The quickest way to turn off your Samsung

Press and hold the Power button (usually on the right side of the phone) for about 3 seconds. A menu will appear with options including "Power off" or "Shut down". Tap that option and your phone will turn off within a few seconds.

On newer Samsung models, you may also see "Emergency SOS" or "Restart" in the same menu. Make sure you tap the correct option — "Power off" is what you want if you're shutting down completely. The menu looks slightly different depending on your Android version, but the Power off option is always there.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds to bring up the power menu on any Samsung phone.
  • Tap "Power off" from the menu that appears — do not tap "Restart" unless you want the phone to turn back on when ready.
  • If your phone is frozen and won't respond, hold the Power button and Volume Down together for 10 seconds to force a shutdown.
  • Your phone will save any open work automatically before powering down, so you do not need to close apps first.

What to do if the Power button is broken

If your Power button does not work, go to Settings > Accessibility > Interaction and dexterity (or Physical and motor on older models). Look for an option called Power button remapping or Side key. You can reassign another button to act as the power button.

If that option is not available on your model, you can also turn off your phone through Settings by going to Settings > About phone and scrolling to the bottom. Some Samsung models have a "Shut down" option there, though this varies by model and Android version. You may need to scroll down past the build number and other system information to find it.

Force shutdown when your phone is frozen

If your Samsung phone is not responding and the normal power menu will not appear, hold the Power button and Volume Down button together for about 10 seconds. The phone will vibrate and the screen will go black — this forces it to shut down even if it is stuck.

After a force shutdown, wait 10 seconds before pressing the Power button again to turn it back on. This clears temporary files that may have caused the freeze and usually fixes the problem. If the phone still will not respond after you turn it back on, try restarting it again or contact Samsung support.

Difference between power off and restart

Power off shuts your phone down completely. The screen goes dark and nothing runs until you press the Power button again. Restart (also called "Reboot") turns the phone off and back on automatically within seconds. Choose restart if you want to clear temporary memory and fix glitches without waiting to turn it back on yourself.

Restart is useful when an app is crashing or your phone is running slowly. Power off is what you want if you are putting the phone away for a while or need to fully disconnect it. Both options are in the same menu when you hold the Power button.

Scheduled power off and on

Samsung phones have a built-in scheduler that can turn your phone off and on at set times. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Scheduled power on and off. Toggle the feature on and set the times you want the phone to shut down and restart — for example, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

This feature is useful if you want to save battery overnight or enforce phone-free time without having to remember to turn it off manually. Your alarms and scheduled messages will still work during the scheduled off period on most Samsung models. The phone will automatically power back on at the time you set.

What happens when you power off

When you turn off your Samsung phone, all running apps close, the screen goes dark, and the phone uses almost no battery. Any unsaved work in open apps is usually lost, though many apps (like email and messaging) save drafts automatically.

Your phone will not receive calls, texts, or notifications while it is off. If someone tries to reach you, they will hear a message that the phone is off or unavailable, depending on your carrier. Location services and Find My Mobile will also stop working until you turn the phone back on. Your contacts, photos, and files remain stored on the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off my phone delete anything?

No. Powering off does not delete photos, contacts, messages, or any stored files. Everything on your phone stays exactly as it was. The only thing you might lose is unsaved work in an app you had open — like a half-written email or note.

How long does it take for a Samsung phone to turn off?

Usually 3 to 5 seconds from the moment you tap "Power off" in the menu. If it takes longer than 10 seconds, the phone may be stuck and you should try a force shutdown instead.

Can I turn off my Samsung phone with voice commands?

Yes, if you use Google Assistant or Samsung's Bixby. Say "Hey Google, turn off my phone" or "Hi Bixby, power off". The assistant will ask you to confirm before shutting down. This works on most Samsung phones running Android 10 or newer.

What if my phone won't turn back on after I power it off?

Plug it into a charger for at least 15 minutes — the battery may be completely drained. Then press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds. If the Samsung logo appears, the phone is starting up normally. If nothing happens after 20 minutes of charging, contact Samsung support.

Is there a difference between powering off and removing the battery?

Yes. Most modern Samsung phones do not have removable batteries, so powering off is your only option. Power off is safer because it closes all apps and processes cleanly before the phone shuts down, whereas a sudden battery removal can corrupt files or damage the system.