What is Android safe mode? How to turn it on and off

What is safe mode on Android?

Safe mode on Android is a diagnostic tool that helps users locate and solve device problems. Turning on safe mode means only the system’s core applications and services load. Apps downloaded from Google Play or other sources won’t work while using your phone in safe mode.

Safe mode is particularly helpful if your phone starts misbehaving (e.g., running slow, restarting, freezing, or crashing). While it can be difficult to tell what’s causing your device to act this way, safe mode can point you in the right direction.​

How does Android safe mode work?

Here’s how Android safe mode works and how to use it to uncover the root cause of device issues:

1. 1.Turn on safe mode. If your device starts freezing, overheating, showing pop-ups, crashing, or restarting unexpectedly, turn on safe mode to help identify the problem. Your phone could malfunction for various reasons (from malware to software glitches), and safe mode could point you in the right direction.
2. 2.Check if the problem persists. Once your device is in safe mode, use it for a while and see if the problem goes away. In safe mode, Android loads only core system apps and temporarily disables third-party apps. If your phone works normally in safe mode, one of your downloaded apps is probably behind the malfunction. If the problem persists, something other than a third-party app may be the cause.
3. 3.Turn off safe mode. Once you know a third-party app is causing the issue, you can exit safe mode to find the malfunctioning or harmful app. If the problem returns after you turn off safe mode, it’s a strong sign that one of your installed apps is to blame.
4. 4.Check apps one by one. Start with apps you installed or updated shortly before the issue began. Remove them one at a time, then restart your phone after each removal to see whether the issue is fixed. After you’ve found the app that caused the problem, you can reinstall other apps you’ve removed.

You can check your recent app activity in the Google Play Store:

1. 1.Open the Play Store app and tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
2. 2.Tap “Manage apps & device.”
3. 3.Open the “Manage” tab.
4. 4.Tap the sort icon and choose “Recently added” or “Recently updated.”

So, what does safe mode do on Android? When you activate safe mode on your phone, it starts with only the essential system software needed to run the device. That helps separate system problems from app problems. For example, if your Android phone keeps losing network connection, safe mode can help determine if a third-party app is responsible.

If the problem disappears in safe mode, a third-party app is the likely cause. Recently downloaded apps, like games, launchers, cleaner apps, keyboard apps, battery savers, VPNs, and apps installed outside the Google Play Store, are all worth checking.

Third-party apps could experience glitches for various reasons, such as software updates, conflicts with other apps, or viruses. If you’re dealing with a malicious app, here’s more on how to remove malware from an Android device.

Interesting yet worrying fact: According to NordVPN’s research on mobile app privacy, 87% of Android apps request permissions that are unnecessary for their functions, while social networking apps request the most permissions, including access to your location and camera.

How to turn on safe mode on Android

Turning on safe mode on Android is easy, though the exact steps vary depending on your Android version, phone model, and manufacturer. Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and other Android devices all handle the power menu slightly differently.

Let’s look at the most common ways to turn on safe mode on Android.

Method 1: Using the power off option

This is the easiest way to turn on safe mode on many newer Android devices:

1. 1.Open the power menu. On some Android phones, press and hold the Power button. On newer Pixel phones, press and hold Power + Volume Up. On many Samsung Galaxy phones, press and hold Side + Volume Down, or swipe down to open Quick settings and tap the power icon.
2. 2.Tap and hold “Power off.” Don’t just tap it once. Press and hold the on-screen “Power off” option until a safe mode prompt appears.
3. 3.Confirm safe mode. You may see “Reboot to safe mode,” “Restart in safe mode,” or a “Safe mode” icon. Tap “Ok” or “Safe mode.”
4. 4.Wait for the phone to restart. The device will reboot with third-party apps disabled.
5. 5.Look for the “Safe mode” label. It usually appears in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

This method is useful if your phone is still responsive and you can access the power menu. If your device is frozen, you may need to force-restart it first.

Method 2: Using the volume keys

The volume button method is useful on some older Android phones and on devices where the power menu method doesn’t work.

1. 1.Turn your phone off completely. Press and hold the Power key, Power + Volume Up, or Side + Volume Down until the power menu appears.
2. 2.Press the Power button to turn it back on. Wait for the manufacturer logo or Android boot animation to appear.
3. 3.Hold Volume Down during startup. Keep holding it until you’re in recovery mode.
4. 4.Check the screen. If the method worked, you should see “Safe mode” in the bottom corner.

On some older devices, you may need to hold Power and Volume Down together during the early boot process. On others, you press Power first, then hold Volume Down once the logo appears. If one version doesn’t work, try the other.

Method 3: Using the Settings app

Android doesn’t have a universal Settings switch to directly turn safe mode on. However, some manufacturers let you change how the power button works, which makes the safe mode option easier to reach.

For example, on some Samsung Galaxy phones, holding the Side button may open a digital assistant instead of the power menu. You can change this:

1. 1.Open “Settings.”
2. 2.Tap “Advanced features.”
3. 3.Tap “Side button.”
4. 4.Under “Press and hold,” choose “Power off menu.”
5. 5.Press and hold the Side button to open the power menu.
6. 6.Tap and hold “Power off.”
7. 7.Tap “Safe mode” when the option appears.

Availability varies by device and Android version. If your phone doesn’t have these settings, use the power menu or volume key method instead.

