How to Unfreeze the Samsung Galaxy Tab
By Jane Williams
The Samsung Galaxy Tab offers mobile computing in a slim, compact form. Like any computer, however, the Tab is susceptible to the occasional freeze. As of November 2013, Samsung's latest version is the Galaxy Tab 3, which can suffer freezes from a software conflict, memory shortage or other electronic hiccup.
Give it Time
In some cases, your Tab freezes due to a crashed app. If you were playing a game or working within an app when the Tab froze, wait a minute or two to see if the tablet recognizes the problem and allows you to close the app to resume normal operation. You usually receive a message stating the app crashed or stopped performing and must click a button to return to your tablet's home screen.
Perform a Reboot
Just like when your home computer or laptop freezes, you may need to reboot the device to resume normal operation. Press the “Power” button and hold it until your Samsung powers down. Press and hold the button again to power back up. Your tablet should work as normal once it finishes booting, but it the freezes continue, you may have another issue at play. If the freezes started after installing a new app, that program may be conflicting with another. Remove the latest app and see if the freezes continue. Malware can also cause freezing and operational issues, so scan your tablet with an anti-virus program to keep your system clean. (See Resources.)
Free Up Memory Space
Your Galaxy Tab offers a certain amount of memory available for data, in the form of installed memory and a separate SD card. If these storage areas become too full, your tablet can experience operational and processing problems that can result in freezes. Check your Tab's available memory by tapping the “Menu” soft key, select “Settings” and then “Storage.” Here you can view your tablet's memory use for the Device and your SD card. Free up more space by removing apps you no longer use, or by moving data from the internal memory to the SD card.
Hard Reset
If your Samsung's freezing problem continues, you may need to perform a hard reset, also known as a factory reset. This will remove all user data and applications installed on your Tab, so should be viewed as a last resort if nothing else helps. Turn off your Tab and press and hold the “Volume Up” and “Power” keys at the same time. When the “Recovery Booting” message displays, release both keys. Use the “Volume Down” key to move through menus and select “Wipe Data/Factory Reset,” then press the “Power” key to confirm your choice. Scroll down to “Yes” with the Volume Down key and press “Power” to confirm. After the wipe, reboot your system.
References
Writer Bio
Jane Williams began her writing career in 2000 as the writer and editor of a nationwide marketing company. Her articles have appeared on various websites. Williams briefly attended college for a degree in administration before embarking on her writing career.