What a Factory Reset Does and When You Need One

A factory reset erases everything on your Samsung tablet—all apps, photos, messages, settings, and files—and returns it to the state it was in when it left the factory. After the reset completes, you will see the initial setup screen, as if you had just unboxed the device.

You might factory reset a tablet if it is running slowly, an app keeps crashing, you are selling or giving it away, or you forgot your lock screen password. A reset is also the fix when your tablet will not turn on properly or keeps freezing during normal use.

Before you start, understand that a factory reset cannot be undone. Back up anything you want to keep—photos, documents, contacts—to cloud storage like Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or OneDrive before you begin.

Key Takeaways

  • A factory reset erases all data on your tablet and returns it to factory settings, so back up your files first.
  • You can factory reset through Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset, or through the recovery menu if your tablet will not start normally.
  • The process takes 5 to 15 minutes and your tablet will restart several times during the reset.
  • After the reset, you will need to sign in with a Google account and set up the tablet again from scratch.
  • If you forgot your Samsung account password, you may be asked to verify your identity before the reset is allowed to complete.

How to Factory Reset Through Settings (Normal Method)

This method works when your tablet turns on and responds normally. Open the Settings app—usually a gear icon on your home screen or in the app drawer. Scroll down and tap General Management (the exact name varies slightly by model and Android version, but look for "Management" or "System").

Inside General Management, look for Reset or Reset Options. Tap it, then select Factory Data Reset or Reset All Settings. The tablet will show a warning that all data will be erased. Read it, then tap Reset or Delete All to confirm.

Your tablet will restart and show a progress bar. Do not turn it off or unplug it during this time. The process usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. When it finishes, your tablet will restart again and show the initial setup screen with language and Wi-Fi options.

Factory Reset Using the Recovery Menu (If Your Tablet Won't Start)

If your tablet will not turn on normally or is stuck on a boot screen, you can factory reset it using the recovery menu. First, turn off the tablet completely. If it is frozen and will not respond to the power button, hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until it shuts down.

Once the tablet is off, press and hold Power + Volume Up together for several seconds. Keep holding until you see the Samsung logo or a menu appears. Release the buttons. You should now see the recovery menu with white text on a black background.

Use the volume buttons to navigate down to Wipe Data / Factory Reset or Factory Data Reset. Press the power button to select it. A confirmation screen will appear asking if you are sure. Navigate to Yes using the volume buttons and press power to confirm. The reset will begin. Do not interrupt it.

After the reset finishes, the menu will return. Select Reboot System Now using the volume buttons and power button. Your tablet will restart and show the setup screen.

What Happens After the Reset Is Complete

When your tablet restarts after the reset, it will ask you to choose a language and connect to Wi-Fi. You will then be asked to sign in with a Google account. Use the same Google account you used before, or a different one if you prefer. Your tablet will read your apps, contacts, and calendar from Google's servers if you choose to restore them.

If you are setting up the tablet for someone else, you can skip the Google sign-in and set up a new account instead. You will also be asked whether to set up Samsung Cloud, Samsung Pass, and other Samsung services. These are optional.

After setup is complete, your tablet will work like a new device. You can read apps from the Google Play Store, sign into email accounts, and restore files from cloud storage.

Common Problems During or After a Factory Reset

The tablet is stuck on the reset screen. If the progress bar has not moved in 20 minutes, the reset may have failed. Turn off the tablet by holding the power button for 10 seconds, then try the recovery menu method instead.

You are asked to verify your Samsung account after the reset. Samsung tablets sometimes require you to sign in with the Samsung account that was on the device before the reset, as a security measure. If you do not remember the password, go to samsung.com, click "Sign In," then "Forgot Password?" and follow the steps to reset it. You will need access to the email address linked to that account.

The tablet will not turn on after the reset. Let the battery charge for at least 30 minutes, then try turning it on. If it still will not start, try the recovery menu method again. If neither works, the tablet may have a hardware problem and will need service.

Apps are not restoring after you sign in to Google. Some apps do not restore automatically. Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, select "Manage Your Google Play," then go to "Manage Apps and Device." Tap the "Manage" tab and you will see a list of apps you have installed before. Tap "Install" next to the ones you want back.

How to Back Up Your Files Before Resetting

The safest way to back up is to use Google Drive or Samsung Cloud. Open Settings, search for "Backup," and tap Backup and Restore or Samsung Cloud. Sign in with your Google or Samsung account and toggle on the backup options. Your contacts, calendar, messages, and some app data will upload to the cloud.

For photos and videos, open the Google Photos app, tap your profile icon, go to Photos Settings, and turn on Backup and Sync. This will upload all your photos to Google Photos automatically. You can also manually copy files to a computer by connecting your tablet with a USB cable and dragging files to a folder on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a factory reset remove my Google account?

The factory reset erases the account from the tablet, but your Google account itself still exists. After the reset, you can sign back in with the same account and restore your apps, contacts, and calendar. Your email and files in Google Drive remain untouched.

How long does a factory reset take?

Most factory resets take 5 to 15 minutes from start to finish, including the restart. If your tablet is very old or has a lot of storage, it may take up to 30 minutes. Do not turn off the tablet during this time.

Can I stop a factory reset once it has started?

No. Once you confirm the reset, it cannot be stopped or undone. This is why backing up your files first is so important. If the reset is taking longer than 30 minutes, the tablet may be frozen, and you can try a hard restart by holding the power button for 10 seconds, then attempting the reset again.

What if I forgot my lock screen password?

A factory reset will remove the password, but you will need to sign in with your Google account after the reset to set up the tablet again. If you do not remember your Google password, go to google.com/accounts/recovery before you reset, and follow the steps to regain access to your account.

Do I need to remove my SD card before resetting?

No, but the factory reset will not erase files on an SD card. If you want to erase the SD card as well, you can do that separately through Settings > Storage > SD Card > Format. Back up any files on the SD card first if you want to keep them.