How to Factory Reset a Samsung Tablet (2026): Complete Step-by-Step Guide
A factory reset clears your Samsung tablet and restores it to the condition it was in when first purchased, deleting all your apps, accounts, files, and settings. It is an important procedure to carry out before selling or gifting the tablet, is commonly used to solve persistent software issues, and is the quickest way to clear a device that has slowed to a crawl.
The reset process merely takes a few minutes, but it is important to carry it out correctly, particularly if you intend to sell the tablet, since missing a single step might result in the device being locked and thus almost valueless to a subsequent owner. This guide covers all three reset methods, the essential preparation steps, and what to do after the reset.
Quick summary: To factory reset a Samsung tablet, back up your data, remove your Google and Samsung accounts, then go to Settings, General management, Reset, and Factory data reset. If the tablet will not start, use Recovery Mode with the Volume Up and Power buttons, or erase it remotely via SmartThings Find. Always remove your accounts first, since a reset tablet still locked to your Google account is unusable to buyers and worth only scrap value.
There are four main reasons. A reset removes all your personal information, pictures, and accounts before you sell or trade it. It removes software bugs, crashes, and malware that won't go away and nothing else can fix. When speed drops, it removes years' worth of junk and gets the tablet back to its fastest state. It also starts over when you give the tablet to a family member.
No matter what the reason may be, the preparation steps listed below are just as important as the reset itself.
Before You Reset: Three Critical Steps
1. Back Up Your Data
A factory reset erases everything permanently, so back up first. Go to Settings, then Accounts and backup, and use Samsung Cloud or Google backup for your settings, apps, and data. Copy photos, videos, and documents to Google Photos, a computer via USB cable, or a microSD card. Once the reset runs, you can't recover anything.
2. Remove Your Google and Samsung Accounts
This is the step most people skip, and it is the most important one, because of Factory Reset Protection. FRP is an anti-theft feature: if you reset a tablet without first removing the Google account, the tablet demands that same account's password on the next setup, and without it the device is locked. A tablet stuck on FRP is unusable to any buyer and collapses to scrap value of Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000.
Go to Settings, then Accounts and backup, then Manage accounts, select your Google account, and tap Remove account. Do the same for your Samsung account (you may need to sign out via Settings, then your name at the top, then Sign out). Only then proceed to the reset.
3. Take out your SIM card and microSD card
If your tablet has a SIM card or microSD card, remove it before the reset. The reset does not always erase the memory card, and you don't want either card left in the device.
Method 1: Factory Reset From Settings (The Standard Way)
Use this method whenever the tablet is working normally:
Open Settings.
Go to the section labelled 'General management' and select it.
Tap Reset.
Tap Factory data reset.
Have a look at the list of the accounts and data which are to be erased, then scroll down and tap Reset.
If you are asked, please enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
Tap Delete all to confirm.
The tablet restarts, shows an erasing screen, and after a few minutes boots to the fresh welcome screen. On newer One UI versions, the menu names are identical, and on older tablets the path may read Settings, then Backup and reset, then Factory data reset.
Method 2: Factory Reset via Recovery Mode (When the Tablet Will Not Start)
If the tablet is frozen, stuck in a boot loop, or you cannot get past the lock screen, use Recovery Mode:
Turn the tablet off completely. If it is frozen, hold the Power button (or Power plus Volume Down) until it shuts down.
Press and hold Volume Up and Power together until the Samsung logo appears, then release. On some models, you may need to connect the tablet to a computer or charger with a USB cable for Recovery Mode to open.
In the Android Recovery menu, use the Volume buttons to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, and press Power to select it.
Highlight Factory data reset and confirm with the Power button.
When it finishes, select Reboot system now.
Important: Recovery Mode does not bypass Factory Reset Protection. If your Google account was on the tablet, you will still need its password at setup, which is by design to stop thieves.
Method 3: Factory Reset Remotely via SmartThings Find
If the tablet is lost, stolen, or simply not with you, you can erase it remotely:
Visit the SmartThings Find website (smartthingsfind.samsung.com) on any browser and sign in with the Samsung account used on the tablet.
Select your tablet from the device list.
Choose Erase data and confirm.
The tablet is wiped the next time it connects to the internet. Note that after a remote erase, the tablet remains locked to your Samsung account, which is exactly what you want for a stolen device but not for one you are selling, so use Method 1 for sales.
Forgot Your Password or Bought a Locked Tablet?
If you have forgotten your Google password, recover it on Google's account recovery page before resetting, since you will need it after the reset if the account is still on the device. If you have genuinely lost access, Samsung service centers can help with proof of purchase.
If you are buying a second-hand tablet, always check before paying that the seller has removed their Google and Samsung accounts and that the tablet reaches the welcome screen without demanding a previous owner's password. An FRP-locked tablet cannot be used, and no trustworthy seller will refuse this check.
