AndroidAnswers

Why does my Android phone keep restarting?

By the AndroidAnswers Editorial Team · Updated

About 5 minutes · Basics & setup

Illustration of a phone showing a power symbol, with a battery on one side and a shield with a check mark on the other

Steps to check

  1. Check whether it is a planned restart

    Some restarts are on purpose. A phone often restarts by itself to finish installing an update, and Samsung says critical security updates can restart the phone even if automatic downloads are off. Samsung phones also have an Auto restart feature that restarts the phone at set times, usually while you are not using it. If the restarts happen overnight or right after an update, this may be all it is.

    Samsung Settings → Device care → Auto optimization → Auto restart. Turn off Restart when needed and Restart on schedule if you do not want these restarts.Pixel Restarts to finish a system update are normal. Check Settings → System → Software update to see if one is waiting.

  2. Update the phone and your apps

    Outdated software and apps can make a phone unstable. Check for a system update first, ideally on Wi-Fi with the phone plugged in. Then open Play Store, tap your profile icon → Manage apps & devices, and update all apps. Restart once the updates finish.

    Samsung Settings → Software update → Download and install. Samsung suggests at least 50% battery and an internet connection before you start.Pixel Settings → System → Software update, then follow the steps on screen.

  3. Free up storage if the phone is nearly full

    Pixel Help says a phone can have issues when less than 10% of its storage is free. Open Settings → Storage to see how much space is left. If it is nearly full, clear out old downloads, remove apps you no longer use, and move large videos you want to keep to cloud storage or a computer.

    Samsung Settings → Device care → Storage, or Settings → Storage on some models.Pixel Settings → Storage.

  4. Test in Safe mode to find a problem app

    Safe mode turns off every app you downloaded for a while, so only the phone's built-in software runs. Your photos and files stay put. Use the phone normally in Safe mode for a while. If the restarts stop, a downloaded app is the likely cause. Restart normally to leave Safe mode, then remove recently added apps one at a time, restarting after each, until the problem stops. You can reinstall the others afterward.

    Samsung Open the power menu, touch and hold Power off until Safe mode appears, then tap Safe mode.Pixel On Pixel 6 and later, press and hold Power and Volume up, then touch and hold Power off or Restart and tap OK. Airplane mode turns on in Safe mode, so turn it off if you need calls or Wi-Fi.

  5. Take off the case and check the charger

    Pixel Help suggests removing cases, external battery packs, and other accessories while you troubleshoot, and making sure nothing presses the buttons. A case that squeezes the power button can restart the phone. If the restarts happen while charging, try the cable and charger that came with the phone or one made for it, and look for any damage or signs of liquid. If the phone also feels very hot, let it cool down before you keep testing.

  6. If it restarts nonstop, charge it, then get help

    If the phone restarts over and over and you cannot use it, charge it for at least 15 minutes first. Then try a forced restart with the buttons. If it still loops, or keeps restarting even in Safe mode, contact Samsung, Google, or your phone maker for repair help. A factory reset is a last step only after you back up, because it erases everything on the phone, and if an app caused the problem, reinstalling it can bring it back.

    Samsung Hold Volume down and the Side (or Power) button together for about 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears. The Samsung Members app also has a Phone diagnostics check.Pixel Hold Power for about 30 seconds until the phone restarts. Repair options are listed in Pixel Phone Help under Get your Pixel phone repaired.

Normal vs. not

Usually normal

One restart after an update, or a Samsung phone that restarts itself overnight with Auto restart turned on.

Worth a closer look

Restarts several times a day, a phone that restarts again within seconds of reaching the lock screen, restarts that continue in Safe mode, or restarts that began after a drop or water exposure.

What people are saying

Common questions

Is it normal for my phone to restart after an update?

Yes. Phones often need to restart to finish installing an update, and some security updates restart the phone on their own. One restart like that is nothing to worry about.

Will Safe mode delete my photos or apps?

No. Safe mode only turns off downloaded apps until you restart normally. On Pixel phones, Safe mode can remove some Home screen widgets, so take a screenshot of your Home screen first if you use widgets.

Should I factory reset right away?

No. Try updates, freeing storage, and Safe mode first. A factory reset erases the phone, so back up photos, contacts, and important files before you consider it.

Sources we checked

Menu names can differ by phone brand and Android version. See our editorial policy for how we check steps.