The three ways to restart a tablet, and when to use each one

A restart clears your tablet's memory and closes all running programs, which fixes most freezing, crashing, and slowness problems. You have three options: a soft restart (the fastest, safest choice for everyday problems), a force restart (when the tablet won't respond to normal commands), and a factory reset (which erases everything and returns the tablet to its original state). Most of the time, a soft restart solves the problem and takes less than two minutes.

The method you use depends on whether your tablet is still responding to touch commands. If it is, a soft restart is enough. If it is frozen solid, you will need a force restart. A factory reset should be your last resort because it deletes all your photos, documents, apps, and settings.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft restart closes all running programs and clears memory without erasing any of your files or settings.
  • A force restart works when your tablet is completely frozen and will not respond to the power button or touch commands.
  • The steps for a soft restart differ between iPad and Android tablets, so check your device type before you start.
  • A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and should only be used when other restarts have not fixed the problem.
  • After any restart, your tablet may take a few minutes to fully load all your apps and settings.

How to do a soft restart on an iPad

A soft restart is the gentlest option and works for most problems. On an iPad with a home button (iPad Air 2 and earlier, iPad mini 4 and earlier, or iPad 5th generation and earlier), press and hold both the top button and the home button at the same time until you see the power-off slider appear on the screen. Then drag the slider to turn off the iPad. Wait 10 seconds, then press the top button again to turn it back on.

On an iPad without a home button (iPad Pro, iPad Air 3 and later, iPad mini 5 and later, or iPad 6th generation and later), press and hold the top button and one of the volume buttons at the same time until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, wait 10 seconds, and press the top button to turn it back on. The entire process takes about 30 seconds.

How to do a soft restart on an Android tablet

On most Android tablets, press and hold the power button (usually on the right side or top edge) until a menu appears with options like "Power off" or "Restart." Tap "Power off" and wait for the screen to go black. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.

Some Android tablets have a "Restart" option in that same menu, which will turn off and back on automatically without you having to wait and press the button twice. If you see that option, tap it and let the tablet complete the restart on its own. Either method takes about one to two minutes total.

How to force restart a frozen tablet

If your tablet is completely frozen and will not respond to the power button or touch commands, a force restart bypasses the normal shutdown process. On an iPad with a home button, quickly press and release the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears (usually 10 to 15 seconds). Do not release the button when you see the power-off slider — keep holding until the screen goes black and the Apple logo reappears.

On an iPad without a home button, the process is the same: volume up, volume down, then hold the top button until you see the Apple logo appear a second time. On an Android tablet, press and hold the power button for 10 to 30 seconds until the screen goes black and the device vibrates or shows the manufacturer logo. The exact timing varies by brand, so if nothing happens after 15 seconds, keep holding.

A force restart can take up to a minute, and your tablet may show a loading screen or logo for several seconds after it restarts. This is normal. Do not unplug the tablet or remove the battery during a force restart.

When to try a factory reset

A factory reset erases all your files, photos, apps, and settings and returns the tablet to the state it was in when you first bought it. Only do this if soft restarts and force restarts have not fixed your problem, or if you are selling or giving away the tablet and want to remove all your personal information.

Before a factory reset, back up any files or photos you want to keep. On an iPad, open Settings, tap your name at the top, tap iCloud, and make sure iCloud Backup is turned on. On an Android tablet, open Settings, search for "backup," and turn on backup to your Google account. Then go to Settings, search for "reset" or "factory reset," and follow the on-screen steps. The process takes 10 to 30 minutes and your tablet will restart several times.

What to do after your tablet restarts

After any restart, your tablet may take a few minutes to fully load. Apps may open slowly, and you might see a loading screen or spinning icon. This is normal and usually clears within five minutes. Do not force restart again during this time — let the tablet finish loading on its own.

If your tablet still freezes or crashes after a restart, the problem may be a specific app or a hardware issue. Try uninstalling the app that was running when the freeze happened, or contact the tablet manufacturer's support line. If the problem started after you installed a new app, removing that app often solves it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a soft restart delete my photos or files?

No. A soft restart only closes running programs and clears the tablet's temporary memory. All your photos, documents, apps, and settings stay on the device. A factory reset is the only restart method that erases files.

How often should I restart my tablet?

There is no set schedule. Restart your tablet when it is running slowly, freezing, or crashing. Many people restart once a month as routine maintenance, but it is not required. If your tablet works fine, you do not need to restart it.

What is the difference between a soft restart and a force restart?

A soft restart uses the normal power-off process and works when your tablet is responding. A force restart bypasses that process and works when the tablet is frozen. A force restart is more abrupt but does not damage the device.

Can I restart my tablet while it is charging?

Yes, restarting while plugged in is safe. However, if your tablet is frozen, make sure it has at least 20 percent battery before you force restart, in case the restart takes longer than expected.

Why does my tablet keep freezing even after I restart it?

Repeated freezing after a restart usually means a specific app is causing the problem, the storage is almost full, or there is a hardware issue. Try uninstalling recently added apps, delete old files or photos to free up space, or contact the manufacturer if the problem continues.