What a Reset Does and When You Need One
A reset clears your Samsung Galaxy tablet back to factory settings, removing all your apps, photos, files, and accounts. Use this when your tablet is running slowly, freezing constantly, or acting erratically after installing something. A reset also wipes the device if you're selling it, giving it away, or returning it to Samsung for repair.
Before you reset, understand that this action cannot be undone. Everything stored on the tablet itself will be gone. Photos and files backed up to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive will still be there after you sign back in, but anything stored only on the device is permanently deleted.
Samsung Galaxy tablets offer two types of resets: a soft reset (which restarts the system without erasing data) and a factory reset (which erases everything). Most people mean factory reset when they say "reset," and that's what this guide covers.
Key Takeaways
- Back up your photos, files, and important data to Samsung Cloud, Google Drive, or a computer before resetting, because a factory reset deletes everything on the tablet itself.
- A factory reset is done through Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset, and you'll need your Samsung account password to complete it.
- The reset process takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on the tablet, and the tablet will restart several times during the process.
- If your tablet is frozen and won't open Settings, you can force a reset using the hardware buttons: hold Power and Volume Down together until the recovery menu appears.
- After the reset completes, you'll set up the tablet as new, and you can sign back into your Samsung and Google accounts to restore backed-up data.
How to Back Up Your Data Before Resetting
The most important step happens before you reset. Open Settings, tap Accounts and Backup, then tap Backup and Restore. Choose Samsung Cloud or Google Drive (or both) and select what you want backed up: contacts, calendar events, messages, app data, and device settings. Let the backup finish completely—this can take several minutes if you have a lot of data.
For photos and videos, open the Gallery app, tap the menu (three lines), and go to Settings > Cloud Sync. Turn on sync to Samsung Cloud or Google Photos. This uploads your media automatically so you can read it again after the reset.
If you have documents, spreadsheets, or other files, move them to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox using the Files app. Open Files, find the files you want to keep, long-press them, and choose Move or Copy, then select your cloud storage app.
The Standard Factory Reset Through Settings
This is the normal way to reset when your tablet is working well enough to navigate menus. Open Settings by swiping down from the top of the screen twice and tapping the gear icon, or find Settings in your app drawer.
Scroll down and tap General Management (the exact name varies slightly by model—it might say System or Device Management). Tap Reset, then tap Factory Data Reset. The tablet will show you a summary of what will be deleted. Read it, then tap Reset.
You'll be asked to enter your Samsung account password. This is a security step to prevent someone else from wiping your tablet without permission. If you don't remember your Samsung password, you'll need to reset it on a computer or phone before you can proceed with the tablet reset.
After you enter your password, tap Reset again to confirm. The tablet will restart and show a progress bar. Do not turn off the tablet or remove the battery during this time. The process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. When it finishes, the tablet will restart and show the initial setup screen, just like a new device.
Force Reset When Your Tablet Is Frozen
If your tablet is completely frozen and won't respond to taps or swipes, you can force a reset using the physical buttons. This does not erase data—it's just a hard restart. Hold down the Power button for 10 seconds until the tablet vibrates and the screen goes black, then release. Wait a few seconds and press Power again to turn it back on.
If the force restart doesn't fix the problem and you still need to factory reset, you can do it from the recovery menu. Hold Power and Volume Down at the same time for about 10 seconds. Keep holding until you see the Samsung logo and a menu appears (this can take up to 30 seconds). Use the Volume Down button to highlight "Wipe data/factory reset," then press Power to select it. Confirm by highlighting "Yes" and pressing Power. The reset will begin.
This method is harder to navigate because you can only use the volume buttons to move between options and the power button to select. Take your time and make sure you're highlighting the right option before pressing Power.
Setting Up Your Tablet After the Reset
When the reset finishes, your tablet will show the Welcome screen. Choose your language and region, then connect to Wi-Fi. You'll be asked to sign in with a Google account—use the same one you used before the reset so your backed-up data syncs automatically.
After you sign in, the tablet will read and restore your contacts, calendar, and backed-up app data. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have and how fast your internet is. Don't close Settings or turn off the tablet during this time.
Once the restore finishes, open the Play Store and reinstall any apps you want. Apps you owned before the reset are still in your library—go to My Apps and Games, tap Library, and you'll see all your previous purchases. Tap Install next to each one.
For photos and videos, open Google Photos or Samsung Gallery and sign in. Your backed-up media will appear automatically. If you backed up to Samsung Cloud instead, open Settings > Accounts and Backup > Backup and Restore and choose Restore to read your data.
What to Do If the Reset Fails or Gets Stuck
If the reset starts but gets stuck on a loading screen for more than 30 minutes, force restart the tablet by holding Power and Volume Down for 10 seconds. Then try the factory reset again from Settings. If it fails a second time, the tablet may have a software problem that requires professional help.
Contact Samsung Support through their website or call their customer service line. Have your tablet's model number ready—you can find it in Settings > About Tablet. Samsung can sometimes fix software problems remotely, or they may arrange a repair or replacement if the tablet is still under warranty.
If you're selling or giving away the tablet and the reset won't complete, still try to get it done before handing it over. If that's not possible, tell the new owner that the reset failed and they should contact Samsung before using the device, so they don't accidentally access your old accounts or data.
Soft Reset vs. Factory Reset: Which One You Need
A soft reset (or force restart) straightforward turns the tablet off and back on. It clears the tablet's temporary memory but doesn't erase any of your data, apps, or settings. Use this first if your tablet is slow, freezing, or acting strange. Many problems go away after a soft restart, and you lose nothing.
A factory reset erases everything and returns the tablet to the state it was in when it left the factory. Use this only when a soft reset doesn't fix the problem, when you're selling or giving away the tablet, or when you need a completely clean start. Because it erases everything, always back up first.
If you're not sure which one you need, start with a soft reset. Hold Power and Volume Down for 10 seconds, let the tablet restart, and see if that solves the problem. If it doesn't, then do a factory reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove my Google account?
Yes, the reset removes all accounts from the tablet. After the reset, you'll sign back in during setup, and your backed-up contacts, calendar, and app data will sync automatically. Your Google account itself is not deleted—it's just removed from this device.
Can I reset my tablet if I forgot my Samsung password?
You'll need your Samsung password to complete the factory reset through Settings as a security measure. Go to samsung.com on a computer, click Sign In, and use "Forgot Password" to reset it. Once you've reset your password, you can use it on the tablet to complete the factory reset.
How long does a factory reset take?
The reset process itself usually takes 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how much data is on the tablet. After the reset finishes, restoring your backed-up data can take another 10 to 30 minutes. Don't turn off the tablet during either phase.
Will resetting my tablet make it faster?
A reset can help if your tablet is slow because of too many apps, cached files, or a software glitch. However, if the tablet is old or has a slower processor, a reset won't make it significantly faster. If slowness returns after a few months, the problem may be that you're installing too many apps again.
What if I reset my tablet by accident?
You cannot undo a factory reset. However, if you backed up your data to Samsung Cloud or Google Drive before the reset, you can restore it by signing back into those accounts during setup. If you didn't back up, the data is permanently gone.