What a Factory Reset Does and When You Need One
A factory reset erases all the data on your Samsung tablet and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. This means your photos, videos, apps, messages, and account information will be deleted. The operating system and pre-installed Samsung apps stay, but everything you added or changed is gone.
You might reset your tablet if it runs slowly, an app keeps crashing, you want to sell or give it away, or you forgot your PIN or password. A reset is also the fix when your tablet won't turn on properly or won't connect to Wi-Fi after trying other troubleshooting steps.
Before you reset, back up anything you want to keep. You can save photos and documents to Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or your computer. Once you start the reset, there is no way to undo it.
Key Takeaways
- Back up your photos, documents, and any files you want to keep before starting a factory reset, because the reset deletes everything on your tablet.
- You can reset your Samsung tablet through Settings on the tablet itself, or through Samsung Find Mobile if you forgot your password and cannot unlock the screen.
- The reset process takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on your tablet, and your tablet will restart several times during the process.
- After the reset completes, your tablet will ask you to sign in with a Samsung account or Google account, just as if it were brand new.
How to Reset Through Settings If You Can Unlock Your Tablet
If your tablet turns on and you can enter your PIN or password, this is the fastest way to reset. Open the Settings app—it looks like a gear icon and is usually on your home screen or in the app drawer. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice if you do not see it there.
Scroll down and tap General Management or About Tablet depending on your Samsung model. Look for the option that says Reset or Factory Data Reset. Tap it, then read the warning that appears. The tablet will list what will be deleted—photos, messages, apps, settings, everything except the operating system.
Tap Reset or Delete All to confirm. Your tablet will ask you to enter your PIN, password, or Samsung account password one more time to make sure you really want to do this. Enter it and tap Continue. The reset will start when ready. Your tablet will restart, show a progress bar, and restart again. Do not turn it off during this time. The whole process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes.
How to Reset If You Forgot Your Password or PIN
If your tablet is locked and you cannot remember the PIN, pattern, or password, you can still reset it using Samsung Find Mobile. Go to findmobile.samsung.com on a computer or another device. Sign in with the Samsung account that is linked to your tablet.
Click on your tablet's name in the list of devices. Look for an option called Unlock or Factory Reset—the exact wording varies by region. Click it and confirm. Samsung will send a command to your tablet to unlock it or reset it. This can take a few minutes to go through. Once it completes, your tablet will restart and you will be able to set it up as new.
If you do not remember your Samsung account password either, you will need to reset it on the Samsung website before you can use Find Mobile. Click Forgot Password on the sign-in page and follow the steps to verify your identity using your email or phone number.
What Happens After the Reset Completes
When your tablet finishes restarting, it will show a welcome screen just like a brand new tablet. You will see a language selection, then a prompt to connect to Wi-Fi. Connect to your home network or any available Wi-Fi network.
Next, the tablet will ask you to sign in with a Google account or Samsung account. If you want to restore your photos, contacts, and some app data from a backup, sign in with the same Google account you used before the reset. Google will offer to restore your backed-up information. If you do not have a backup or do not want to restore anything, you can skip this step and set up the tablet as completely new.
After sign-in, your tablet will read and install any apps that were on it before, if you chose to restore from backup. This can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many apps you had and your internet speed. Let the tablet finish this process before you start using it.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down or Stop the Reset
The most common mistake is turning off the tablet while the reset is running. If you see a progress bar or the screen is black with text, the reset is still happening. Let it finish even if it seems to take a long time. Turning it off can leave your tablet in a state where it will not turn on again, and you will need to take it to a repair shop.
Another mistake is not backing up before you start. Once the reset begins, there is no pause button and no way to cancel it. If you realize halfway through that you needed a photo or document, it will be gone. Always back up first.
Some people also forget to write down important information before resetting—like passwords for email accounts, banking apps, or work accounts. After the reset, you will need these passwords to sign back in. Write them down or store them in a password manager before you start.
If Your Tablet Will Not Turn On or Respond
If your tablet is completely unresponsive and will not turn on, you can try a hard reset before doing a factory reset. Hold down the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time for 10 to 15 seconds. Your tablet may vibrate or show the Samsung logo. Keep holding until you see a menu with options like Reboot or Factory Reset.
Use the volume buttons to move up and down in this menu, and the power button to select. Choose Factory Reset or Wipe Data. The tablet will reset without you needing to unlock it or use Settings. This takes longer than a regular reset—sometimes 20 to 30 minutes—because the tablet is doing more work to recover.
If the tablet still will not respond after this, it may have a hardware problem. Contact Samsung support or visit a repair center.
Transferring Your Data Back After the Reset
If you backed up your photos and documents to Google Drive before the reset, sign in to your Google account on the tablet after it finishes resetting. Open the Files app and look for Google Drive in the sidebar. Your backed-up files will be there. You can read them back to your tablet or leave them in the cloud.
If you backed up to Samsung Cloud, open Settings, go to Accounts, and tap your Samsung account. Look for Samsung Cloud and tap Restore. Choose which types of data you want to restore—photos, contacts, settings, or all of them. The restore will start and can take several minutes depending on how much data you have.
For apps, if you signed in with your Google account during setup, Google will automatically reinstall the apps you had before. If you did not restore from backup, you can read apps again from the Google Play Store by searching for them by name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a factory reset remove the Samsung or Google account from my tablet?
Yes. After the reset, your tablet will ask you to sign in with an account as if it were brand new. You can sign in with the same account you used before, or a different one. If you sign in with the same account and had backups turned on, your photos and some settings will restore automatically.
How long does a factory reset actually take?
A standard reset through Settings usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. A hard reset (using buttons) can take 20 to 30 minutes because the tablet is working harder. The exact time depends on how much data is on your tablet and how fast your tablet's processor is. Do not interrupt it.
Can I reset my Samsung tablet if it is locked with a pattern or fingerprint?
If you remember your PIN or password, you can unlock it and reset through Settings normally. If you forgot the PIN, you can use Samsung Find Mobile on a computer to unlock or reset it remotely. You will need to sign in with your Samsung account to use Find Mobile.
What if I reset my tablet but it still does not work properly?
If your tablet still runs slowly or crashes after a factory reset, the problem may be a hardware issue rather than software. Try restarting the tablet and giving it time to finish setting up all your apps. If problems continue after a few days, contact Samsung support or visit a repair center.
Do I need to charge my tablet before I reset it?
Yes. Make sure your tablet has at least 50 percent battery before you start a factory reset. If the battery dies during the reset, your tablet may not turn on again. Plug it in and let it charge fully before you begin.