To turn off safe mode on Android, just restart the phone. On a Samsung Galaxy, swipe down from the top of the screen, tap the Safe mode is on notification and tap Turn off. On a Pixel, open the power menu and tap Restart.
If the phone goes straight back into safe mode, check that the Volume down button isn’t stuck or being pressed by a case, then remove any app you installed just before the problem started.
Safe mode is a troubleshooting mode. It starts Android with only the built-in apps, so you can tell whether something you downloaded is causing crashes, freezes or a slow phone. It’s useful on purpose, but confusing by accident: your downloaded apps disappear, some widgets vanish and the words “Safe mode” sit in the bottom-left corner. Here’s how to get out of it on a Samsung Galaxy, a Pixel and other Android phones. Menu names can differ slightly by model.
Why did my phone go into safe mode?
- Someone (maybe you) chose it. On a Galaxy, touching and holding Power off in the power menu shows a Safe mode button. It’s easy to tap by mistake.
- Volume down was held during startup. On Samsung and Pixel phones, holding Volume down while the phone boots starts it in safe mode. A stuck button or a tight case can do this every time.
- The phone was troubleshooting itself. Some phones can start in safe mode after repeated crashes. The fix is the same: restart, then find the app causing trouble.
How to turn off safe mode on a Samsung Galaxy
Samsung’s support page gives two simple ways out. Either one restarts the phone normally.
Option 1: use the notification
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Tap the Safe mode is on notification.
- Tap Turn off. The phone restarts normally.
Option 2: restart from the power menu
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume down together, or swipe down for the Quick panel and tap the Power icon.
- Tap Restart, or tap Power off and then turn the phone back on with the Side button.
- Don’t touch the volume buttons while it starts up.
Samsung warns that some customizations, such as wallpapers and themes, may be reset to their defaults after you leave safe mode. Google adds that safe mode removes some Home screen widgets, so you may need to add them back.
If the screen is frozen: force restart
If the phone won’t respond to taps, Samsung’s steps for a force restart are: press and hold Volume down and the Side (or Power) button together for about 10 seconds. Keep holding even if the power menu appears, until you see the Samsung logo. If a Maintenance mode screen appears, choose Normal Boot.
Turn off safe mode on a Pixel
Google’s Pixel Help gives these steps to leave safe mode:
- Pixel 6 and later: press and hold the Power and Volume up buttons for a few seconds, then tap Restart.
- Pixel 5a and earlier: press and hold the Power button for about 30 seconds, or until the phone restarts.
Other Android phones
Google’s Android Help says you can usually exit safe mode by restarting your phone normally, and that the steps vary by manufacturer. Open the power menu (often by holding the power button, sometimes with Volume up), tap Restart, and keep your fingers off the volume buttons while it boots. If that doesn’t work, check your phone maker’s support site.
Phone keeps restarting in safe mode? Try this
- Check the volume buttons. Take the phone out of its case and press Volume down a few times. If it feels stuck, mushy or doesn’t click, a stuck button may be forcing safe mode at every startup. That needs a repair.
- Restart without a case and without touching any buttons after you press power.
- Remove the app that caused it. Google’s advice is to remove recently downloaded apps one by one, restarting normally after each one, and check whether the problem is gone. You can uninstall apps while in safe mode: they still show in Settings → Apps even if they don’t run.
- Install updates. Once you’re back in normal mode, update your apps in the Play Store or Galaxy Store, and check for a system update in Settings.
- Charge the phone. A nearly empty battery can cause odd restarts.
If an app you don’t remember installing keeps showing up, or the phone acts strangely even in safe mode, read our guide to checking whether your phone is hacked before you sign in to anything sensitive.
Use safe mode to find a problem app
If you went into safe mode on purpose because the phone was crashing or freezing, use it as a test before you turn it off. Use the phone normally for a while. If the problem goes away in safe mode, a downloaded app is the likely cause. If it still happens in safe mode, the cause is probably not a downloaded app, so look at storage, a system update or the hardware instead.
Running low on space can cause slowdowns that look like app problems. Our guide to freeing up storage on Android helps. On a Galaxy that misbehaved after a big update, see our One UI 9 update guide.
If nothing works
- Back up your photos, contacts and messages while you still can.
- Try a force restart (Samsung steps above).
- If the phone still won’t leave safe mode, contact your phone maker or carrier for a repair check, especially if a button seems faulty.
- A factory reset is the last resort. Google warns that a factory reset erases all your data, so only do it after a full backup, and make sure you know your Google Account password first.
More fixes for Galaxy and Pixel phones are in our Android section.
Related guide: How to Clear Cache on Android (Samsung, Pixel and Chrome).
FAQ
How do I turn off safe mode on a Samsung phone?
Swipe down from the top, tap the Safe mode is on notification, then tap Turn off. Or restart the phone from the power menu. It will start normally.
Why is my phone stuck in safe mode?
The most common cause is the Volume down button being held while the phone starts, either because it’s stuck or a case is pressing it. Remove the case, check the button and restart.
Will turning off safe mode delete anything?
No. Your apps and data come back when you restart normally. Samsung notes some customizations like wallpapers and themes may reset, and some widgets may need adding again.
Can I uninstall apps in safe mode?
Yes. Downloaded apps don’t run in safe mode, but you can still remove them from Settings → Apps. Google suggests removing recent apps one at a time and restarting after each.
How do I turn off safe mode on a Pixel?
On a Pixel 6 or later, hold Power and Volume up for a few seconds and tap Restart. On a Pixel 5a or earlier, hold Power for about 30 seconds until it restarts.
Sources
- Power on your Galaxy phone or tablet in Safe mode (Samsung US)
- Galaxy phone or tablet stuck at Samsung logo screen (Samsung US)
- Find problem apps by rebooting to safe mode (Pixel Phone Help)
- Find problem apps by rebooting to safe mode on Android (Android Help)
- Reset your Android device to factory settings (Android Help)
