Engadget explains three ways to reboot a Samsung Galaxy tablet

Engadget says a standard restart is suitable for everyday slowdowns or minor app issues and can be done by holding the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. When the power menu appears, users should tap Restart and confirm. Alternatively, they can swipe down to open the quick settings panel, press the power button, select Restart and confirm. Both methods are quick, safe and preserve all data.

The guide advises a force restart when the screen is completely frozen and no longer responds to touch. The user should hold the Volume Down and Side/Power buttons together for at least seven seconds. The reboot begins when the screen turns black, the tablet vibrates briefly and the Samsung logo appears. Engadget cites Samsung's official support documentation saying this is the recommended approach for a device that is frozen or not accepting any input.

If neither standard nor force restart works, Engadget offers additional steps: hold the Power button for up to two minutes to force a complete shutdown, wait one minute, then press Power again. If the tablet still does not respond, the user can let the battery drain completely, charge it for 30 minutes and try again. When recurring issues persist, a factory reset may be the only option, but it permanently erases all apps, photos and personal data and requires a full backup beforehand. Factory reset is located under Settings > General Management > Reset > Factory Data Reset and requires multiple confirmations.

If the tablet remains unresponsive after a factory reset, Engadget says the cause may be hardware-related. The Samsung Members app includes a diagnostic tool under Support that checks software, battery, network connections, sensors, buttons, cameras and more. If the tests reveal an issue, the tablet may need help from Samsung Support or a repair shop.