The Basic Power-Off Method

To turn off your Nook tablet, press and hold the power button until a menu appears on the screen. The power button is located on the right edge of the tablet, near the top. Hold it down for about three to five seconds—you will see a screen with options including "Power off" or "Shut down".

Once the menu appears, tap the "Power off" option. The tablet will then shut down completely. This is the standard way to turn off any Nook tablet model, whether you own a Nook HD, Nook HD+, or Nook GlowLight.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the power button on the right edge of your Nook tablet for three to five seconds until a menu appears.
  • Tap "Power off" from the menu that appears on your screen to shut down the tablet completely.
  • If your tablet is frozen and will not respond, hold the power button for ten to fifteen seconds to force a shutdown.
  • Your Nook tablet will save your reading progress and open books automatically when you turn it back on.

What Happens When Your Nook Is Frozen

Sometimes your Nook tablet may stop responding to touches or button presses. If the normal power-off method does not work, you can force the tablet to shut down by holding the power button much longer—ten to fifteen seconds. The screen may go black before the shutdown menu appears, but keep holding until the device powers down completely.

A forced shutdown is safe to use and will not damage your tablet or erase your books and reading progress. After a forced shutdown, wait a few seconds before pressing the power button again to turn the tablet back on.

Restarting Instead of Powering Off

If you want to restart your Nook tablet rather than turn it off completely, use the same power button menu. Press and hold the power button until the menu appears, then tap "Restart" if that option is available on your model. A restart can fix minor problems like slow performance or apps that are not working correctly.

A restart takes about one to two minutes. Your tablet will shut down and then turn back on automatically. All your books, notes, and reading position will remain exactly as you left them.

Sleep Mode Versus Full Power-Off

Your Nook tablet has a sleep mode that is different from powering off completely. Sleep mode happens automatically after a few minutes of no activity, or you can press the power button once (not held down) to put the tablet to sleep. In sleep mode, the screen goes dark but the tablet stays on and uses a small amount of battery power.

Sleep mode is useful if you plan to use your tablet again soon. Full power-off is better if you will not use the tablet for several days or longer, because it uses almost no battery. When you power off and turn the tablet back on later, it takes about thirty seconds to fully start up.

Battery Drain and Power-Off Timing

Turning off your Nook tablet completely is the best way to preserve battery life if you are not using it. A powered-off tablet uses almost no battery, so it can sit unused for weeks without draining. If you leave your tablet in sleep mode instead, the battery will slowly drain over days.

If your battery is completely dead and the tablet will not turn on, plug it into a charger using the USB cable that came with your device. Leave it plugged in for at least thirty minutes before trying to turn it on again. A completely drained battery sometimes needs time to recover before the tablet will respond to the power button.

Turning Off Without Using the Power Button

If your power button is broken or stuck, you can still turn off your Nook tablet through the settings menu. Open the Settings app, scroll down to find "Power off" or "Shut down," and tap it. This method takes a few extra steps but works just as well as using the physical power button.

To reach Settings on most Nook models, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick menu, then look for a Settings icon or gear symbol. If you cannot find Settings in the quick menu, look for it in your app library or home screen.

What to Do Before Powering Off

Before you turn off your Nook tablet, make sure any open books or documents are closed. Your reading progress saves automatically, so you do not need to do anything special—just close the book app by pressing the back button or swiping away from the book. If you are in the middle of typing notes or adjusting settings, finish those tasks first.

You do not need to charge your tablet before powering it off. In fact, powering it off is a good way to preserve battery if you know you will not use it for a while. When you turn it back on, it will pick up right where you left off in your reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off my Nook tablet erase my books?

No. All your books, bookmarks, and reading progress are stored on your tablet and will remain there when you turn it back on. Powering off does not delete anything—it straightforward stops the device from running.

How long does it take to turn off a Nook tablet?

The shutdown process usually takes five to ten seconds from the moment you tap "Power off" until the screen goes completely black. If you are using a forced shutdown, it may happen faster.

Can I turn off my Nook tablet while it is charging?

Yes, you can power off your Nook tablet while it is plugged in. The tablet will shut down and stay off while charging. When you unplug it and turn it back on later, the battery will have charged during the shutdown period.

What if my Nook tablet turns back on by itself after I power it off?

This usually happens if the power button is stuck or being pressed accidentally. Check that nothing is pressing against the power button on the right edge. If the button feels stuck, try gently cleaning around it with a dry cloth. If the problem continues, the power button may need repair.

Is it better to leave my Nook in sleep mode or turn it off completely?

If you use your tablet daily, sleep mode is fine and more convenient. If you will not use it for more than a few days, power it off completely to save battery. A powered-off tablet can sit unused for weeks without losing charge.