Two ways to reset your Surface tablet

You can reset your Surface tablet in two ways: a soft reset that clears temporary files and closes all apps without erasing your data, or a full factory reset that wipes everything and returns the tablet to its original state. A soft reset takes a few seconds and fixes most freezing or performance problems. A factory reset takes 30 minutes to an hour and is what you need if you're selling the tablet, giving it away, or the device has a serious problem that won't go away.

Choose a soft reset first if your tablet is slow, an app keeps crashing, or the screen is unresponsive. Choose a factory reset only if you've backed up your files and you want to erase everything on the device.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft reset closes all apps and clears temporary memory without deleting your files, and takes about 30 seconds.
  • A factory reset erases all your data, photos, and apps and returns the tablet to factory settings, and takes 30 to 60 minutes.
  • Before a factory reset, back up your files to OneDrive, a USB drive, or an external hard drive.
  • During a factory reset, keep the tablet plugged in and do not turn it off, even if it appears to be frozen.

How to do a soft reset

A soft reset is the fastest way to fix a sluggish or frozen Surface tablet. Press and hold the power button on the side of the tablet for 10 seconds until the screen goes black. Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. The tablet will restart, and all your apps will close. Your files, photos, and settings stay exactly as they were.

If the tablet is completely frozen and the power button doesn't work, try holding the power button and the volume-down button together for 10 seconds. This forces a restart on most Surface models.

How to do a factory reset from Settings

Open the Settings app by swiping in from the right edge of the screen and tapping the gear icon, or press the Windows key and type "Settings" and press Enter. Go to System, then scroll down and tap Recovery. Under "Reset this PC," tap get your free guide.

You will see two options: Keep my files or Remove everything. Choose Remove everything if you want a complete factory reset. The tablet will ask you to confirm. Tap Next, then Reset. The tablet will restart and begin erasing all data. Do not turn off the tablet or unplug it during this process, even if the screen appears frozen. This can take 30 to 60 minutes depending on how much data is on the device.

When the reset is complete, the tablet will restart and show the setup screen, just like when it was new. You can then sign in with your Microsoft account or create a new one.

How to do a factory reset from the login screen

If your tablet won't start normally or you can't reach Settings, you can reset it from the login screen. Press and hold the power button until the tablet shuts down completely. Turn it back on and when ready press and hold the volume-up button. Keep holding it until you see the "Choose an option" screen.

Tap Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC, then Remove everything. Confirm your choice and tap Reset. The tablet will restart and begin the factory reset process. This method takes the same 30 to 60 minutes and requires the tablet to stay plugged in and powered on the entire time.

Back up your files before a factory reset

A factory reset erases everything on your tablet, so back up any files you want to keep before you start. The easiest way is to sign in to OneDrive (Microsoft's cloud storage) and upload your files there. Open the Files app, find the folders you want to save, and drag them into the OneDrive folder. OneDrive will sync them to the cloud automatically.

You can also connect a USB drive or external hard drive to your Surface tablet and copy files directly to it. Plug in the external drive, open the Files app, select the folders you want to save, right-click, and choose Copy. Then navigate to the external drive and right-click and choose Paste. Make sure the copy is complete before you start the factory reset.

What to expect during and after a factory reset

Once you tap Reset, the tablet will restart and show a progress bar. The screen may go black for several minutes—this is normal. Do not interrupt the process by pressing buttons or unplugging the device. If the progress bar hasn't moved in 45 minutes, the reset may have failed, and you can try again from the login screen.

When the reset finishes, the tablet will restart and show the Windows setup screen. You will need to choose your language, region, and keyboard layout, then sign in with a Microsoft account. If you backed up files to OneDrive, you can sign in with the same account and your files will be available to read again.

Common problems and how to fix them

If the reset gets stuck on a black screen, wait at least 45 minutes before assuming it has failed. If it's still stuck after an hour, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown, then try the reset again from the login screen.

If you see an error message during the reset, write down the error code and search for it on the Microsoft Support website. Some errors can be fixed by restarting the tablet and trying again. If the error persists, the tablet may have a hardware problem that requires professional repair.

If you forgot your password and can't sign in after the reset, you can create a new local account during setup instead of signing in with a Microsoft account. You can add your Microsoft account later once you remember the password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a soft reset delete my files?

No. A soft reset only closes apps and clears temporary memory. All your files, photos, settings, and installed apps stay on the tablet. It's the same as restarting a computer.

How long does a factory reset take?

A factory reset usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how much data is on the tablet. Keep the tablet plugged in and do not turn it off during this time. The progress bar may move slowly or appear frozen—this is normal.

Can I use my Surface tablet while it's resetting?

No. During a factory reset, the tablet will restart and be unusable until the process finishes. Do not try to use it, press buttons, or unplug it. A soft reset takes only 30 seconds, so the tablet will be ready to use again very quickly.

What if I change my mind during a factory reset?

Once the reset starts, you cannot stop it without losing data. If you realize you haven't backed up your files, let the reset finish anyway—stopping it mid-process can damage the tablet. After it finishes, you can restore files from a backup if you have one.

Do I need to remove my Microsoft account before resetting?

No. A factory reset will remove your account from the tablet, but it won't delete your Microsoft account itself. You can sign back in with the same account after the reset is complete, and your OneDrive files will be available again.