Do not turn it off during this time. When it finishes, you will see the initial setup screen, the same one you saw when the tablet was new.

If your tablet is frozen or will not start, you may need to use recovery mode instead. Hold the Power button and Volume Up button together for 10 to 15 seconds until the recovery menu appears. Use the volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Data or Factory Reset, then press Power to select it. This method varies by brand, so check your tablet's manual if the standard reset does not work.

Factory reset on iPad

Open Settings and tap General. Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset. You will see the option Erase All Content and Settings. Tap it. iPad will ask for your Apple ID password and may ask for your Screen Time passcode if you set one. Enter both if prompted.

The reset will begin when ready. Your iPad will show a progress bar and restart. The whole process takes 5 to 10 minutes. When it finishes, you will see the Hello screen, which is the setup screen for a new iPad. Do not turn off your iPad during the reset.

If your iPad is frozen or will not respond, you can use a computer instead. Connect your iPad to a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder installed. Open Finder or iTunes, select your iPad, and look for a Restore button. Click it and follow the prompts. This method erases the iPad and reinstalls the operating system, which takes longer but works when the tablet itself is unresponsive.

Back up your data before you reset

On Android, open Settings, tap Accounts, and select the Google account you use on the tablet. Tap Account Sync and make sure Photos, Contacts, Calendar, and other items you want to keep are toggled on. Google will back these up automatically. For photos and videos stored only on the tablet, open Google Photos, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, and turn on Backup and Sync. This uploads everything to your Google account.

On iPad, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then iCloud. Make sure Photos, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, and Notes are toggled on. These will back up to your iCloud account. For photos and videos, open the Photos app, tap your profile picture at the top right, go to Settings, and turn on iCloud Photos. This uploads your entire photo library to iCloud.

For documents and files, use cloud storage apps like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. Upload any files you want to keep before you reset. After the reset, you can sign back into these apps and read your files again.

What to do after the reset is complete

When your tablet finishes resetting, you will see the setup screen. Follow the on-screen steps to connect to Wi-Fi, sign into your Google account (Android) or Apple ID (iPad), and restore your backed-up data. This usually takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on how much data you are restoring.

Once setup is done, your tablet will look and feel brand new. Your apps, photos, contacts, and settings will return as they were backed up. Any apps you had installed will need to be downloaded again from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iPad), but your data within those apps will be restored if you backed it up.

Troubleshooting a reset that will not start

If you go to Settings and cannot find the reset option, your tablet may have a different menu structure. Look for Settings, then System or Device, then Advanced, then Reset. If you still cannot find it, search the Settings app for the word "reset" — most tablets have a search function at the top of Settings.

If your tablet is completely frozen and will not open Settings, try holding the Power button for 30 seconds to force a restart. Once it restarts, try the reset again. If it still will not work, use recovery mode as described in the Android section above. For iPad, use a computer and Finder or iTunes to restore the device.

If the reset starts but gets stuck on a progress bar for more than 30 minutes, the tablet may have a hardware problem. Try connecting it to power and waiting another 15 minutes. If it still does not finish, force a restart by holding Power and Volume Down (Android) or Power and Volume Up (iPad) for 10 seconds, then try the reset again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Google account or Apple ID?

No. The reset erases data stored on the tablet, but your account itself remains active. After the reset, you will sign back into the same account during setup, and your backed-up data will return. If you want to remove the account entirely, sign out of it in Settings before you reset.

Can I factory reset a tablet that is locked with a PIN or password?

Yes, but you will need to enter the PIN or password during the reset process to confirm you own the device. If you forgot the PIN or password, you will need to sign into your Google account (Android) or Apple ID (iPad) instead. If you cannot remember either, contact the manufacturer's support line.

How long does a factory reset take?

The reset itself takes 5 to 15 minutes. After that, setup takes another 10 to 20 minutes if you are restoring backed-up data. The total time depends on how much data you are restoring and your internet speed.

Will factory reset fix a slow or crashing tablet?

Often yes. A reset removes apps and settings that may be causing problems. However, if the tablet is slow or crashes because of a hardware problem, a reset will not fix it. If the problem returns after a few weeks, the issue is likely hardware-related and you should contact the manufacturer.

What happens to apps I paid for after a factory reset?

Paid apps are tied to your Google account (Android) or Apple ID (iPad), not to the tablet itself. After you reset and sign back into your account, you can read any paid apps again at no cost. The app store remembers that you purchased them.