This article explains how to turn on a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and what to do if the typical steps don’t work.

What to Know

  • Most Samsung Galaxy tablets are turned on by holding the Power button for at least three seconds.If you need to force restart your tablet, for most Galaxy models, hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for about 15 seconds.If your tablet won’t turn on, won’t hold a charge, and won’t respond to any force restart method, it likely requires repair.

How to Turn On a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Normally

While there are many versions of Samsung Galaxy tablets (from the affordable Tab A series to the flagship Tab S series), most of them will power up the same way. Every Samsung Tablet has a skinny button on the top or side of the chassis; this is the button you’ll use to turn it on.

If your tablet is charged enough or plugged in, press and hold the Power button located on the top or side of the tablet for a few seconds. You should then see the main Samsung bootup screen. Once it completes the boot cycle, you’ll see the main Samsung lock screen. From here, to unlock the tablet, you’ll use the unlock method you’ve enabled.

If your tablet has any buttons on the front, these are not the main power buttons; you can ignore them for this purpose.

How Do You Reset Your Samsung Tablet If It Won’t Turn On?

If you are pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds and you still see the black screen, then there are a few methods to try:

  • Plug the tablet in and leave it on the charger for at least 15 minutes. You may see a charging indicator. Then try turning it on as you usually would.If you know the tablet is charged and it still won’t turn on, the standard method for resetting Samsung Tablets is to hold down the Power button and the Volume Down button until the boot cycle starts (about 10–15 seconds). Then release the buttons.If you know the tablet is charged and the Power + Volume-Down combination isn’t working, hold the power button for at least two minutes. Doing this will sometimes turn off a frozen tablet locked in a black screen “on” position.The last resort is to wait until the battery fully dies and then leave the tablet off for 30 minutes. Then plug it in for at least 15 minutes and try the above methods.

If none of these methods are working, you’ll likely need to take the tablet to a certified service center or send it to Samsung for repair.

Why Is Your Samsung Galaxy Tablet Not Turning On or Charging?

There are many reasons your tablet isn’t turning on or even charging; here are the likely culprits:

  • The battery isn’t fully charged, and you need to plug in the tablet.The battery isn’t fully charged, and you’ve plugged your tablet in with an incompatible or damaged charging cable or brick.Your tablet’s software has frozen on a black screen, and you’ll need to force restart by pressing both the Power and Volume Down buttons.Your tablet’s battery will no longer hold a charge, and it will need to be repaired or replaced.Your tablet isn’t off but has a broken screen, and it will need to be repaired or replaced.

  • How do I turn on SMS for my Samsung tablet?

  • To text on your Samsung tablet, make sure to add the same Samsung account you use on your phone to your Samsung tablet. Then, on both your phone and tablet, access the Quick Settings panel and tap Call & text on other devices. Your devices are now connected, and you can text (and call) from your tablet.

  • How do I turn on Safe Mode on my Samsung tablet?

  • If your device is responsive, hold down the Power button until you see Power Off. Touch and hold Power Off until you see a Safe Mode prompt, then tap Safe Mode to confirm. If the device is unresponsive, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons, then release the Power button when the screen appears. Continue to hold the Volume Down button until you see the Safe Mode indicator on the bottom of the screen.

  • How do I turn off Safe Mode on my Samsung tablet?

  • Press and hold the Power button to reach Device Options, then press Restart > OK to shut down the device. Start your device as usual, and Safe Mode should be disabled.

  • How do I turn off Voice on my Samsung tablet?

  • To turn off the Voice Assistant, go to Settings > Accessibility > Screen reader and toggle off Voice Assistant. Tap OK to confirm.

  • How do I turn off predictive text on my Samsung tablet?

  • From the Home screen, tap Apps > Settings. Find System, then tap Language and input. Under Keyboards and input methods, tap Samsung keyboard. Under Smart Typing, tap Predictive text, then toggle off Predictive text.

  • How do I turn on autocorrect on a Samsung tablet?

  • From the Home screen, tap Apps > Settings. Find System, then tap Language and input. Select the keyboard you’re using, then select Text Correction and toggle on Auto-correction.

  • How do I turn off autocorrect on a Samsung tablet?

  • From the Home screen, tap Apps > Settings. Find System, then tap Language and input. Select the keyboard you’re using, then select Text Correction and toggle off Auto-correction.

To text on your Samsung tablet, make sure to add the same Samsung account you use on your phone to your Samsung tablet. Then, on both your phone and tablet, access the Quick Settings panel and tap Call & text on other devices. Your devices are now connected, and you can text (and call) from your tablet.

If your device is responsive, hold down the Power button until you see Power Off. Touch and hold Power Off until you see a Safe Mode prompt, then tap Safe Mode to confirm. If the device is unresponsive, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons, then release the Power button when the screen appears. Continue to hold the Volume Down button until you see the Safe Mode indicator on the bottom of the screen.

Press and hold the Power button to reach Device Options, then press Restart > OK to shut down the device. Start your device as usual, and Safe Mode should be disabled.

To turn off the Voice Assistant, go to Settings > Accessibility > Screen reader and toggle off Voice Assistant. Tap OK to confirm.

From the Home screen, tap Apps > Settings. Find System, then tap Language and input. Under Keyboards and input methods, tap Samsung keyboard. Under Smart Typing, tap Predictive text, then toggle off Predictive text.

From the Home screen, tap Apps > Settings. Find System, then tap Language and input. Select the keyboard you’re using, then select Text Correction and toggle on Auto-correction.

From the Home screen, tap Apps > Settings. Find System, then tap Language and input. Select the keyboard you’re using, then select Text Correction and toggle off Auto-correction.

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