To shut down a tablet, press and hold the physical power button (or the power button plus a volume button on many Android models) until the power menu appears, then select “Power off.” The exact method for how to shut down tablet devices differs slightly between iPads and Android tablets, but both take only a few seconds and require no special tools. If your screen goes dark unexpectedly instead, you may need to stop tablet from turning off at the wrong times, or you might just need to set timer on Fire tablet so it powers down on your schedule.
How to shut down a tablet: Quick steps for your device
Shutting down a tablet normally is the safest way to conserve battery or prepare the device for storage. The process is slightly different depending on whether you have an iPad or an Android tablet, and whether your iPad has a Home button. Below are the standard methods for each.
iPad without a Home button
This applies to modern iPads that use Face ID or have edge-to-edge screens. The physical buttons are the volume buttons on one side and the top button on the opposite edge.
- Press and hold either volume button and the top button at the same time.
- Keep holding both until the “power off” slider appears on the screen.
- Drag the slider to the right to shut down the iPad.
iPad with a Home button
Older iPads have a circular Home button on the front bezel and a top button on the top edge. This method is simpler.
- Press and hold the top button only.
- Wait until the “power off” slider appears.
- Drag the slider to shut down the iPad.
Android tablets (hardware keys)
Most Android tablets, including Samsung Galaxy models, respond to a button combination that opens the power menu directly.
- Press and hold the Side (or Power) button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
- Keep holding until the Power menu appears on the screen.
- Tap “Power off” to shut down the tablet.
Android tablets (Quick Settings)
If you prefer not to use hardware buttons, many Android tablets offer a software-based shutdown option through the notification panel.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen (sometimes twice) to open the Quick Settings panel.
- Select “Power off” from the menu that appears.
Turning your tablet back on
After a normal shutdown, restarting is straightforward. For an iPad, press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears, or plug the iPad into a charger to power it on automatically. For an Android tablet, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds until the manufacturer’s logo appears on the screen.
How to force restart an unresponsive tablet
If your tablet’s screen is frozen, the touchscreen won’t respond, or the normal shutdown method does nothing, a force restart (also called a hard reboot) is the solution. This is not the same as a factory reset, and it will not erase any of your data, apps, or settings on either iPad or Android tablets. A force restart simply interrupts the current software state and forces the device to reboot cleanly.
Force restart an iPad without a Home button
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears.
- Release the Top button when you see the logo; the iPad will finish restarting on its own.
Force restart an iPad with a Home button
- Press and hold the Home button and the Top (Power) button together.
- Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- Release both buttons; the iPad will restart automatically.
Force restart an Android tablet
Android tablets do not have a universal force-restart sequence, but most models respond to the same button combination used for a normal shutdown. Release the buttons when the manufacturer’s logo appears. If that does not work on your specific model, check your device’s manual or the manufacturer’s support page for the correct combination, as some tablets use the Power button plus Volume Up instead.
When to shut down vs. restart your tablet
A normal shutdown is the right choice when you want to conserve battery over an extended period, such as overnight or while traveling, or when you plan to store the tablet for days or weeks. It also helps if you need to clear the device’s memory before a long break. A restart, on the other hand, is better for routine maintenance: it clears temporary files, refreshes the operating system, and resolves minor app glitches without fully powering off. Use a force restart only when the screen is completely frozen and neither a normal shutdown nor a standard restart works. Because a force restart does not erase data, it is safe to try before seeking technical support, but it should not be your first move for everyday issues, a simple restart usually fixes most problems. For battery conservation, remember that shutting down a tablet entirely uses zero power, whereas even a sleeping tablet drains a small amount over time. If your tablet is sluggish but still responsive, a restart is faster and less disruptive than a full shutdown. If you are troubleshooting a persistent issue, however, a full shutdown followed by a fresh start often gives the operating system a cleaner slate than a quick restart.
For the wider topic, see turning off a tablet.
