The three ways to restart your Android tablet
A restart clears your tablet's temporary memory and stops all running apps, which fixes most freezing, lag, and connection problems without erasing anything. You have three options: a soft restart (power off and back on), a forced restart (holding buttons when the tablet won't respond), and a factory reset (erasing everything and starting over). Most of the time, a soft restart solves the problem. Use a forced restart only when your tablet is completely frozen. A factory reset is a last resort that wipes all your data, photos, and apps.
Which one you need depends on what is happening. If your tablet responds to touch but is slow or an app keeps crashing, a soft restart usually works. If the screen is frozen and buttons do nothing, you need a forced restart. If your tablet is so broken that nothing else worked and you are willing to erase it, a factory reset may be your only option.
Key Takeaways
- A soft restart (turning the tablet off and back on) fixes most problems and takes two minutes.
- A forced restart uses button combinations to restart a frozen tablet that will not respond to touch.
- The button combination for a forced restart varies by manufacturer — Samsung, Google Pixel, Amazon Fire, and others each have different steps.
- A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and should only be used when the tablet is so broken that a soft or forced restart did not help.
- Before a factory reset, back up your photos, documents, and app data to Google Drive or another cloud service if you can still access your tablet.
How to do a soft restart
A soft restart is the safest and easiest option. Hold the power button (usually on the right or top edge) until a menu appears on the screen. The menu will show options like "Power off" or "Restart." Tap "Power off" and wait for the screen to go black. Wait 10 to 15 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
If you do not see a menu when you hold the power button, your tablet may have a different button layout. Some tablets require you to hold the power button and volume down button at the same time. Check the back or bottom of your tablet for a small label listing the button locations, or search online for "[Your tablet model] power button location."
Once the tablet restarts, it will show the lock screen or boot animation. Wait for it to fully load — this usually takes 30 seconds to a minute. Do not press any buttons during this time. Once you see the home screen, your soft restart is complete.
How to do a forced restart when your tablet is frozen
A forced restart forces your tablet to shut down and restart even when it will not respond to normal button presses. The button combination depends on your tablet's brand and model. Here are the most common ones:
| Tablet Brand | Button Combination | How Long to Hold |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab | Power + Volume Down | 10 to 15 seconds |
| Google Pixel Tablet | Power + Volume Down | 10 to 15 seconds |
| Amazon Fire | Power button only | 20 to 30 seconds |
| iPad (Apple) | Not Android — see Apple support | — |
| Lenovo Tab | Power + Volume Down | 10 to 15 seconds |
If you are not sure which brand you have, look at the back of the tablet or the boot screen (the first screen that appears when you turn it on). If the button combination above does not work, search online for "[Your exact tablet model] forced restart" — manufacturers sometimes change the combination between models.
When you hold the buttons, you will see one of two things: either the screen will go black and the tablet will restart, or a menu will appear asking if you want to restart or power off. If a menu appears, tap "Restart." Do not let go of the buttons until the screen goes black or the menu appears — this usually takes 10 to 15 seconds, which feels longer than it is.
What to do before a factory reset
A factory reset erases everything on your tablet — all photos, documents, apps, messages, and settings. You should only do this if a soft restart and a forced restart did not fix the problem. Before you start, back up anything you want to keep.
If your tablet still responds to touch, open the Google Play Store app and sign in with your Google account. Go to "My apps & games" and take a screenshot of the list of apps you have installed — this will help you remember which ones to reinstall later. Then open Google Drive, Google Photos, or another cloud storage app and upload any photos or documents you want to keep.
If your tablet is so frozen that you cannot open apps, you can still back up some data after the reset. Once you sign back in with your Google account after the reset, Google will automatically reinstall any apps you had installed before, and Google Photos will restore your photos if you had backup turned on.
How to do a factory reset
To factory reset your Android tablet, go to Settings and look for an option called System, About, or General Management (the exact name varies by brand). Tap it, then look for Reset or Reset options. You should see an option that says Erase all data, Factory reset, or Reset to factory settings. Tap it.
The tablet will ask you to confirm. It may ask for your Google account password or a PIN to make sure you really want to erase everything. Enter it, then tap the final confirmation button. The tablet will restart and begin erasing all data. This can take 5 to 15 minutes. Do not turn off the tablet during this time.
Once the reset is complete, the tablet will restart and show a setup screen, just like when it was new. You will need to sign in with your Google account and set up your preferences again. Any apps you had installed will automatically reinstall if they are still available in the Google Play Store.
When to call a professional instead
If your tablet still does not work after a soft restart, a forced restart, and a factory reset, the problem is likely hardware damage rather than software. This could be a broken screen, water damage, a failing battery, or a damaged motherboard. In this case, restarting will not help.
Contact the tablet's manufacturer (Samsung, Google, Amazon, Lenovo, or whoever made it) or visit an electronics repair shop. Bring your tablet and the receipt or proof of purchase if you have it. The manufacturer can tell you whether the tablet is still under warranty and what repair options are available. Many repair shops can diagnose the problem for free and give you a quote before they start work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting my tablet erase my photos or apps?
A soft restart and a forced restart will not erase anything — they just turn the tablet off and back on. A factory reset will erase everything, including photos, apps, messages, and settings. Only do a factory reset if the other two restarts did not work.
How long does a restart take?
A soft restart takes about 2 to 3 minutes total (30 seconds to shut down, 10 seconds waiting, then 1 to 2 minutes to boot back up). A forced restart takes about the same time. A factory reset takes 5 to 15 minutes and requires you to set up the tablet again afterward.
What if my tablet is stuck on the boot screen?
Try a forced restart using the button combination for your brand. If that does not work, plug the tablet into power and let it charge for 30 minutes, then try again. If it is still stuck, the battery may be completely dead or there may be a hardware problem — contact the manufacturer or a repair shop.
Can I restart my tablet while it is charging?
Yes, you can restart your tablet while it is plugged in. In fact, if your battery is very low, charging it first is a good idea. Just make sure it has at least 10 percent battery before you do a factory reset, since the reset requires power to complete.
Do I need to remove the SIM card before restarting?
No, you do not need to remove the SIM card for any type of restart. A soft restart, forced restart, and factory reset will not affect the SIM card or your cellular service. If your tablet does not have a SIM card slot, this does not explore.