What to Do When Your Samsung Tablet Won’t Power On

Troubleshoot your tablet and get it working again with these easy tips

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: October 28, 2024 Fact Checked

Do you have a new or used Samsung tablet that won't turn on? Fortunately, this common issue has some simple solutions that you can do at home. You can troubleshoot on your own before bringing it in for repair, so read on to learn more.

Fix a Samsung Tablet That Won’t Turn On

Make sure the charger and your tablet's charging port are functioning properly and aren't filled with dust and debris. Turn your tablet on by performing a soft reboot by pressing and holding the Power button and Volume Down buttons together for 20-60 seconds.

1

Inspect the tablet and charger.

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Your tablet will not charge if the port or charger is dirty. Get rid of dust and debris in your charging port by cleaning it with a toothpick.
- Use some isopropyl alcohol to wipe the ends of the charger if they are dirty.

2

Perform a soft reboot.

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This is common for tablets with fully discharged batteries. Whether your tablet is newer or older, this is a common solution to turn your tablet back on after you've charged it for a while. Follow these steps to perform a soft reboot:
- Press and hold the Power button (or Side button) and Volume Down button for about 20-60 seconds.
- If you see your tablet entering "Maintenance Boot Mode," press the Volume Up or Down button to highlight Normal Mode.
- Press the Side button to select it.

3

Check for liquid damage.

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Your tablet won't turn on if it is damaged by liquid. Look at the LDI (Liquid Damage Indicator) to see if there is liquid damage. It's either inside the SIM card tray slot or on the removable battery (only older tablets have a removable battery).
- Once you remove the battery or SIM card tray slot, look for the LDI:
  - No liquid damage - You'll find a white square with pink or purple "X"s.
  - Liquid damage - You'll find an entirely pink or purple square.

4

Use an authentic charger.

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Cheaper chargers may not charge your tablet. Using unverified chargers can damage your tablet's battery.
- You can also change the type of charger you're using: switching between a fast charger to a normal charger.

5

Charge your tablet longer.

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A completely dead battery can take up to 10 minutes to show it's charging. If you're reviving a dead battery, let the tablet charge for at least 1 hour using the charging cable that came with it.
- For uninterrupted charging, plug your tablet's charger into a wall outlet. Extension cords, power strips, and computer USB ports may not give your tablet enough power to charge.^{[1]
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