Whether you're selling your Galaxy Tab S10/S9/S8 series, troubleshooting a software issue, or starting fresh — a factory reset erases everything and returns your device to its original state. This covers Galaxy Tab S10/S9/S8 series, Tab A9/A8, and Tab FE.
Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory Data Reset → Reset
Back up before you reset. This permanently deletes all photos, messages, apps, and settings. There's no undo. Samsung Cloud: Settings → Samsung Account → Samsung Cloud → Back Up. Google: Settings → Google → Backup → Back Up Now. Tip: remove your microSD card before resetting.
Reset from Settings
The standard method — works when your device is responsive and you know your passcode.
Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory Data Reset → Reset
Enter your passcode → account password → confirm
Your device erases and restarts to the setup screen. Takes about 2–5 minutes.
Recovery Mode
Use this if your tablet is frozen, won't boot, or you forgot your PIN.
Power off the tablet completely
Hold Volume Up + Power button together
Release when the Samsung logo appears
Use Volume buttons to select Wipe data/factory reset → Power to confirm
Select Factory data reset → confirm again
Reset settings only — keep your data
Settings → General Management → Reset → Reset All Settings
Resets Wi-Fi, display, and preferences. Apps and data stay. Worth trying before a full erase.
Force restart — no data loss
Hold Volume Down + Power together for 7–10 seconds until the tablet restarts.
Just a reboot. Nothing is erased. Try this first if it's frozen.
Will a reset fix my problem?
If it's software — slow after an update, apps crashing, random reboots, storage full — a reset will probably fix it. If it's hardware, it won't.
Software — reset helps
Sluggish after an update
Apps crashing or freezing
Random reboots
System data eating storage
Preparing to sell
Hardware — needs repair
Cracked tablet display
S Pen not detected
Charging port damage
Battery swelling
LCD dead pixels or backlight bleed
Quick test: reset, set up as new (skip the backup restore), and see if the problem returns. If it does — it's hardware.
eSIM
Most Galaxy Tabs use physical SIM + microSD. Some newer Tab S models support eSIM.
Common questions
Will a reset delete my microSD card data?
Only if you check "Format SD card" during the reset. Remove the card first to be safe.
Can I use a keyboard in Recovery Mode?
No. Use the physical Volume and Power buttons to navigate.
Is the process the same as Galaxy phones?
Yes — the Settings path and Recovery Mode steps are identical.
Still not working after a reset? It's probably hardware. We do free diagnosis at FIXSTORY — no appointment, no pressure.
(424) 270-4369 · 800 S Flower St, Suite B, LA 90017 · Walk-ins welcome