The three ways to restart your Samsung Galaxy tablet
A restart clears your tablet's temporary memory and stops all running programs, which fixes most freezing, lag, and app crashes without erasing your data. You have three options: a soft restart (the safest), a forced restart (when the tablet won't respond), and a factory reset (which erases everything). Most of the time, a soft restart solves the problem.
Which method you use depends on whether your tablet is still responding to touch. If it's frozen solid and won't react to anything, skip straight to the forced restart. If it's sluggish but still working, start with the soft restart.
Key Takeaways
- A soft restart closes all apps and clears temporary memory without erasing any of your files, photos, or settings.
- A forced restart works when your tablet is completely frozen and won't respond to the power button or touch commands.
- A factory reset erases everything on your tablet and returns it to the state it left the factory, so use this only as a last resort.
- You can restart your tablet using the Settings menu, the physical buttons, or by holding buttons in a specific combination depending on your model.
Soft restart using the Settings menu
This is the gentlest restart and the one to try first if your tablet is still responding. Open Settings, then scroll down and tap General management (or System on some models). Tap Restart or Shut down, then confirm when prompted. Your tablet will power off and back on within 30 seconds.
If you don't see a Restart option in General management, look for Power off or Shut down instead. Tap it, wait 10 seconds after the screen goes black, then press the power button to turn it back on. Both methods achieve the same result.
Soft restart using the power button
If you prefer not to dig through Settings, you can restart using just the power button. Press and hold the power button (usually on the right edge or top of your tablet) until the power menu appears on screen. This takes about 3 to 5 seconds. Tap Restart from the menu that appears.
If only a "Power off" option shows up, tap it to shut down completely. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn the tablet back on. The result is the same as using the Restart option.
Forced restart when your tablet is frozen
If your tablet is completely unresponsive—the screen won't wake, buttons don't work, and nothing happens when you touch it—use a forced restart. This forces the tablet to shut down and restart without waiting for apps to close. Hold down the power button and volume down button at the same time for 10 to 15 seconds. You'll see the Samsung logo appear, then the tablet will restart.
On some older Galaxy Tab models, you may need to hold the power button and volume up button instead. If the power and volume down combination doesn't work after 15 seconds, release both buttons, wait 5 seconds, and try the power and volume up combination. One of these will force a restart.
A forced restart does not erase any data—it straightforward forces the tablet to shut down and turn back on. Your files, photos, and settings remain untouched.
Factory reset: erasing everything and starting over
A factory reset returns your tablet to the condition it left the factory, erasing all your files, photos, apps, and settings. Only do this if your tablet has a serious problem that a soft or forced restart didn't fix, or if you're selling or giving away the device.
To perform a factory reset, open Settings, go to General management, and tap Reset or Reset options. Select Reset all settings or Factory data reset (the exact name varies by model). You'll be asked to confirm; tap Reset again. The tablet will restart and erase everything, which takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Before you factory reset, back up anything you want to keep. You can back up photos and documents to Google Drive, Samsung Cloud, or a computer. Once the reset is complete, you can sign back in with your Samsung or Google account and restore your backed-up data.
What to do if the restart doesn't fix the problem
If your tablet still freezes, crashes, or runs slowly after a soft restart, try clearing the cache for individual apps. Open Settings, go to Apps, select the app that's causing trouble, and tap Storage, then Clear cache. This removes temporary files the app created without deleting your data inside the app.
If the problem persists across multiple apps or the entire tablet, check how much storage space you have left. Open Settings and tap Storage. If you're using more than 90 percent of your storage, your tablet will slow down significantly. Delete large files, old videos, or apps you no longer use to free up space, then restart again.
If clearing cache and freeing up storage don't help, a factory reset is your next step. If even a factory reset doesn't solve the problem, the tablet may have a hardware issue, and you should contact Samsung support or visit a repair shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will restarting my tablet erase my photos and files?
No. A soft restart or forced restart does not erase anything. Only a factory reset erases your data, and that's a separate process you have to choose deliberately. Your photos, documents, and apps stay on your tablet after any restart.
How long does a restart take?
A soft restart usually takes 30 seconds to 1 minute from the moment you tap Restart until your tablet is fully back on. A forced restart takes about the same time. A factory reset takes 5 to 10 minutes because it's erasing and rewriting the entire storage.
What's the difference between a soft restart and a forced restart?
A soft restart closes all apps gracefully and lets the system shut down normally. A forced restart cuts power when ready without closing apps, which is necessary when the tablet is frozen. Both leave your data intact. Use a soft restart first; use a forced restart only if the tablet won't respond.
Can I restart my tablet while it's charging?
Yes, restarting while plugged in is fine and won't damage the tablet. However, if your tablet is very hot, let it cool down before restarting. If it's extremely hot and won't turn on, unplug it and let it sit for 15 minutes before trying again.
What should I do if my tablet won't turn back on after a restart?
Plug it in and let it charge for at least 30 minutes—the battery may be completely drained. If it still won't turn on, try a forced restart by holding the power and volume down buttons for 15 seconds. If nothing works after that, contact Samsung support or visit a repair shop, as there may be a hardware problem.