The Basic Power-Off Method

To turn off your Samsung S25, press and hold the power button (located on the right side of the phone) and the volume down button together for about three seconds. A menu will appear on your screen with options including "Power off," "Restart," and "Emergency SOS."

Tap "Power off" from this menu. Your phone will shut down completely within a few seconds. The screen will go black, and the device will no longer respond to touches or button presses until you power it back on by holding the power button alone for a few seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Press and hold the power button and volume down button together for three seconds to open the power menu.
  • Tap "Power off" from the menu that appears on your screen.
  • If the power menu does not appear, release the buttons and try again, holding them for a full three seconds.
  • You can also power off through Settings by going to Settings > General > Shut down, though the button method is faster.
  • If your phone is frozen and will not respond to button presses, hold the power button alone for 10 to 15 seconds to force a restart instead.

Using the Settings Menu to Power Off

If you prefer not to use the physical buttons, you can power off your S25 through the Settings app. Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer, then scroll down and tap "General" or "System" (the exact name depends on your software version).

Look for an option labeled "Shut down" or "Power off." Tap it, and your phone will display a confirmation message. Tap "Power off" again to confirm, and your device will shut down. This method takes slightly longer than using the buttons but works well if your physical buttons are damaged or unresponsive.

What Happens When You Power Off

When you power off your S25, all running apps close, and your phone enters a complete shutdown state. No notifications will arrive, alarms will not sound, and your phone will not respond to incoming calls or messages until you turn it back on. The device uses almost no battery power while off.

Powering off is different from putting your phone to sleep (pressing the power button once). Sleep mode keeps your phone ready to wake when ready and still receives notifications. Power off is the right choice when you want to fully disconnect, preserve battery for an extended period, or troubleshoot a problem.

Troubleshooting If the Power Menu Does Not Appear

If pressing the power button and volume down button does not bring up the power menu, first make sure you are holding both buttons at the same time. Many users accidentally press them in sequence rather than together. Hold them down firmly for a full three seconds before releasing.

If the menu still does not appear, your phone may be frozen or unresponsive. In this case, hold the power button alone for 10 to 15 seconds. This will force your phone to restart rather than shut down gracefully. The screen may show a Samsung logo or "Power off" message during this process. Once the phone restarts, you can then power it off normally using the standard method.

Restarting Instead of Powering Off

If you want to restart your S25 instead of powering it off completely, use the same button combination (power + volume down) to open the power menu, then tap "Restart" instead of "Power off." Your phone will shut down and turn back on automatically, which often fixes minor software glitches or performance issues.

Restarting is useful when your phone feels slow, an app is crashing repeatedly, or you want to clear temporary files from memory. The restart process usually takes 30 to 60 seconds from start to finish. Your phone will show the Samsung logo during the restart sequence.

Powering Off Before Long Storage or Travel

If you plan to store your S25 for an extended period or travel somewhere without access to charging, powering it off completely is the best way to preserve battery life. A powered-off phone can hold a charge for weeks or even months, whereas a phone in sleep mode will gradually drain its battery over days.

Before powering off for storage, consider backing up your data through Samsung Cloud or another backup service. When you power the phone back on after a long shutdown, it will start up normally and all your data will be intact. There is no risk of data loss from powering off—only from physical damage or hardware failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will powering off my S25 delete any of my data?

No. Powering off straightforward stops all processes and puts your phone into a dormant state. All your photos, messages, apps, and settings remain stored on your device and will be exactly as you left them when you power it back on.

Can I power off my S25 if the screen is frozen?

If the screen is frozen and the power menu does not appear, hold the power button alone for 10 to 15 seconds to force a restart. This will shut down and restart your phone even if it is not responding to normal commands. The restart often clears the frozen state.

How long does it take to power off an S25?

The power-off process usually takes 3 to 5 seconds from the moment you tap "Power off" in the menu. The screen will go black, and the phone will stop responding. Restarting takes longer—typically 30 to 60 seconds for the phone to fully boot back up.

What is the difference between power off and sleep mode?

Sleep mode (activated by pressing the power button once) keeps your phone ready to wake when ready and still receives calls and notifications. Power off completely shuts down the device, uses almost no battery, and will not respond to anything until you manually turn it back on.

Can I schedule my S25 to power off automatically?

Your S25 does not have a built-in automatic power-off scheduler in the standard Settings. However, some third-party apps from the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store offer scheduling features. You can also set a sleep timer in the Clock app, which will put your phone into sleep mode at a specific time.