Press and hold the power button until the screen lights up
The power button is almost always on the right edge or top edge of your tablet. Press it firmly and hold it down — do not just tap it. You will see nothing happen for the first two or three seconds. Keep holding.
After about five seconds, the screen will flash or show a logo (often the manufacturer's name or symbol). This means the tablet is starting up. You can release the button now. The tablet will continue turning on for another 10 to 30 seconds while it loads.
If you see a screen asking you to swipe up, drag from the bottom of the screen upward. If you see a lock screen with a pattern, PIN, or fingerprint prompt, you will need to unlock it using whatever security method was set up when the tablet was first configured.
Key Takeaways
- The power button is on the right or top edge; press and hold it for five seconds until the screen lights up.
- The tablet will take 10 to 30 seconds to fully load after the initial startup screen appears.
- If the screen asks you to swipe up or unlock, follow those prompts to reach the home screen.
- If the tablet does not respond after 10 seconds of holding the power button, the battery may be completely drained and you will need to charge it first.
- Once you see the home screen with app icons, the tablet is fully on and ready to use.
What to do if the screen stays black
A black screen usually means the battery is empty. Plug the tablet into its charger using the cable that came with it, and leave it plugged in for at least 15 minutes before trying to turn it on again. Some tablets show a charging indicator (a light or logo) when plugged in, even if the screen stays black.
If the tablet has been sitting unused for months, the battery may have drained completely. Charge it for 30 minutes before pressing the power button. If the screen still does not light up after 30 minutes of charging, try a different outlet or a different charger if you have one available.
Understanding the startup screens you might see
When a tablet first turns on, you may see a manufacturer logo (Samsung, Apple, Amazon, or another brand) for a few seconds. This is normal and means the tablet is loading. Do not press any buttons during this screen — just wait.
Next, you might see a lock screen with the time and date. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen, or tap the screen and drag upward, to move past this screen. Some tablets ask you to enter a PIN, draw a pattern, or use your fingerprint. If you do not remember the security code, you will need to reset the tablet, which erases all data on it.
After you unlock the screen, you will see the home screen — a grid of app icons like Mail, Safari, Photos, or Settings. This means the tablet is fully on and ready to use.
How long startup takes and what is normal
From the moment you press the power button to the moment you see the home screen, expect 30 seconds to two minutes. Older tablets or tablets with many apps installed may take longer. If the tablet is turning on for the very first time, it may take three to five minutes because it is setting up the operating system.
During startup, the screen may flicker, show the logo multiple times, or go black briefly. All of this is normal. The only time to worry is if the screen never lights up at all after 10 seconds of holding the power button, or if the tablet gets very hot to the touch.
Restarting a tablet that is frozen or not responding
If your tablet is on but the screen is frozen and will not respond to taps, you can force it to restart. Press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds — longer than a normal startup. The screen may show a message asking if you want to shut down or restart. If it does, tap "Restart" or "Power Off."
If no message appears, keep holding the power button until the screen goes black. Wait five seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. This forces a restart and usually fixes a frozen tablet.
Checking the battery level when the tablet is on
Once the tablet is on and you are on the home screen, look at the top right corner (on most tablets) for a battery icon. It shows a small rectangle or circle with a percentage inside or next to it. If the battery is very low (below 10 percent), the icon is usually red or orange.
If the battery is low, plug the tablet into its charger right away. The tablet will continue to work while charging, though it may charge more slowly if you are using it at the same time. A completely drained battery takes one to three hours to charge fully, depending on the charger and the tablet model.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I press the power button and nothing happens?
The battery is likely empty. Plug the tablet into a charger and wait 15 to 30 minutes, then try again. If you have a different charger available, try that one too — the original charger may be broken. If the screen still does not light up after charging for an hour, the tablet may have a hardware problem.
Is it bad to hold the power button for too long?
No. Holding the power button for 15 or 20 seconds will not damage the tablet. If you hold it for longer than 30 seconds, the tablet may force a restart, but this is safe and sometimes necessary if the tablet is frozen.
Why does my tablet take so long to turn on?
Tablets with many apps, photos, or files installed take longer to start up because the system has more data to load. This is normal. If startup suddenly takes much longer than it used to, the tablet may be running low on storage space. Deleting old photos or apps can speed it up.
Can I turn on my tablet without the power button?
No. The power button is the only way to turn on a tablet from a completely off state. Some tablets have a voice command feature (like "Hey Siri" on Apple tablets), but that only works if the tablet is already on or in sleep mode.
What is the difference between turning on and waking up a tablet?
Turning on means powering the tablet from completely off. Waking up means bringing it out of sleep mode, which happens when you press the power button briefly or tap the screen. Sleep mode uses very little battery, so most people put their tablet to sleep rather than turning it all the way off.