After the Reset: Selling Your Samsung Tablet?
Here's the right way to sell if the restart was the first step. Write down the model, amount of space, and condition of your tablet. Then, use the Cashkr price calculator to get an instant quote. There is no room for haggling at the door because the price is set when you book, and Cashkr offers free door-to-door pickup in more than 2,000 pincodes by ID-verified partners. You can also pay the same day with UPI, bank transfer, or cash after verification, and you'll get a valid invoice for every sale.
Another reason the platform matters is that a normal factory reset doesn't always remove data completely, especially on older devices. After pickup, Cashkr does a certified multi-pass data wipe on every device, overwriting the storage so that nothing you saved can ever be recovered. This is the last level of security that a reset alone can't provide.
Final Verdict
It's easy to reset a Samsung tablet to factory settings once you know how. Just make a backup, delete your Google and Samsung accounts, take out your cards, and then go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset. For when the tablet won't turn on, press Volume Up and Power. For when you can't reach it, use SmartThings Find.
One rule that is more important than all the others is to delete your accounts first. When you skip a step, Factory Reset Protection locks the device and makes it almost useless. This keeps thieves out but punishes sellers who aren't careful. If you reset your tablet correctly, it will be ready for its next owner. If you want to sell it, Cashkr can give you cash the same day and include a verified wipe.
Bottom line: To get rid of the FRP lock, back up your data and delete your Google and Samsung accounts before going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset on your Samsung tablet. For SmartThings and Recovery Mode restarts, press and hold Volume Up and Power. Look for remote deletes. Want to sell after the reset? Cashkr adds a verified data wipe, free pickup at your door, and same-day payment.
FAQs
1. How do I factory reset my Samsung tablet?
In Settings, go to General management, then select Reset, then choose Factory data reset, read the warning, tap Reset, enter your PIN if prompted, and then tap Delete all. The tablet will erase itself and a few minutes later restart and appear on the welcome screen.
2. How do I factory reset a Samsung tablet that will not turn on or is frozen?
To use Recovery Mode, switch the tablet off, then hold down the Volume Up and Power buttons until the Samsung logo appears. Then use the Volume buttons to select Wipe data/factory reset, and confirm your selection with the Power button. On some models, a USB connection to a computer or a charger is required for Recovery Mode to open.
3. What is Factory Reset Protection on Samsung tablets?
FRP is a feature designed to prevent theft, and it ties the tablet to the Google account which was on it prior to the reset; if you do not first remove the account, then the tablet will ask for that account's password when it is set up and will therefore be unusable without it, which is why it is essential to remove the accounts before carrying out the reset.
4. Do I need to remove my Google account before a factory reset?
Certainly, always, in particular when you are about to sell it. Go to Settings > Accounts and backup> Manage accounts, select the Google account, then tap Remove account. A tablet which has been reset but is still linked to your account is only worth between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 5,000 to any buyer.
5. Does a factory reset delete everything on a Samsung tablet?
It deletes all applications, accounts, files, and settings from the internal storage, although it might not erase data on a microSD card, so make sure to eject the card first. Since a standard reset does not guarantee the erasure of data beyond what can be recovered through forensic means, certified wipe services include an additional level of protection when selling devices.
6. Can I factory reset my Samsung tablet remotely?
Yes, via SmartThings Find at smartthingsfind.samsung.com. Sign in with your Samsung account, select the tablet, and choose Erase data. The wipe runs the next time the tablet connects to the internet. Use this for lost or stolen tablets, not for sales, since it keeps the device locked to your account.
7. Will a factory reset remove a forgotten screen lock?
A Recovery Mode reset removes the screen lock, but Factory Reset Protection then requires the Google account password that was on the tablet, so you must be able to sign into that account afterward. Recover your Google password first at Google's account recovery page.
8. Does a factory reset make my Samsung tablet faster?
Often, yes. It removes years worth of apps, files, and other junk, making the tablet work like it did when it was first bought. Since everything is being erased, make a backup first.
9. What should I check when buying a second-hand Samsung tablet?
Make sure the seller has deleted their Google and Samsung accounts and that the tablet reaches the welcome screen for setup without asking for the former owner's password. Don't pay for something before making sure it's not FRP-locked.
10. How do I sell my Samsung tablet after resetting it?
Get an instant price quote on Cashkr based on the model, storage, and state of your device. The price is set when you book, pickup is free in more than 2,000 pincodes, all devices get a certified multi-pass data wipe, and you can pay the same day with UPI, a bank transfer, or cash and an invoice.
Reset and ready to sell? Get your Samsung tablet's instant quote on Cashkr free doorstep pickup, certified data wipe, and same-day payment.
Yaskar Jung ShahUpdated: Aug 20, 2026·14 min read
