The two ways to restart an RCA tablet
An RCA tablet can be restarted in two ways: a soft restart, which closes all running programs and clears temporary memory without erasing your files, and a hard restart (also called a factory reset), which wipes the tablet back to its original state. Most of the time, a soft restart solves freezing, app crashes, and slow performance. A hard restart is a last resort when the tablet won't respond at all or you're preparing to sell or give it away.
Start with a soft restart. It takes less than a minute and fixes most problems without any risk to your data or settings.
Key Takeaways
- A soft restart closes all apps and clears temporary memory by holding the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until the tablet powers off, then turning it back on.
- A hard restart erases all files, photos, and settings, so back up anything you want to keep before you begin.
- If your RCA tablet is completely frozen and won't respond to the power button, try holding the power and volume-down buttons together for 30 seconds.
- After a hard restart, your tablet will restart as if it were brand new and will ask you to set up your account again.
How to do a soft restart
A soft restart is the safest first step. Your files, photos, apps, and settings stay exactly as they are. Locate the power button on the side or top edge of your RCA tablet. Press and hold it for 10 to 15 seconds. You'll see the power-off menu appear on the screen—it usually shows options like "Power off" or "Restart." If you see a restart option, tap it. If you only see "Power off," tap that, wait for the screen to go black, then press the power button again to turn the tablet back on.
If the tablet is frozen and the power button doesn't work, try holding the power button for 30 seconds anyway. Sometimes a stuck app prevents the normal menu from appearing, but a longer hold will force the tablet to shut down.
When to do a hard restart and what to expect
A hard restart erases everything on your tablet and returns it to factory settings. Do this only if a soft restart didn't fix the problem, or if you're selling the tablet and want to remove all your personal information. Before you start, connect the tablet to a charger—a hard restart can take 10 to 20 minutes, and if the battery dies during the process, the tablet may not restart properly.
Back up any files, photos, or documents you want to keep. If your tablet is connected to a Google account, your contacts, email, and some app data may restore automatically when you sign back in, but photos and documents stored only on the tablet will be gone forever.
Steps for a hard restart on most RCA tablets
The exact steps vary slightly depending on your RCA tablet model, but the process is similar on most Android-based RCA devices. First, turn off the tablet completely. Then press and hold the power button and the volume-up button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until you see a menu appear—this usually takes 10 to 15 seconds. The menu is called the recovery menu or boot menu.
Use the volume buttons to scroll down to an option that says "Wipe data/factory reset" or "Factory reset." Highlight it and press the power button to select it. The tablet will ask you to confirm—scroll to "Yes" and press the power button again. The reset will begin. Do not turn off the tablet or remove the charger while this is happening. When it's done, the tablet will restart and show the initial setup screen, just like when it was brand new.
If your RCA tablet won't turn on after a restart
If the tablet stays black after a restart, leave it plugged into the charger for at least 30 minutes. Sometimes the battery is completely drained and needs time to build up enough charge to power on. After 30 minutes, press the power button and hold it for 10 seconds.
If the tablet still won't turn on, try a force restart by holding the power and volume-down buttons together for 30 seconds, then releasing. Wait 10 seconds and press the power button alone. If none of these steps work, the tablet may have a hardware problem that requires service from RCA or a repair shop.
How to avoid needing a restart
Close apps you're not using, especially games and video apps, which use a lot of memory. Restart your tablet once a week or whenever you notice it slowing down—this clears temporary files that build up over time. Keep your storage from getting completely full; if you have less than 1 gigabyte of free space, the tablet will slow down significantly. Delete old photos and videos, or move them to cloud storage like Google Photos or OneDrive.
Update your apps and the tablet's operating system when updates are available. Updates often include fixes for crashes and freezing. Check the Google Play Store or your tablet's settings menu for pending updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a soft restart delete my files or photos?
No. A soft restart only closes running apps and clears temporary memory. All your files, photos, apps, and settings remain on the tablet exactly as they were.
How long does a hard restart take?
A hard restart usually takes 10 to 20 minutes from start to finish. The tablet will restart several times during the process. Keep it plugged in and don't interrupt it.
What's the difference between holding the power button for 10 seconds versus 30 seconds?
Holding for 10 to 15 seconds triggers a normal shutdown. Holding for 30 seconds forces the tablet to shut down when ready, even if an app is frozen. Use the longer hold only when the tablet won't respond to the normal power-off menu.
Can I undo a hard restart?
No. A hard restart permanently erases all data on the tablet. If you backed up your files to Google Drive or another cloud service before the restart, you can read them again after setup. Otherwise, the data is gone.
My RCA tablet is stuck on the startup screen after a restart. What do I do?
Leave it plugged in for 30 minutes—sometimes the startup process is just slow. If it's still stuck after 30 minutes, try a force restart by holding power and volume-down together for 30 seconds. If that doesn't work, contact RCA support or a repair technician.