How To Reset A Tablet: iPad, Samsung, Kindle, Amazon Fire

Have you ever found one of your tablet devices freezing, glitching, or otherwise not cooperating? If you don’t want your internet browsing or Netflix binge interrupted by a malfunctioning device, you may want to consider resetting your device.

Resetting your device isn’t a measure of last resort but can even be a valuable tool to increase performance and erase critical data. Read through our top tips and return to your artistry, crucial engineering work, or design in no time!

3 Different Types of Resets

Not all resets are equal; three distinct types of resets are often employed to reset a device. These three types of resets have different functions, and we’ve listed their most common applications so you can know exactly which one you should use!

Soft Reset

If you’ve ever fixed an appliance by ‘turning it off and on again’, you’ll understand what a soft reset is pretty quickly. If your tablet device isn’t responding like it usually does but is still fairly responsive, a soft reset should always be your first action.

A soft reset closes all your applications and clears the RAM (Random Access Memory). Remember that if you have any unsaved data on your tablet, you will lose it upon a soft reset (data in your hard drive, applications, or settings will be unaffected).

Forced Reset

You may need a forced reset to resolve more severe tablet issues, such as an unresponsive tablet. Forced resets serve the same function as a soft reset, but a forced reset overrides your unresponsive device.

Factory Reset

If you’re planning to sell your tablet device or if your device is not showing signs of improvement after a hard reset, you should consider a complete factory reset on your tablet. As the name implies, a factory reset will restore your device to its factory settings.

Any user data on your device, such as profiles, applications, etc., will be erased, and your tablet will return to the original manufacturer settings. If you’re planning to factory reset your device, ensure that any data on your device, like photos, passwords, or files, are moved to another device.

How to Reset an iPad

Whether you’re playing Roblox or designing a masterpiece on Adobe Illustrator, the performance of your device may improve with a quick reset! Here’s how you do it:

Soft Reset

• Step 1 – If you have an iPad with Face ID or Touch ID integrated into the top button of your device, press and hold the top button and either of the volume button until you see a power-off slider appear on your screen. If your iPad has a Home button instead, press and hold the top button until a power-off slider appears on your screen.
• Step 2 – Drag the Power-off slider from left to right to turn the iPad off.
• Step 3 – Once you’ve turned your iPad entirely off, wait 30 – 60 seconds before pressing the top button again until the Apple log appears on your screen.
• Step 4 – When the iPad lock screen appears, press either the home button or swipe up and enter your passcode to unlock your device. You can even open your tablet with Face ID or Touch ID.

Forced Reset

• Step 1 – If you have an iPad with Face ID or Touch ID, quickly press the volume up button, then the volume down button, and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears on your screen.
• Step 2 – When the iPad lock screen appears, press either the home button or swipe up and enter your passcode to unlock your device. You can even be able to open your tablet with Face ID or Touch ID.

Factory Reset

• Step 1 – Open up the Settings app on your iPad.
• Step 2 – Select General.
• Step 3 – Scroll down to the bottom and select Transfer or Reset iPad.
• Step 4 – Select Erase all Content and Settings at the bottom.
• Step 5 – Continue following the instructions and prompts that will ask you for confirmation to delete your data. You must enter your Apple passcode and Apple ID password and confirm the deactivation of services like Find My iPad.
• Step 6 – Once your device is factory reset, you must follow the start-up instructions similar to when you first received your iPad.

How to Reset a Samsung Tablet

If planning on taking your Samsung tablet on the road with you or have just picked up a new tablet, a factory reset or quick soft reset can bring your tablet back to optimal performance.

Soft Reset

• Step 1 – Press the Power button for 15 – 20 seconds until your tablet device powers off.
• Step 2 – Press and then release the Power button to turn your device back on again.

Factory Reset

• Step 1 – Open the Settings Menu on your Android device.
• Step 2 – Choose General Management.
• Step 3 – Choose Reset.
• Step 4 – Tap Factory Data Reset.
• Step 5 – Select Reset.
• Step 6 – Select Delete All.
• Step 7 – The Android Recovery Screen appears soon after your data is deleted, and once in recovery mode, you can set up the Android tablet as if it were fresh from the manufacturer. You made need to log into your Samsung account to do so.

How to Reset a Kindle

Tablet devices are excellent for diving into a good book, comic, or manga, but if you’re finding your device is underperforming, then follow our steps to reset your device:

Reset/Restart

• Step 1 – Press the Power button until prompted, or the screen goes blank.
• Step 2 – Hold the Power button for 30 – 40 seconds and then release.

Factory Data Reset

• Step 1 – Choose the Menu setting from the Home screen.
• Step 2 – Choose Settings.
• Step 3 – Choose Settings once more, and then select Reset Device to wipe data factory reset back to default settings.

How to Reset an Amazon Fire Tablet

Amazon Fire Tablets are excellent devices cheap tablets for children and teenagers to learn about the internet and through programs like ABC Mouse. If your device is not functioning optimally, read on to learn how to reset it properly:

Soft Reset

• Step 1 – Press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds until the device shuts off. If your device is a 1st – 4th generation, you only need to hold down the Power button.
• Step 2 – Press the Power Button once more, and your device will start up.

Factory Reset

• Step 1 – Go to Settings and select Device Options.
• Step 2 – Reset to Factory Defaults and select Reset.