The Three Ways to Restart a Samsung Tablet

A restart clears your tablet's temporary memory and closes all running programs, which fixes most freezing, lag, and app crashes. Samsung tablets support three restart methods: a soft restart (the safest, everyday choice), a forced restart (when the screen is frozen), and a factory reset (which erases everything and returns the tablet to its original state). Most of the time, a soft restart solves the problem.

The method you choose depends on whether your tablet is responding to touch. If you can still tap the screen and swipe, use the soft restart. If the screen is completely frozen or unresponsive, use the forced restart. Only use a factory reset if you are certain you want to erase all your data, or if the tablet will not start up at all.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft restart takes 30 seconds and closes all apps without erasing anything — use this first when your tablet is slow or an app is crashing.
  • A forced restart works when the screen is frozen and unresponsive, and takes about one minute from start to finish.
  • A factory reset erases all photos, files, apps, and settings, so back up your data before you start if you choose this method.
  • After any restart, wait at least one minute before opening apps so the tablet can finish loading in the background.

How to Do a Soft Restart

A soft restart is the gentlest option and the one to try first. Your tablet stays on the whole time, and nothing is erased. Open the Settings app, scroll down to "About tablet" or "Device information," and look for the "Restart" or "Reboot" button. Tap it, then tap "Restart" when the confirmation message appears. Your tablet will turn off and back on within 30 seconds.

If you cannot find a Restart button in Settings, use the power button instead. Press and hold the power button (usually on the right edge or top of the tablet) until the power menu appears on screen — this takes about 3 to 5 seconds. Tap "Restart" or "Reboot," then wait for the tablet to shut down and turn back on. The whole process takes less than one minute.

After the restart completes, you will see the lock screen. Unlock your tablet and wait another 30 seconds before opening any apps, because the system is still loading in the background. If an app was crashing before the restart, it should work normally now.

How to Do a Forced Restart When the Screen Is Frozen

A forced restart works even when your tablet will not respond to taps or swipes. You are forcing the device to shut down by holding the power button, which is safe to do. Press and hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds — keep holding even if you see the power menu appear on screen. The tablet will vibrate, the screen will go black, and then it will turn back on automatically.

Do not let go of the power button early. The tablet needs the full 10 to 15 seconds to force a complete shutdown. Once the screen goes black, you can release the button and let the tablet restart on its own. This usually takes 30 to 60 seconds total. You will see the Samsung logo, then the lock screen.

Unlock the tablet and wait one full minute before opening apps. A forced restart is harder on the system than a soft restart, so give it extra time to load. If the tablet still will not respond after a forced restart, or if it keeps freezing, a factory reset may be necessary — but back up your data first.

How to Back Up Your Data Before a Factory Reset

A factory reset erases everything on your tablet: photos, videos, documents, installed apps, and all your settings. Before you do this, back up the data you want to keep. The easiest way is to use Samsung Cloud, which is built into every Samsung tablet. Open Settings, tap "Accounts and backup," then "Samsung Cloud." Sign in with your Samsung account (or create one if you do not have one), and tap "Back up data." Select what you want to save — photos, contacts, messages, app data — and tap "Back up now."

Samsung Cloud stores your backup for three months for free, with limited storage. If you have a lot of photos or videos, you may need to use Google Photos or another cloud service instead. Open Google Photos, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to "Photos settings," and turn on "Backup and sync." This backs up all your photos and videos to your Google account automatically.

For documents and files, connect your tablet to a computer with a USB cable and copy the files to your computer's hard drive. Or use Google Drive: open the Files app, navigate to your documents, tap and hold each file, then tap "Move" and select "Google Drive." Once your important data is backed up, you can safely do a factory reset.

How to Do a Factory Reset

A factory reset erases all data and returns your tablet to the state it was in when it left the factory. Use this only if the tablet will not start, keeps crashing even after a soft restart, or if you are selling or giving away the device. Open Settings, scroll down to "General management" or "System," then tap "Reset options" or "Reset." Tap "Erase all data (factory reset)" or "Reset to factory settings."

The tablet will ask you to confirm. Read the warning carefully — it will list everything that will be erased. Tap "Reset" or "Erase everything" to proceed. The tablet will restart and show a progress bar. Do not turn off the power or unplug the device during this process. A factory reset usually takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on the tablet.

When the reset is complete, you will see the initial setup screen, the same one you saw when you first turned on the tablet. You will need to sign in with your Google account or Samsung account to set up the tablet again. If you backed up your data to Samsung Cloud or Google Photos, you can restore it after setup is finished.

What to Do If Your Tablet Still Will Not Start After a Restart

If your tablet shows the Samsung logo but gets stuck there, or if the screen stays black after a forced restart, try booting into Safe Mode. This loads only the essential system files and no third-party apps, which can help you figure out if an app is causing the problem. Press and hold the power button until the power menu appears, then press and hold "Power off" until a "Safe Mode" option appears. Tap "Safe Mode."

In Safe Mode, all third-party apps are disabled. If your tablet works normally in Safe Mode, one of your installed apps is causing the problem. Restart the tablet normally, then uninstall recently installed apps one at a time until the problem stops. If the tablet still will not work in Safe Mode, or if it will not boot into Safe Mode at all, a factory reset is the next step.

If a factory reset does not work and the tablet still will not start, the hardware may be damaged. Contact Samsung support or visit a Samsung service center. Bring your proof of purchase if the tablet is still under warranty.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not hold the power button for only 3 to 5 seconds if the screen is frozen — that just opens the power menu, it does not force a restart. You need to hold it for 10 to 15 seconds until the screen goes black. Also, do not unplug the tablet or remove the battery during a restart or factory reset. Let the process finish on its own, even if it seems to be taking a long time.

Do not do a factory reset without backing up your data first, unless you are certain you do not need anything on the tablet. A factory reset cannot be undone. Finally, do not open apps when ready after a restart. Wait at least one minute so the system can finish loading. Opening apps too soon can cause the tablet to freeze again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a restart delete my photos or files?

No. A soft restart and a forced restart do not erase anything. Only a factory reset erases data, and it erases everything on the tablet. If you are doing a soft or forced restart, your photos, files, and apps will still be there when the tablet turns back on.

How long does a restart take?

A soft restart takes about 30 seconds from start to finish. A forced restart takes 30 to 60 seconds. A factory reset takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on how much data is on the tablet. After any restart, wait one minute before opening apps so the system can finish loading.

What is the difference between a soft restart and a forced restart?

A soft restart uses the power menu or Settings app and is gentler on the system. A forced restart holds the power button down and forces the tablet to shut down when ready, even if the screen is frozen. Use a soft restart when your tablet is responding, and a forced restart when it is frozen.

Can I restart my tablet while it is charging?

Yes, you can restart your tablet while it is plugged in. In fact, it is a good idea to plug it in before doing a factory reset, so the battery does not run out during the process. For a soft or forced restart, charging does not matter.

What should I do if my tablet is stuck on the Samsung logo?

Try a forced restart first: hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds. If that does not work, try booting into Safe Mode by holding the power button, then holding "Power off" until Safe Mode appears. If Safe Mode does not help, a factory reset is the next step. Back up your data first if you can.