The three ways to restart a Samsung tablet

A restart clears your tablet's temporary memory and stops all running apps, which fixes most freezing, lag, and app crashes without erasing your data or settings. Samsung tablets have three restart methods: a soft restart (the safest, everyday choice), a forced restart (when the screen is frozen), and a factory reset (which erases everything and should only happen if you plan to sell the tablet or start completely fresh).

Most of the time, you want a soft restart. It takes 30 seconds and solves the problem in about 80 percent of cases. A forced restart is for when your tablet won't respond to touches or buttons. A factory reset is a last resort—use it only when you've tried everything else or you're wiping the tablet before giving it away.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft restart (power off and back on) fixes most tablet problems and keeps all your data and apps intact.
  • A forced restart works when your tablet is frozen and won't respond to button presses or touch.
  • Hold the power button for 10 seconds to force restart; the exact button location depends on your Samsung model.
  • A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and should only be used before selling it or as a final troubleshooting step.
  • After any restart, wait 30 seconds before opening apps so the tablet can finish loading.

How to do a soft restart

A soft restart is the gentlest option and the one to try first. Press and hold the power button (usually on the right edge or top of your tablet) until the power menu appears on screen. This takes about 2 to 3 seconds. Tap Power off or Restart if that option is visible.

If you see Power off, tap it and wait for the screen to go black. Then press the power button again to turn the tablet back on. The whole process takes about 30 seconds. Your apps, photos, files, and settings stay exactly as they were.

If your tablet is very slow to respond, wait 5 to 10 seconds after pressing the power button before tapping anything—the menu may take time to appear.

How to force restart when the screen is frozen

If your tablet won't respond to touches or button presses, a forced restart bypasses the normal shutdown process. Press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds without letting go. You may see a power menu appear and disappear—keep holding. The screen will go black and the tablet will restart on its own.

The exact button location varies by model. On most Samsung tablets, the power button is on the right edge. On some older models, it's on the top. If you're not sure, look for a small raised button on the edge of the tablet.

A forced restart does not erase your data. It straightforward forces the tablet to shut down and start fresh, the same way pulling the battery would on an older device. Wait about 30 seconds after the screen goes black before pressing any buttons—the tablet is still loading.

What to do if the power button is broken

If your power button is stuck or broken, some Samsung tablets have a recovery menu you can access without the power button. On many models, you can hold the volume up button and the home button (if your tablet has one) together for 10 seconds to enter recovery mode. This varies by model, so check your tablet's manual or Samsung's support site for your specific model number.

If your tablet has no physical home button, you may need to use the power button or take the tablet to a repair shop. A broken power button usually requires professional service, but a soft restart through the settings menu (if your tablet still responds to touch) is worth trying first.

Factory reset: when and how

A factory reset erases all your apps, photos, files, contacts, and settings and returns the tablet to the state it left the factory. Only do this if you are selling or giving away the tablet, or if you've tried a soft restart and forced restart and the tablet still won't work properly.

Before a factory reset, back up anything you want to keep. Go to Settings > Accounts and sign in to your Samsung or Google account so your photos and files can sync to the cloud. Then go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset. Tap Reset and enter your PIN or password if prompted. The tablet will restart and erase everything—this takes 5 to 10 minutes.

After a factory reset, your tablet will ask you to set it up as if it were brand new. You can sign back into your Google or Samsung account to restore photos, contacts, and some apps from backup.

What to try before restarting

Before you restart, close any apps that are misbehaving. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or use the recent apps button) to see open apps, then swipe up on the app that's frozen to close it. Wait 10 seconds and open it again. This solves the problem in many cases without needing a full restart.

If one app keeps crashing, go to Settings > Apps, find the app, and tap Storage > Clear cache. This removes temporary files the app created without deleting your data inside the app. If the app still crashes after clearing cache, uninstall it and reinstall it from the Google Play Store.

If your tablet is running slowly overall, check how much storage you have left. Go to Settings > Storage. If you're using more than 90 percent of your storage, delete old photos, videos, or apps you don't use. A full storage drive makes everything slower.

After your tablet restarts

When your tablet turns back on, wait 30 to 60 seconds before opening apps. The tablet is still loading system files and organizing data in the background. If you open apps too quickly, they may crash or load very slowly.

If the problem that made you restart (freezing, crashing, lag) comes back right away, it may be a sign of a deeper hardware or software issue. Try one more soft restart. If the problem persists after that, contact Samsung support or visit a repair shop—your tablet may have a failing storage drive or a software corruption that a restart alone cannot fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will restarting my tablet delete my photos and files?

No. A soft restart and a forced restart both keep all your photos, files, apps, and settings. Only a factory reset erases everything. If you're just trying to fix a freeze or crash, use a soft or forced restart—your data is safe.

How often should I restart my tablet?

Most people don't need to restart regularly. Restart only when your tablet is slow, freezing, or an app keeps crashing. If you find yourself restarting more than once a week, something may be wrong—try clearing cache, uninstalling unused apps, or checking your storage space.

What's the difference between a soft restart and a forced restart?

A soft restart uses the power menu and lets the tablet shut down normally. A forced restart holds the power button down and forces the tablet off when ready, like yanking the battery out. Use soft restart first; use forced restart only when the screen is frozen and won't respond.

Can I restart my tablet while it's charging?

Yes. Restarting while plugged in is fine and won't damage the battery. In fact, if your tablet is very low on battery, plugging it in before restarting is a good idea—the restart process uses a small amount of power.

My tablet still freezes after restarting. What should I do?

Try clearing cache on the app that freezes (go to Settings > Apps, tap the app, then Storage > Clear cache). If freezing happens across multiple apps, try a factory reset. If problems continue after that, contact Samsung support—your tablet may have a hardware fault.