7 most common Samsung tablet problems and how to fix them

It doesn't matter what you're doing—leading a video conference call, ordering holiday gifts, or binging a new TV series—when your Samsung Galaxy® tablet stops working, it's frustrating.

The upside is it's usually not a serious issue and we can help you fix it—fast.

At Asurion, we take care of you—and your tech. Here's our guide to common Samsung tablet problems and their solutions.

1. Your tablet won't turn on

If your Samsung tablet won't turn on, try these troubleshooting tips:

1. Check for physical or liquid damage on your tablet, charger, and USB cable. Try a different cable or charger too. If you notice something off, it could be preventing your device from charging properly.
2. Perform a soft reset by pressing and holding the Power button (or Side button) and the Volume Down button at the same time until your tablet restarts. This can take up to 1 minute. If, instead of restarting, your tablet enters Maintenance Boot mode, use the Volume Up or Down keys to select Normal Boot, then press the Side button to select it.
3. Charge your tablet by connecting it to the charging cable that came with your device (or, if you don't have it, a high-quality charger). If the battery has completely drained, give your device at least 10 minutes for the charging indicator to appear.

After finishing those three steps, disconnect the charger and try turning on your tablet again. Simply press and hold the Power button or Side button for 15 to 20 seconds. If your tablet turns on, turn it off again so you can juice it up to a full charge. If the tablet still won't turn on, make an appointment with a Samsung tablet repair expert.

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2. Your tablet is running slowly

There are a bunch of reasons why your device might be acting sluggish, including:

• You have too many apps running in the background.
• There's not enough memory or storage.
• Your operating system is out of date.

Here are three things to try that can help speed up your device.

Clear your cache

Your cache consists of information—like files, scripts, or images—that's saved on your tablet after you visit a website or open an app. These saved files help speed up your device when you return to those sites and apps. But over time, cached data can overload your tablet's memory. Clearing it will improve the way your device works by erasing unnecessary files without losing any of your saved passwords or data.

Here's how to clear your cache:

1. Go to Settings, then tap Battery and device care. On older versions, the option will say Device care.
2. Tap Optimize now. Older versions will say Fix now.
3. Tap Done.

If a specific app keeps crashing, you can clear the cache of that app. Here's how:

1. Go to Settings, then tap Apps.
2. Select the app that you want to clear the cache for, then tap Storage > Clear cache.
3. Repeat these steps for other apps on your device.

Free up storage space

To check how much storage is available on your Samsung tablet, go to Settings > Battery and device care > Storage.

If it's almost full, stay on this screen to delete files and free up space. Photos and videos use a lot of memory, so consider transferring them to cloud storage or an external hard drive or simply deleting the ones you no longer need.

If you need help, check out our guide to backing up data on your tablet or get help from an expert.

Check for software updates

Regularly updating your tablet's software will improve your security, get rid of bugs, and generally help it work better. Here's how to update your tablet's software:

1. Connect your device to the Internet.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Scroll down, and tap Software update or System updates (it may vary depending on the Samsung tablet model).
4. Tap Check for software updates. Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the update.

3. Your battery is draining too fast

If your Samsung tablet won't charge or if the battery drains too quickly, the problem could be the battery, not your tablet.

Most batteries last 2 to 3 years, though the exact lifespan depends on how you use your device. Turning your screen's brightness all the way up or running lots of apps at the same time can decrease your battery life. For more information, check out our guide to fixing a Samsung tablet that isn't charging.

If you notice that your fully charged battery doesn't last for at least 5 to 6 hours, it may be time for a replacement battery for your Samsung tablet.

4. Your tablet won't connect to Wi-Fi

If your tablet won't connect to Wi-Fi, try these steps, in this order, to get back online.

Restart your tablet

1. Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button.
2. Wait for your screen to go black.
3. Turn on your tablet.

If this doesn't work, press and hold the Power button for 1–2 minutes until your screen goes dark and then turn your tablet back on.

Restart your Wi-Fi router

1. Unplug your router.
2. Wait 30 seconds.
3. Plug your router back in again and try connecting your tablet.

Make sure your tablet is in range of your Wi-Fi network

If your tablet is too far away from your router, the signal may not be strong enough for your device to connect to Wi-Fi. Make sure your router is turned on, then move your tablet closer to the router to get it online.

Confirm that your Wi-Fi network is working

Try connecting another device to the web. If that doesn't work, contact your internet service provider to ask about any issues in your area.

