How to Factory Reset Your Android Tablet

A factory reset restores the default data and options of your device and erases all other data in the process.

This method is usually used as a last resort if you can’t make your device work in any other way. It’s often required if the device encounters a system glitch, recent update malfunctions, or starts acting strange.

In this article, you will find out about two different methods to restart your Android tablet.

Back Up Your Data Before Resetting Your Tablet

Performing a ‘factory reset’ will erase the data from your device, so you’ll lose a lot of valuable information if you don’t back it up. You can toggle automatic backup on all recent versions of Android.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select the Backup & Reset option from the Personal Settings section.
3. Toggle Back up my data.
   

This will automatically store everything to your Google Drive account. Later, when you perform a factory reset, you can log in to your account and retrieve the data to your phone again.

Also, a regular factory reset shouldn’t wipe the contents of an SD card, but to avoid any inconvenience, it would be best to remove it from the tablet before you proceed.

Factory Reset Your Tablet Using the Settings App

Every Android device should have a Factory reset option in the Settings app. If your tablet is working properly, you should be able to manually navigate to the option.

Not all Android tablets are the same. But usually, you should follow these instructions:

1. As you probably guessed, open up the Settings app on your tablet.
2. Go to the Personal section and select Backup & Reset.
3. Tap Factory data reset.
   
4. Confirm your command if prompted.

If you’ve done everything correctly, the tablet should restart and start the erasing process. Wait for the system to finish. Once the data wiping is over, it will automatically reboot.

Note that not all Android versions have the same interface. Sometimes the aforementioned steps can slightly differ from one other.

For example, instead of Personal section the factory reset can be listed in Privacy, and sometimes even in the Storage menu. So, double-check all possible options, the Factory reset should be there by default.

Factory Reset a Tablet from Recovery Mode

In some cases, your Android tablet may malfunction in a way that you can’t access your Settings menu. The screen may freeze, the system won’t respond, or it may become too slow to open any app. If so, you’ll have to access the recovery mode before you perform a factory reset.

To enter recovery mode, you’ll have to press and hold the designated hotkeys. However, not all Android devices follow the same process.

How to Access Recovery Mode from Different Android Tablets

Depending on your android tablet’s manufacturer, you’ll have to follow different steps to enter recovery mode. These are some possibilities:

1. Samsung tablet: Press Volume Up + Home + Power Button
2. LG: Press Volume Down + Power Button. After the logo appears, hold Volume Down but release the Power button. Then press it again.
3. Motorola Moto Z/Droid: Press Volume Down + Power button. Keep holding the Volume Down, but release the Power button
4. HTC: Press Volume Down + Power, and after the screen changes release the Power button while still holding Volume Down.
5. Google Nexus / Pixel, Sony Xperia, Asus Transformer: Hold Volume Down + Power button

If your phone is not on the list, you’ll probably easily find the necessary steps to access recovery mode. Just look up your device online.

The tablet manufacturers make accessing this mode complicated on purpose. The purpose of this is to prevent any accidental access of this mode since it would be extremely easy to accidentally erase all data from the device.

Navigating the Recovery Mode Menu

Once the tablet goes into recovery mode it should display an image of an Android avatar lying on his back with a red alert triangle above. After that, you should follow these steps:

1. Navigate through the available options using the Volume Up and Volume Down keys.
2. Go to the wipe data/factory reset option and press the Power Button.
   
3. Use the Volume Up/Down keys to select Yes — delete all user data and press the Power button again.
   
4. Wait for the device to perform the factory reset and reboot.

Android Tablet Troubleshooting

Most of the time a factory reset should refresh your system. When you perform it, your tablet should work the way it was when you first got it, at least in the beginning. However, if it works well just for a while and starts acting slow or strange again, it is most likely a hardware issue. If you have an older device, the recent system and app updates will slow it down a lot.

On the other hand, if you bought your device recently and it still doesn’t work well after a factory reset, it may be a hardware issue. You should take it to a tech repair service so they can further diagnose the issue.

Double Check Before You Proceed

A factory reset can cause a lot of data loss, even if you think you’ve backed up everything that you need. So before you confirm the command, double-check if you’ve saved all the data that you need.

Also, if you think that recent app and system updates are slowing your device down, you shouldn’t download them all at once, as they will just cause the same issue. Instead, try to get only the essentials until you switch to a better tablet.

How do backup your files? Do you use Cloud or external storage? Share your opinion in the comments below.