Press and hold the power button until the Samsung logo appears

The power button on a Samsung phone is almost always on the right side of the device, roughly halfway down. Press it and hold it down — do not just tap it. You will feel it click under your finger. Keep holding for about three to five seconds.

The screen will light up and you will see the Samsung logo appear in the center. This is normal. Keep holding the button until the logo disappears and the lock screen or setup screen takes its place. This usually takes another two to three seconds after the logo shows.

If nothing happens after ten seconds of holding, your battery may be completely drained. Plug the phone into a charger using the cable that came with it, wait two to three minutes, and try again.

Key Takeaways

  • The power button is on the right side of the phone, about halfway down — press and hold it for five to eight seconds total.
  • You will see the Samsung logo appear on the screen; keep holding until it disappears and the lock screen shows up.
  • If the screen stays black after ten seconds, the battery is likely empty — plug in the charger and wait a few minutes before trying again.
  • Once the lock screen appears, you may need to enter a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint if you set one up previously.
  • A completely new Samsung phone will guide you through setup screens the first time it turns on.

What to do if the phone does not respond

If you hold the power button for a full ten seconds and nothing happens, the battery is almost certainly dead. This is the most common reason a Samsung phone will not turn on. Plug the phone into a power outlet using the USB cable and power adapter that came in the box, or use any compatible charger.

Let it charge for at least five to ten minutes before trying to turn it on again. You do not need to wait for a full charge — even a small amount of power is usually enough to start the boot process. While it is charging, you may see a battery icon on the screen or a small light on the phone itself, which means power is flowing in.

If the phone still will not turn on after charging for fifteen minutes, try a different charger or cable if you have one available. A damaged cable can prevent charging even if the phone itself is fine.

Understanding the lock screen and setup screens

Once the phone turns on, you will see either a lock screen or a setup screen. A lock screen means the phone has been used before — you will see the time, date, and possibly a background image. If you set up a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint lock, you will need to enter it now to access the phone.

A setup screen means this is a new phone or it has been reset to factory settings. You will see prompts asking you to choose a language, connect to Wi-Fi, and sign in with a Google account or Samsung account. Follow the on-screen instructions one screen at a time. This process usually takes five to ten minutes the first time.

Hard reset if the phone is frozen or stuck

If the phone is on but completely frozen and will not respond to any button presses or screen taps, you can force it to restart. Press and hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time for about ten seconds. The phone will vibrate and the screen may go black — this is correct.

Release both buttons and wait five to ten seconds. The Samsung logo will appear again and the phone will restart. This does not erase anything on the phone; it just forces it to shut down and start fresh. Use this only when the phone is completely unresponsive.

Charging your Samsung phone for the first time

If your Samsung phone is brand new and has never been charged, plug it in before trying to turn it on. New phones often ship with very little battery. Let it charge for at least thirty minutes before powering it on for the first time.

Use the charger and cable that came in the box if possible. Samsung phones use USB-C charging ports on newer models and micro-USB on older ones — using the wrong cable type will not charge the phone. If you do not have the original charger, any USB-C or micro-USB charger rated for phones will work, though the original one is always safest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Samsung phone screen black even though it is turned on?

The phone may be in a deep sleep mode or the screen brightness may be set to zero. Try pressing the power button once to wake it, then press the volume up button several times to raise the brightness. If the screen stays black and you hear sounds or feel vibrations when you touch the screen, the display itself may need service.

Do I need to charge a new Samsung phone before turning it on?

New phones usually have enough battery to turn on and complete setup, but charging for thirty minutes first is safer. This ensures you will not run out of power in the middle of setup, which can cause problems.

What if I forgot my PIN or pattern lock?

You can sign in with your Google account or Samsung account instead. After several wrong attempts, the phone will offer a "Forgot pattern?" or "Forgot PIN?" option that lets you verify your identity and set a new one.

Is it normal for the Samsung logo to stay on the screen for a long time?

The logo should disappear within five to ten seconds. If it stays longer, the phone may be stuck in a boot loop. Try the hard reset method: hold power and volume down together for ten seconds, release, and wait for it to restart.

Can I turn on my Samsung phone without the power button?

No. The power button is the only way to turn on a Samsung phone from a powered-off state. If the power button is broken, the phone cannot be turned on without physical repair.