If you’re looking for how to put Android in safe mode quickly, start with the power menu method. If you’re looking for how to turn on safe mode on Android when the phone is off or unstable, try the volume key method.

How to turn off safe mode on Android

If you want to know how to turn off safe mode on Android, the good news is that it's usually temporary. In most cases, a normal restart is enough.

The exact steps may differ between Android manufacturers, but these two methods cover most devices.

Method 1: Restart the device

This is the simplest way to get out of safe mode on most Android devices:

1. 1.Open the power menu. Press and hold the Power key, Power + Volume Up, or Side + Volume Down, depending on your phone.
2. 2.Tap “Restart.” If you don’t see a “Restart” button, tap “Power off,” wait a few seconds, and turn the phone back on.
3. 3.Wait for the phone to boot.
4. 4.Check the screen. The “Safe mode” label should disappear.

If the device boots normally, safe mode is off. Your apps should work again, though some widgets or home screen customizations may need to be restored manually.

Method 2: Using the notification panel

Some Android phones, especially Samsung Galaxy devices, show a notification while safe mode is active. Follow these steps to use it to disable safe mode:

1. 1.Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel.
2. 2.Look for a notification that says “Safe mode is on” or similar.
3. 3.Tap the notification.
4. 4.Tap “Turn off” or confirm the restart.
5. 5.Wait for the device to restart in normal mode.

If the notification doesn’t appear, use the restart method instead.

How do you know if you are in safe mode?

The easiest way to tell if you’re in Android safe mode is by checking for the words “safe mode” at the bottom of your screen. Typically, they appear when you enable safe mode and remain until you restart your device.

You may also notice that:

• Downloaded apps are greyed out or missing from the home screen.
• Some widgets have disappeared.
• Custom keyboards, launchers, and themes are disabled.
• Your phone feels more basic than usual.
• Apps that normally start automatically no longer run in the background.
• Airplane mode has turned on automatically.

Once you restart normally, the “Safe mode” label should disappear. Your downloaded apps should work again. If the label is still there after a restart, your Android may be stuck in safe mode.

What to do if your Android is stuck in safe mode

If your Android is stuck in safe mode, don’t panic. It usually happens because the phone thinks you’re still pressing the button combination that triggers safe mode, or because an app or system performance issue is interfering with startup.

Try these fixes to get out of safe mode:

1. 1.Restart the phone. Open the power menu and tap “Restart.” If that doesn’t work, turn the phone off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on. A full power cycle gives the device a cleaner start than simply locking and unlocking the screen.
2. 2.Remove the phone case. A tight, damaged, or badly fitted case can press against the volume or power buttons. If the Volume Down button is held during startup, some Android phones may boot into safe mode again and again. Take the case off and restart the phone.
3. 3.Check the buttons. Look closely at the Power, Side, Volume Up, and Volume Down buttons. Dust, sand, lint, or small bits of paper can get trapped around them, making the phone act as if a button is being held down. Press each button gently a few times to check that it moves freely. If one feels stuck, clean around it carefully or take the phone to a repair shop.

If the buttons are working normally, look at your recent app activity. Did the problem begin after you installed a new app, updated an app, or downloaded something outside Google Play? If so, uninstall that app while you’re still in safe mode:

1. 1.Open “Settings.”
2. 2.Go to “Apps” or “Apps & notifications.”
3. 3.Find the app you recently installed or suspect is causing the issue.
4. 4.Tap “Uninstall.”
5. 5.Restart your phone normally.

If you’re not sure which app is responsible, start with the most recent downloads. Remove one app at a time, restart the phone, and check whether it boots normally.

Why did my phone go into safe mode?

Your phone may enter safe mode for several reasons, including:

• A faulty or recently installed app caused a crash. If an app crashes during startup or interferes with system processes, Android may boot into safe mode so you can remove it. Check your recent downloads and updates in Google Play, especially those that you don’t recognize or apps marked with a warning indicator. Uninstall apps that appeared around the same time the problem started.
• A button is being pressed during startup. Some Android phones enter safe mode when a volume key is held down during boot. If the Volume Down button is stuck, dirty, damaged, or pressed by the phone case, your phone may keep starting in safe mode. Remove the case, check the buttons, clean around them gently, and restart the device.
• The phone hit a startup error. A failed update, corrupted temporary file, or system error can interfere with the normal boot process. Restart the phone, check for Android operating system updates, and make sure you have enough free storage.
• Malware or a problematic app is causing problems. Unsafe apps can flood your screen with unwanted ads, trigger scareware warnings, ask for permissions they don’t need, download junk files, or crash in the background. Safe mode stops those apps from running long enough for you to remove them. If you suspect a malware infection, uninstall suspicious apps, run Google Play Protect, and follow a trusted guide to remove malware.

What to do if the problem persists in safe mode

If your Android device still crashes, freezes, overheats, or restarts even in safe mode, you probably don’t have an app-related issue. Continued problems point to something deeper that prevents your device from running smoothly: an operating system issue, low storage, a failed update, a battery issue, or hardware damage.

As a last resort, back up your important data and try doing an Android factory reset. It will delete all of your phone’s internal data and restore it to its original, out-of-the-box state. If the factory reset doesn’t fix the problem, it’s best to take your device to the shop for repair or replacement.

Protect your device from future glitches by following these Android security tips.