What a reset does and when you need one
A reset wipes your Surface tablet back to the state it left the factory — all your files, apps, and settings disappear. Use a reset when the tablet is running slowly, freezing often, or won't start properly. You should also reset before selling or giving away the device, or if malware has infected it badly enough that antivirus software cannot clean it.
Microsoft Surface tablets offer two types of reset. A soft reset is a straightforward restart that clears temporary files and memory without touching your personal data — try this first for most problems. A hard reset (also called a factory reset) erases everything and reinstalls Windows. A hard reset takes 30 minutes to an hour and requires your Microsoft account password afterward.
Before you reset, back up any files you want to keep. If the tablet won't turn on or respond, you can still reset it using the physical buttons on the device itself.
Key Takeaways
- A soft reset (restart) fixes most slowness and freezing without erasing anything, and takes two minutes.
- A hard reset erases all files and apps, reinstalls Windows, and takes 30 minutes to an hour.
- You can reset through Settings if the tablet turns on, or use the physical power and volume buttons if it does not.
- After a hard reset, you will need to sign in with your Microsoft account and reinstall your apps.
- Back up your files before a hard reset — they will be gone afterward.
How to soft reset (restart) your Surface tablet
A soft reset is the fastest fix for most problems. Press and hold the power button on the right edge of the tablet for 10 seconds until the screen goes black. Wait 30 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. The tablet will restart and clear temporary files from memory.
If the tablet is frozen and the power button does not work, hold the power button for 30 seconds instead — this forces a shutdown even if the screen is unresponsive. Then turn it back on normally.
A soft reset keeps all your files, apps, and settings. If the problem returns after a restart, move to a hard reset.
How to hard reset through Settings
If your Surface tablet turns on and responds, the easiest path is through Settings. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open the action center, then tap the Settings icon (it looks like a gear). Tap System, then scroll down and tap Recovery.
Under "Reset this PC," tap get your free guide. You will see two options: Keep my files and Remove everything. Choose Remove everything for a full factory reset. The tablet will ask you to confirm, then begin the reset process. Do not turn off the tablet or disconnect power during this time — it can take 30 to 60 minutes.
When the reset finishes, the tablet will restart and show the Windows setup screen. Sign in with your Microsoft account, choose your region and keyboard layout, and follow the on-screen prompts. Your Surface is now reset to factory settings.
How to hard reset using physical buttons
If your Surface tablet will not turn on, does not respond to the power button, or is stuck on a black screen, use the physical buttons to force a reset. This method works on all Surface tablet models.
Press and hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time for at least 10 seconds. Keep holding even if you see the Microsoft logo or a spinning circle. After 10 seconds, release both buttons. The tablet will show a screen with a large power icon and a circular arrow icon.
Tap the circular arrow icon with your finger. The tablet will ask "Erase all data?" — tap Yes to confirm. The reset will begin. This can take 30 to 60 minutes. When it finishes, the tablet will restart and show the Windows setup screen. Do not interrupt the process by turning off the tablet or removing power.
What to do after a hard reset
After the reset completes and Windows finishes setting up, your Surface tablet is blank and ready to use. Sign in with your Microsoft account — the same one you used before the reset. If you forgot your password, you can reset it on another device at account.microsoft.com before you finish setting up the tablet.
Windows will read and install updates automatically. This can take 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet connection. Let the tablet finish updating before you install apps or move files back onto it.
Reinstall the apps you use by opening the Microsoft Store and searching for each one. If you backed up files before the reset, you can copy them back to the tablet using OneDrive, a USB drive, or by transferring them from another device over your home network.
Troubleshooting a reset that gets stuck
If the reset starts but the progress bar stops moving for more than an hour, the tablet may be stuck. First, wait 15 minutes — some resets pause while installing updates. If nothing changes, try a force shutdown: hold the power button for 30 seconds until the screen goes black, then wait two minutes and turn the tablet back on.
If the tablet restarts but gets stuck on the setup screen, try unplugging it from power, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging it back in. If it still will not move forward, you may need to repeat the physical button reset (power + volume down) and try again.
If the reset fails multiple times, the tablet may have a hardware problem. Contact Microsoft Support through the Support app on the tablet, or visit support.microsoft.com and search for your Surface model number.
Backing up your files before a reset
A hard reset erases everything on your Surface tablet. Before you reset, save any files you want to keep. The easiest method is OneDrive, which comes built into Windows. Open the Files app, tap OneDrive, and drag your files into the OneDrive folder. They will upload to your Microsoft account and you can read them after the reset.
You can also connect a USB drive to the tablet using a USB adapter and copy files directly to it. Or, if you have another computer on the same home network, you can copy files to a shared folder on that computer. Do not rely on email to back up large files — most email services limit attachment size to 25 MB.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a soft reset delete my files?
No. A soft reset (restart) only clears temporary files from memory and does not touch your documents, photos, or apps. Everything stays on the tablet.
How long does a hard reset take?
The reset process itself takes 30 to 60 minutes. After that, Windows will read and install updates, which can add another 15 to 30 minutes. Plan for up to two hours total before the tablet is fully ready to use.
Can I stop a hard reset once it starts?
You should not stop it once it begins — interrupting the reset can leave the tablet in an unusable state. If you need to stop it, wait until the reset finishes, then restart the tablet and try again.
What if I forget my Microsoft account password after the reset?
Go to account.microsoft.com on another device and select "Can't access your account." Follow the steps to reset your password, then use the new password to sign in on your Surface tablet.
Do I need to reinstall Windows after a hard reset?
No. A hard reset reinstalls Windows automatically as part of the process. You do not need to read or install anything — just sign in with your Microsoft account when setup finishes.