Press and hold the power button until the Samsung logo appears
The power button on a Samsung tablet is almost always on the right edge of the device, about halfway down. Press it firmly and hold it in place — do not just tap it. You will feel a slight resistance as you press.
Keep holding for about 3 to 5 seconds. The screen will stay black at first, then the Samsung logo will appear in the center. Once you see the logo, you can release the button. The tablet will continue starting up on its own from that point.
If nothing happens after 10 seconds of holding, the battery may be completely empty. Plug the tablet into a charger using the USB-C cable (or micro-USB on older models) and wait at least 15 minutes before trying again. A completely drained battery sometimes needs time to store enough charge to power on.
Key Takeaways
- The power button is on the right edge of the tablet, roughly in the middle of that edge.
- Press and hold the power button for 3 to 5 seconds until the Samsung logo appears on the screen.
- If the screen stays black, the battery may be empty — plug in the charger and wait 15 minutes.
- Once the logo appears, release the button and let the tablet finish starting up on its own.
- The first startup may take longer than usual and may ask you to set up your Samsung account and language.
What happens during startup
After the Samsung logo disappears, you will see the words "Android" or a loading animation. This is normal. The tablet is loading its operating system and preparing all its apps. This process usually takes 30 to 60 seconds on the first startup, and faster on later startups.
On the very first time you turn on a new tablet, you will be asked to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with a Samsung account or Google account. You can skip some of these steps, but you will need to set up at least one account to use most apps. If you are setting up a used tablet, you may see a screen asking whether you want to restore from a backup — choose "Set up as new" unless you have a backup file ready.
The tablet is on but the screen is black
If the Samsung logo appeared but the screen went black again, the tablet may have turned itself off because the battery was too low. Plug it in and wait 30 minutes, then press the power button again.
If the screen stays black even while plugged in, try a force restart. Press and hold the power button and the volume-down button at the same time for 10 seconds. You may see the Samsung logo or a recovery menu. If you see a recovery menu, press the power button once to close it and let the tablet start normally.
The screen is on but nothing is responding
If the tablet turned on but the screen is frozen or will not respond to touches, wait 30 seconds — the tablet may still be loading. If it is still frozen after 30 seconds, do a force restart by holding the power button and volume-down button together for 10 seconds.
After the force restart, the tablet will turn off completely. Press the power button again to turn it back on. This usually fixes freezing problems that happen during startup.
Charging before the first startup
If your tablet is brand new and has never been turned on, it is a good idea to charge it for at least 30 minutes before the first startup. New tablets often ship with a partial charge, and a full battery makes the first startup faster and more reliable.
Plug the tablet into a wall outlet using the USB-C cable that came in the box. You will see a charging icon on the screen — usually a lightning bolt inside a battery shape. Wait until the battery icon shows a full charge or close to full before turning it on for the first time.
Troubleshooting if the tablet will not turn on at all
If you have held the power button for 15 seconds and nothing happens, the battery is almost certainly empty. Plug the tablet into a charger and leave it plugged in for at least 30 minutes. Some tablets need a longer charge before they have enough power to turn on.
While it is charging, check that the charger itself is working — the cable should feel warm near the plug, and you should see a charging light or icon on the screen. If you see no charging light after 5 minutes, try a different outlet or a different charger if you have one available.
If the tablet still will not turn on after 1 hour of charging, the battery or power button may be damaged. Contact Samsung support or visit a repair shop that handles Samsung devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a Samsung tablet to turn on?
The first startup usually takes 30 to 60 seconds from the moment you see the Samsung logo. Later startups are faster, often 10 to 20 seconds. If startup is taking longer than 2 minutes, the tablet may be frozen — try a force restart by holding the power button and volume-down button together for 10 seconds.
What if I press the power button and the screen turns on but then turns off again?
The battery is probably too low. Plug the tablet into a charger and wait at least 30 minutes before trying again. If it keeps turning off even while plugged in, the battery may be damaged and you should contact Samsung support.
Is it normal for the tablet to be warm when I first turn it on?
Slight warmth is normal during the first startup, especially if the tablet has been sitting for a long time. If it is too hot to hold comfortably, unplug it and let it cool for 15 minutes, then try again. Extreme heat during startup can mean a hardware problem.
Do I need Wi-Fi to turn on my Samsung tablet?
No. You can turn on the tablet without Wi-Fi. However, you will be asked to connect to Wi-Fi during setup, and you will need it to read apps and sign in to accounts. You can skip the Wi-Fi step during setup and add it later.
What should I do if the tablet asks for a PIN or password when I turn it on?
If you set up a PIN, password, or fingerprint lock on the tablet before, you will need to enter it to unlock the screen. If you forgot the PIN or password, you can unlock it with your Samsung account or Google account. If you do not remember either account, contact Samsung support for help.