What a reset does and when you need one

A reset clears your Galaxy tablet back to factory settings—it wipes all your personal data, apps, photos, and accounts, then reinstalls the original Samsung software. You would reset a tablet that is frozen, running slowly, has a virus or malware, or that you are about to sell or give away. A reset is different from a restart: restarting just turns the device off and back on, which fixes most temporary glitches. Try a restart first.

There are two types of reset available on Galaxy tablets. A soft reset (or factory reset from Settings) erases your data but keeps the device in working condition. A hard reset (or recovery mode reset) is used when the tablet will not start up or respond to touch, and requires you to hold physical buttons while the device boots. Most people use the soft reset method.

Key Takeaways

  • Back up your photos, documents, and any data you want to keep before you reset, because a reset deletes everything on the tablet.
  • A soft reset through Settings is the standard method and works when your tablet is powered on and responding.
  • A hard reset using recovery mode is necessary only if your tablet is frozen, will not start, or will not respond to touch.
  • After a reset, you will need to sign back into your Samsung account and Google account to restore some apps and settings.

How to back up your data before resetting

Before you reset, move anything you want to keep to a safe location. The easiest way is to sign into your Samsung account on the tablet—when you do, Samsung automatically backs up your contacts, calendar, messages, and some app data to Samsung Cloud. Open Settings, tap Accounts and backup, then Samsung account, and make sure you are signed in.

For photos and videos, open the Gallery app and check that Google Photos is turned on. This backs up your media to your Google account automatically. You can also connect the tablet to a computer with a USB cable and copy files manually to your computer's hard drive. Documents stored in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox are already safe in the cloud as long as you are signed into those accounts.

Soft reset: using Settings when the tablet is working

If your Galaxy tablet is powered on and responding to touch, use the Settings method. Open Settings and scroll down to find General management (the exact name varies slightly by model and Android version—it may say System or About device instead). Tap it.

Look for Reset or Reset options and tap it. You will see choices including Reset all settings and Factory data reset or Erase all data. Choose Factory data reset or Erase all data—this is the full reset. The tablet will ask you to confirm and may ask for your Samsung account password or PIN. Enter it, then tap the button to start the reset. The process takes 5 to 15 minutes. The tablet will restart several times and show a progress bar. Do not turn it off during this time.

Hard reset: using recovery mode when the tablet is frozen

If your Galaxy tablet is frozen, will not turn on, or will not respond to touch, you need a hard reset using recovery mode. First, make sure the tablet is powered off completely. If it is stuck on, hold the Power button for 10 to 15 seconds until it shuts down.

Once the tablet is off, hold down three buttons at the same time: Power, Volume Up, and Home (if your model has a Home button). If there is no Home button, hold Power and Volume Up only. Keep holding for about 10 seconds until you see the Samsung logo or a menu appear. This is recovery mode.

Use the Volume Down button to navigate to Wipe data / factory reset or Factory reset. Press the Power button to select it. The tablet will ask you to confirm—use Volume Down to highlight Yes and press Power to confirm. The reset will begin and take 5 to 15 minutes. When it finishes, the tablet will restart automatically.

Setting up your tablet after the reset

When the reset is complete, your tablet will show the initial setup screen, just like a new device. You will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign into accounts. Sign into your Google account first—this restores many of your apps from the Google Play Store automatically. Then sign into your Samsung account to restore Samsung-specific settings and data.

After you sign in, the tablet will read and install your apps in the background. This can take an hour or more depending on how many apps you had and your internet speed. You can use the tablet while this happens. Photos and documents stored in Google Photos, Google Drive, and other cloud services will reappear once you sign in, but they are not downloaded to the tablet unless you open them.

What to do if the reset does not work

If your tablet still will not start or respond after a hard reset, the problem may be a hardware failure rather than a software issue. Try charging the tablet for at least 30 minutes—sometimes a completely dead battery looks like a frozen device. If it still does not respond, contact Samsung support through their website or visit an authorized Samsung service center. They can run diagnostics and repair or replace the device if needed.

If the soft reset started but got stuck on a loading screen, hold the Power button for 10 seconds to force it off, then try the hard reset method instead. If you see error messages during reset, write down the exact message and search for it on Samsung's support site—some errors have specific fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a reset remove my Google account?

Yes, a reset removes all accounts from the tablet. You will need to sign back into your Google account after the reset is complete. Once you do, Google will restore your contacts, calendar, Gmail, and most of your apps automatically.

Can I stop a reset once it has started?

No. Once a reset begins, you should not interrupt it by turning off the tablet or removing the battery. Let it finish, even if it takes longer than expected. Stopping it mid-process can damage the tablet's software.

What if I forgot my Samsung account password?

After a reset, you can skip signing into your Samsung account and use only your Google account instead. You can add your Samsung account later through Settings once you have reset your password on Samsung's website using a computer.

How long does a reset take?

Most resets take 5 to 15 minutes from start to finish. If your tablet is very full of data or apps, it may take up to 30 minutes. The tablet will restart several times during this process, which is normal.

Will a reset fix a slow tablet?

Often yes. A reset removes apps, files, and settings that may be slowing the device down. However, if the tablet is slow because of a hardware problem like a failing storage drive, a reset will not fix it. If slowness returns after a reset, the issue is likely hardware.