Use Safe Mode to check whether apps are causing trouble
Safe Mode starts your Android phone with some apps and features unavailable. It is useful when your phone freezes, apps crash, or the battery drains faster than expected. Once the phone starts in Safe Mode, you will see Safe mode in a corner of the screen. You may also notice that some items are grayed out or do not work as they normally do.
You can turn Safe Mode on from the phone’s power menu. When you are finished checking the phone, a normal restart turns Safe Mode back off.
The steps below use the standard Android power menu. Your phone may show that menu when you hold its power button. If holding the button does something else, use the Quick Settings power icon instead.
Video Tutorial
Turn on Safe Mode on Android
You need to reach the power menu first. Try holding down your phone’s power button until the menu appears. If that does not open the power menu, you can get there from the notification shade instead.
- Swipe down from the top of the screen.
- Swipe down again to open the full Quick Settings area.
- Tap the small Power icon.
- In the power menu, press and hold Power off.
- Keep holding Power off until you see Reboot to safe mode.
- Select OK to confirm.
Your Android phone will now restart. Give it a moment to finish booting, then unlock it as usual. Check the corners of the screen for the Safe mode label. That label confirms the phone restarted in Safe Mode.
Do not be concerned if the phone looks different after it starts. Some apps, features, or items may be grayed out in this mode. That is expected while Safe Mode is active.
What to check while your phone is in Safe Mode
Safe Mode gives you a simpler version of the phone to use while you investigate a problem. Try using the part of the phone that was giving you trouble. For example, you can check whether the phone still freezes, whether an app still crashes, or whether the battery behavior seems different.
Keep an eye on the Safe mode text while you test. If it is visible, the phone is still in the special startup mode. You do not need to leave the phone in Safe Mode permanently. It is meant for checking issues, then returning to a normal restart.
Turn off Safe Mode and restart normally
Restarting your Android phone normally is the main way to exit Safe Mode. You can do this from the same power menu you used earlier.
- Open the power menu. Hold the power button if it opens the menu on your phone.
- If needed, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap the Power icon.
- Select Restart.
- Wait for the phone to reboot completely.
After the restart, the Safe mode label should no longer appear on the lock screen or in the corners of the display. Unlock the phone and check your apps. Items that were grayed out in Safe Mode should be available again after the normal restart.
If you see a Turn Off Safe Mode notification
Some Android phones display a notification that says Turn off safe mode while the feature is active. You may see it after swiping down from the top of the screen. That notification can help confirm why the phone looks different.
You still only need to restart the phone to leave Safe Mode. Open the power menu, choose Restart, and let the phone start again normally. Once it has rebooted, check that the Safe Mode label has disappeared.
Quick Safe Mode checklist
- To enter Safe Mode, open the power menu and press and hold Power off.
- Choose Reboot to safe mode, then select OK.
- Look for Safe mode in a corner of the screen after the phone restarts.
- Expect some apps or features to be grayed out while Safe Mode is on.
- To exit, open the power menu and select Restart.
If the power button does not show the power menu on your Android phone, use the two-swipe Quick Settings method and tap the power icon. From there, you can enter Safe Mode with a long press on Power off or return to normal operation by selecting Restart.
More Android Tips & Tutorials:
Subscribe Now! 🙂
Discover more from Gauging Gadgets
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
