Skip to main content

How to turn safe mode on and off on your Android phone

Smartphones are excellent, and they're only getting more polished. However, things can still go wrong, like crashes, slowdowns, and other such problems. When issues arise, it can be tough to find out what the problem is. Is it an app you've downloaded? Maybe it's your phone itself? Not knowing what's causing problems is just as frustrating as the problem itself, but that's where Android's built-in safe mode can come in handy.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

Safe mode on your phone, like safe mode on a computer, is the best way to diagnose any problems with your device. When started, it blocks third-party apps from running and turns on airplane mode, sealing your device away from anything that it didn't ship with. If you notice your device speeding up in Safe Mode, then it's likely a third-party app causing an issue. If not, well, at least you've ruled something out.

Before starting safe mode, though, make sure to Google your device's symptoms to see whether anyone else has had similar issues and, hopefully, might have fixed theirs. Historically, there have been problems like the Android System WebView issue, which caused app crashes on a number of Android devices.

Here's how you can start safe mode.

How to turn on safe mode on an Android phone

If you have a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Google Pixel 7 Pro, or any other Android smartphone or tablet, then the process for turning on safe mode is as follows.

Step 1: Swipe down twice on your notification shade and choose the Power options button.

Step 2: Select and hold Power off.

Step 3: When the Reboot to safe mode prompt appears, choose OK.

Your device will restart, and you will see a safe mode prompt in the bottom-left corner. This method works for most Android phones, though you may have to hold your Power button to pull up your shutdown menu instead if you're not using the latest version of Android.

How to turn on safe mode with the buttons

Whether you have a OnePlus 11, Motorola Edge Plus, or an older Android smartphone or tablet like the Samsung Galaxy S20, the process for turning on your safe mode option with the keys is as follows.

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button and select Power off to turn your device off.

Step 2: Press and hold the Power button.

Step 3: Release the Power button and press and hold the Volume down button.

Step 4: Keep holding it until your device boots up.

Step 5: You can let go when you see the words “safe mode” in the bottom-left corner.

This method works for most Android phones and tablets.

How to turn off safe mode on an Android phone

Because you don’t want to use your device like this forever, here’s how to exit safe mode.

Step 1: Find the shutdown menu by tapping the Power options button by pulling down the notification shade twice.

Step 2: Choose the Restart option.

That’s it. A simple restart of your Android device will disable safe mode.

What to do in safe mode

You can uninstall problematic apps and use your phone’s core functions while in safe mode. If you find your issue is gone in while your phone is in safe mode, then you can either uninstall apps one by one and test in normal mode again to try and identify the problem app, or you can factory reset your device and selectively install apps and games, making sure to watch out for a recurrence of any problem after each install.

If your device continues to crash, overheat, or otherwise perform poorly in safe mode, then the issue might not be with a downloaded application — but rather the operating system or the phone’s hardware. Try a factory reset, and if that doesn’t resolve things, contact your retailer, carrier, or phone manufacturer and find out about a replacement or repair for your mobile device.

Editors' Recommendations

Paula Beaton
Freelance tech and travel writer living in (somewhat) sunny Scotland. Gamer, tea addict, never without a good book.
Don’t update your Pixel phone — a new Android update might break it
Android 14 logo on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Android 14 introduced a host of convenient additions to Google’s Pixel phones, but a recent minor update has utterly broken the storage system for some users. Specifically, owners of the Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro, and Google Pixel 6a who run multiple profiles on their phones are reporting that their phones no longer have access to the storage pipeline for the main profile.

That means users are locked out of accessing the stored media and find themselves unable to add new files as well. A few users have reported on Reddit and Google’s official community forum that they can’t even click images using the camera app because it flashes an insufficient storage warning message. A few others say trying to install an APK package also returns a similar storage writing roadblock.

Read more
The best tablets in 2023: top 11 tablets you can buy now
Disney+ app on the iPad Air 5.

As much as we love having the best smartphones in our pockets, there are times when those small screens don't cut it, and we just need a larger display. That's when you turn to a tablet, which is great for being productive on the go and can be a great way to unwind and relax too. While the tablet market really took off after the iPad, it has grown to be quite diverse with a huge variety of products — from great budget options to powerhouses for professionals.

We've tried out a lot of tablets here at Digital Trends, from the workhorses for pros to tablets that are made for kids and even seniors, there's a tablet for every person and every budget. For most people, though, we think Apple's iPad Air is the best overall tablet — especially if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem. But if you're not an Apple user, that's fine too; there are plenty of other great options that you'll find in this roundup.

Read more
The best prepaid cell phone plans in 2023: the 7 best ones
5G logo on the Motorola Edge (2022).

There was once a time when prepaid cell phone plans meant getting only basic calling features and limited data. Thankfully, that’s changed. Many of today’s prepaid plans offer many of the same core features of the best cell postpaid phone plans, including high-speed 5G data, unlimited calling and texting, and even international roaming — all without the need to commit to a contract.

Not only that, but you can often find prepaid plans at far lower prices, even if you’re only setting up a single line. While traditional carrier plans give their best discounts for families and other groups, many prepaid plans lead with their best price right out of the gate.

Read more