What a factory reset does and when you need one
A factory reset wipes your Amazon Fire tablet completely clean and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This means all your apps, photos, documents, login information, and personal settings disappear. The tablet's operating system stays the same — you are not downgrading or upgrading, just erasing everything you added to it.
You might reset your Fire tablet if it is running slowly, freezing often, or behaving unpredictably. A reset also makes sense if you are selling or giving away the tablet and want to remove your personal data. If you forgot your Amazon account password or PIN and cannot access the device, a reset is sometimes the only way forward. However, a reset is not a fix for hardware problems like a cracked screen or a battery that will not hold a charge.
Before you reset, understand that you cannot undo it. Anything stored only on the tablet — photos you took, documents you created, apps you sideloaded — will be gone. Apps you downloaded from the Amazon Appstore can be reinstalled later using your Amazon account, but you will need to set them up again from scratch.
Key Takeaways
- A factory reset erases all apps, files, and settings but keeps the operating system intact, and the process cannot be reversed.
- You can reset through Settings on most Fire tablets, or use the hardware button combination if the tablet is frozen or unresponsive.
- The reset process takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on the tablet, and the tablet will restart several times.
- After the reset completes, you will see the initial setup screen and can sign in with your Amazon account to reinstall your apps.
- Back up any photos, documents, or files you want to keep before starting the reset, because they will be permanently deleted.
Back up your data before you start
If there are photos, videos, or documents on your tablet that you want to keep, move them to a computer or cloud storage before you reset. The easiest method is to connect your Fire tablet to a computer with a USB cable, then drag and drop files from the tablet's storage folder to your computer.
For photos and videos, you can also upload them to Amazon Photos (which comes built into Fire tablets) or to another cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Open the app, select the files you want to save, and choose upload. Once they are in the cloud, they will still be there after the reset.
If you have documents or ebooks that you sideloaded (meaning you added them manually rather than downloading them from the Amazon store), copy those to your computer as well. Apps you downloaded from the Amazon Appstore do not need to be backed up — you can reinstall them after the reset by signing in with your Amazon account.
Reset through the Settings menu
This is the standard method and works when your tablet is responding normally. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the Quick Settings panel, then tap the gear icon to open full Settings.
Scroll down and tap Device Options. At the bottom of that menu, you will see Reset to Factory Defaults or Reset Device (the exact wording varies by Fire tablet model and software version). Tap it.
The tablet will ask you to confirm. Read the warning — it will tell you that all data will be erased and the device will restart. Tap the button to confirm (usually labeled Reset or Erase Everything). The tablet will begin erasing data and will restart automatically. This process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. Do not unplug the tablet or press any buttons while it is resetting.
When the reset is complete, you will see the initial setup screen, which looks like the screen you saw the first time you turned on the tablet. At this point, the reset is finished.
Reset using the hardware button if the tablet is frozen
If your Fire tablet is completely frozen, unresponsive, or stuck in a loop, you can force a reset using the power button and volume buttons. The exact button combination depends on your tablet model, but the most common method works on most current Fire tablets.
Hold down the power button and the volume down button at the same time for about 10 to 15 seconds. Keep holding even if you see the power-off menu appear — do not release. The tablet will vibrate and the screen will go black. Keep holding the buttons for a few more seconds after the vibration.
Release both buttons. The tablet will restart and show a menu with options. Use the volume buttons to navigate and the power button to select. Look for an option like Wipe data/factory reset or Recovery mode. Select it, then confirm the reset. The tablet will erase and restart, which takes several minutes.
If this button combination does not work on your model, check the manual that came with your tablet or search online for "[Your tablet model] factory reset button combination." Different Fire tablet generations use slightly different combinations.
What happens after the reset is complete
When your tablet finishes resetting, it will show the initial setup screen. You will be asked to select a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with your Amazon account. Use the same Amazon account you used before — this is how the tablet knows which apps and content you own.
After you sign in, the tablet will offer to reinstall your apps. You can choose to reinstall them all at once, or you can skip this and install them individually later through the Amazon Appstore. Your books, music, and videos that you purchased through Amazon will also be available to read again.
Your personal settings — screen brightness, font size, notification preferences — will be back to factory defaults, so you will need to adjust them again. This usually takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on how many apps you want to reinstall.
Troubleshooting a reset that does not work
If you tried to reset through Settings but the tablet did not respond, or if the reset started but the tablet got stuck on a loading screen, try the hardware button method described above. A forced reset using buttons works even when the software is not responding.
If the tablet is completely unresponsive — the screen is black, it will not turn on, and the buttons do nothing — plug it into a power adapter and let it charge for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes a tablet with a completely dead battery appears to be broken. After charging, try the hardware button reset again.
If the reset still does not complete after 30 minutes, or if the tablet gets stuck on a boot loop (restarting over and over), the tablet may have a hardware problem or a software corruption that a factory reset cannot fix. At that point, contact Amazon customer service. They can troubleshoot further or discuss repair or replacement options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Amazon account or my purchases?
No. Your Amazon account and everything you purchased through it — apps, books, music, videos — remain tied to your account. When you sign back in after the reset, you can reinstall or redownload all of it. Only files you created or added manually to the tablet will be gone.
Can I reset my Fire tablet if I forgot my Amazon password?
Yes. Use the hardware button method (power and volume down) to force a reset. You do not need to sign in during the reset itself. After the reset completes and you see the setup screen, you can use the "Forgot password?" option to reset your Amazon password through Amazon's website, then sign in with the new password.
How long does a factory reset take?
The actual reset process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how much data is stored on the tablet. The tablet will restart several times during this process. After the reset finishes, reinstalling your apps can take an additional 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many you had and your internet speed.
What if I change my mind after starting the reset?
Once the reset has started, you cannot stop it or undo it. The tablet will continue erasing data even if you try to turn it off. Let the reset complete. If you realize you needed something that will be deleted, and you have not yet confirmed the final step, you can still back out — but once you confirm, the data is gone.
Do I need to remove my Amazon account before I reset?
No. The factory reset removes your account from the tablet automatically. When the reset is done and you see the setup screen, your account is no longer signed in. You can sign back in, or you can set up the tablet with a different Amazon account if you are giving it to someone else.