The Two Ways to Restart Your Samsung Galaxy Tablet
A restart clears your tablet's temporary memory and stops all running programs, which fixes most freezing, lag, and app crashes without erasing your data or settings. Samsung Galaxy tablets support two restart methods: a soft restart (power off and back on) and a hard restart (force restart). A soft restart is what you should try first — it takes 30 seconds and solves the majority of problems. A hard restart forces the tablet to shut down when ready, even if it is frozen or unresponsive, and is only necessary when the soft restart does not work or your tablet will not respond to touch.
The choice between the two depends on whether your tablet is responding. If you can touch the screen and see the power menu, use a soft restart. If your tablet is frozen solid and will not respond to any button presses or touch, use a hard restart. Both methods preserve your photos, contacts, messages, and installed apps — nothing is erased.
Key Takeaways
- A soft restart powers your tablet off normally and back on, taking about 30 seconds and fixing most performance issues without data loss.
- Press and hold the power button (usually on the right edge) until the power menu appears, then tap "Power off" or "Restart".
- A hard restart forces shutdown by holding the power button and volume down button together for 10 to 15 seconds, and is only needed if your tablet is frozen.
- After any restart, wait 30 seconds before using your tablet so background processes can fully load.
How to Do a Soft Restart
A soft restart is the standard way to turn your tablet off and back on. Locate the power button on your Samsung Galaxy tablet — on most models it is on the right edge, though some older models have it on the top. Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears on your screen. This usually takes 2 to 3 seconds.
Once the menu appears, you will see options including "Power off" and sometimes "Restart". If you see a "Restart" option, tap it and your tablet will shut down and turn back on automatically. If you only see "Power off", tap that option. Your tablet will shut down completely. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. The entire process takes about 30 seconds from start to finish.
During startup, your tablet will show the Samsung logo and may display "Android is starting" or a similar message. Let it finish loading completely — this can take 30 to 60 seconds depending on how many apps you have installed. Do not press any buttons or touch the screen during this time. Once you see your home screen and all icons have loaded, your tablet is ready to use.
How to Do a Hard Restart (Force Restart)
A hard restart is necessary when your tablet is completely frozen, will not respond to touch, or will not turn off using the power button. This method forces an when ready shutdown without waiting for the normal shutdown process. Locate both the power button and the volume down button on your tablet. On most Samsung Galaxy tablets, the power button is on the right edge and the volume down button is just below it.
Press and hold both buttons at the same time. Keep holding them for 10 to 15 seconds. You may see the Samsung logo appear and disappear, or the screen may go black. Do not release the buttons until you see the Samsung logo appear a second time or until the screen goes completely black and stays that way for a few seconds. Once the screen is black, release both buttons and wait 10 seconds.
Press the power button alone to turn your tablet back on. The startup process is the same as a soft restart — you will see the Samsung logo and may see "Android is starting". Let your tablet load completely before using it. A hard restart does not erase your data, photos, or settings; it only forces the system to shut down and restart.
What to Do If Your Tablet Still Will Not Restart
If your tablet will not respond to either a soft or hard restart, the battery may be completely drained. Connect your tablet to its charger and leave it plugged in for at least 15 minutes before trying again. Some tablets will not respond to any button presses when the battery is critically low. After 15 minutes of charging, try the hard restart method again.
If your tablet still will not restart after charging, try a different charger or cable if you have one available. A faulty cable can prevent the tablet from charging even though it appears to be plugged in. If you have access to a computer, you can also connect your tablet via USB cable to see if your computer recognizes it — this confirms whether the tablet is receiving power. If the computer recognizes the tablet but the tablet screen remains black, the issue may be more serious and may require professional service.
When to Restart Versus When to Seek Other Solutions
A restart fixes most temporary problems: apps crashing, the tablet running slowly, the screen freezing, or Wi-Fi not connecting. If restarting solves the problem, you are done. However, if the same problem happens again within a few days, the issue is likely not temporary. Repeated crashes in a single app may mean that app needs to be updated or reinstalled. Repeated slowness across all apps may mean your storage is full or you have too many apps running at startup.
If your tablet overheats, a restart will not fix the underlying cause — overheating usually means the tablet needs to cool down in a room-temperature environment, away from direct sunlight and away from other heat sources. If your tablet will not charge at all, restarting will not help; the problem is likely the charger, cable, or charging port. If you see error messages or your tablet is stuck in a boot loop (restarting over and over), those are more serious problems that may require a factory reset or professional repair.
Restarting Without Losing Your Data
Both a soft restart and a hard restart preserve all your data, photos, contacts, and app settings. Neither method erases anything. The only restart method that erases data is a factory reset, which is a different process entirely and should only be done if you are trying to erase everything on your tablet before selling it or giving it away.
If you are concerned about data loss, you can back up your tablet before restarting, though this is not necessary. Samsung tablets can back up to a Samsung account or to Google Drive. Open Settings, search for "Backup", and follow the on-screen steps. However, for a straightforward restart to fix a frozen or slow tablet, backing up first is not required — your data will not be affected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting my tablet delete my photos or apps?
No. A soft restart and a hard restart both preserve all your data, photos, contacts, messages, and installed apps. Only a factory reset erases everything, and that is a separate process you have to choose deliberately.
How often should I restart my tablet?
Most people do not need to restart regularly. Restart only when your tablet is slow, an app is crashing, or it is not responding. If you find yourself restarting more than once a week, something else may be wrong — too many apps running at startup, storage nearly full, or an app that is draining battery or processing power.
What is the difference between a soft restart and a hard restart?
A soft restart uses the power menu and lets your tablet shut down normally. A hard restart forces an when ready shutdown by holding two buttons and is only used when the tablet is frozen or will not respond. Both preserve your data; hard restart is just more forceful.
Can I restart my tablet while it is charging?
Yes, you can restart while charging. In fact, if your tablet is nearly out of battery, it is a good idea to plug it in before restarting so it does not shut down during the startup process.
Why does my tablet take so long to start up after a restart?
During startup, your tablet loads the operating system and all your apps. The first restart after an update can take longer than usual. If startup is consistently slow, you may have too many apps set to run at startup, or your storage may be nearly full. Check Settings > Apps to see which apps are running in the background.