Check your Wi-Fi password

Make sure you're using the right password and that you've entered it correctly. For more tips, check out our guide to creating strong passwords.

5. Your touchscreen is frozen or not responding

When your tablet freezes, your online life does too. If your Samsung tablet screen isn't working or won't respond to touch commands, try these troubleshooting steps.

Restart your tablet

1. Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button.
2. Wait for the screen to go black.
3. Turn on the tablet.

If those steps don't work, press and hold the Power button for 1–2 minutes until the screen goes dark, then turn your tablet back on.

Reboot your tablet in Safe mode

If your touchscreen is still frozen, a recently installed app could be the problem. Try rebooting your tablet in Safe mode and uninstalling the app. This will turn your device on without running any third-party apps, so you can find and remove the app that's causing your problem.

To turn on Safe mode:

1. Turn off the tablet.
2. Turn it back on, and when the Samsung logo appears, press and hold the Volume Down button. You should see “Safe Mode" appear at the bottom of the screen (if it doesn't, repeat these two steps).
3. Now that your tablet is in Safe Mode, you can remove the third-party app causing any issues. A good place to start is with apps that you installed or updated when the touchscreen first stopped responding.
4. Once you're done, exit Safe Mode by restarting your tablet.

6. Your camera is not working

When your Samsung tablet camera stops working, you can't take photos or videos with your device. It's annoying, but usually a simple fix. For step-by-step instructions, read our guide on what to do if your tablet camera isn't working.

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No matter the issue, our experts can repair your devices fast. Make an appointment or visit your local uBreakiFix^® by Asurion today.

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7. Your apps are crashing or freezing

Sometimes, an app causes your Samsung tablet to crash or freeze. If this is happening, try these steps, in order.

Restart your tablet

1. Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button.
2. Wait for the screen to go black.
3. Turn on the tablet.

If these steps don't work, press and hold the Power button for 1–2 minutes until the screen goes dark, then turn your tablet back on.

Check your internet connection

An unstable or slow internet connection can cause apps to crash on your tablet. A quick and easy way to check your connection is to open a new webpage to see if it loads. If it doesn't, you should contact your internet provider. You can also follow the previous steps for what to do when your tablet won't connect to Wi-Fi.

Keep in mind, some apps work better on Wi-Fi, so make sure to test the app when you're at home, where you likely have a strong internet connection.

Update your software and apps

To install a software update on your Samsung tablet:

1. Connect your device to the internet.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Scroll down, and tap Software update, or System updates (it may vary depending on the Samsung tablet model).
4. Tap Check for software updates. Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the update.

To update apps on your Samsung tablet:

1. Open the Play Store™, and tap your profile image at the top right.
2. Choose Manage apps & device.
3. Tap See details to view pending downloads.
4. If you see a link that says See recent updates, then the Play Store thinks everything is up to date. To run a manual check, select All apps up to date > Check for updates.
5. Tap Update all to update all of your Android apps, or if you want to update just one app, select Update next to that app.

Force stop the app

Sometimes an app can keep running in the background even after you've closed it on your tablet. To force stop an app on the Android 9 operating system or a newer version, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Select the app you want to stop, then tap Force Stop.
3. When you restart your tablet, the app will relaunch. To delete the app permanently, select Uninstall.

Clear app data and cache

Clearing the data and cache for an app wipes all the stored data and may fix a crashing issue. This step will delete your accounts, files, and settings from the app.

1. Open your Settings and tap Apps.
2. From the list of Apps that appears, tap the app that is causing the issue.
3. Tap Storage > Clear data or Clear cache.

Ways to keep your tablet working as it should

Now that you know what to do when your Samsung tablet isn't working, let's look at a few ways to keep your tablet running smoothly in the first place.

• Back up your tablet. This is a simple way to keep your photos, videos, and files safe. It also ensures you won't lose your personal information if your tablet is lost, stolen, or damaged. For step-by-step instructions, read our guide to backing up your tablet.
• Update your tablet's operating system regularly. Doing so will help you avoid many of these common problems.
• Don't ignore a cracked tablet screen. Cracks never fix themselves. Check out our guide to fixing a cracked tablet screen, or bring your device to a tablet repair expert to help you figure out your next steps,
• Keep your tablet out of extreme heat and cold and away from water. All will cause problems for your device long-term.