The fastest way to restart your Samsung phone
The quickest reboot is the soft reset: hold the power button and volume down button together for about 10 seconds until you see "Power off" on your screen, then tap it. Your phone will shut down and restart on its own within 30 seconds. This method works on nearly every Samsung model made in the last five years and fixes most freezing, app crashes, and slowness without erasing anything.
A soft reset is different from a factory reset — it keeps all your photos, messages, contacts, and apps exactly as they are. Use this method first whenever your phone acts up. If the soft reset doesn't fix the problem, try the other methods below.
Key Takeaways
- A soft reset using the power and volume down buttons together is the safest and fastest way to reboot, and it does not erase any of your data.
- If your phone is completely frozen and buttons do not work, force restart by holding power and volume down for 10 to 20 seconds until the Samsung logo appears.
- You can also reboot through Settings by going to General Management, then Restart, which is useful if you want to schedule the restart for later.
- A soft reset fixes most common problems like app crashes, lag, and freezing without requiring you to set up your phone again.
Restarting through the Settings menu
If you prefer not to use buttons, you can restart from Settings. Open Settings, scroll down and tap General Management, then tap Restart. Your phone will ask you to confirm — tap Restart again, and your phone will shut down and turn back on within a minute.
This method is slower than the button method but gives you a moment to save any open work before the restart happens. Some Samsung phones also let you schedule a restart for a specific time through this same menu, which is useful if you want the reboot to happen overnight.
Force restart when your phone is completely frozen
If your phone will not respond to taps or button presses, a force restart is necessary. Hold the power button and volume down button together for 10 to 20 seconds — longer than a normal soft reset. Keep holding even if you see the power-off menu. Your phone will vibrate and the Samsung logo will appear on the screen, then the phone will restart.
A force restart is safe and does not erase data. It straightforward cuts power to the phone and turns it back on, which clears out stuck processes that are making the phone unresponsive. After a force restart, your phone may take a minute or two to fully load all your apps and data.
What to do if the reboot does not fix the problem
If your phone still freezes, crashes, or runs slowly after a soft reset, the issue may be a problematic app or low storage space. Check your storage by opening Settings, tapping About Phone, and looking at the storage bar. If you have less than 1 GB free, delete old photos, videos, or unused apps to free up space, then restart again.
If storage is not the issue, restart in Safe Mode to see if a third-party app is causing the problem. Hold the power button until the power menu appears, then press and hold "Power off" until Safe Mode appears. In Safe Mode, only Samsung's built-in apps run. If your phone works normally in Safe Mode, one of your downloaded apps is the culprit — uninstall recently added apps one at a time until the problem stops.
Restarting your Samsung tablet or smartwatch
Samsung tablets use the same soft reset method as phones: hold power and volume down together for 10 seconds. Galaxy Watches restart differently — hold the power button on the side of the watch for 10 seconds until you see the power menu, then tap Power Off. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
If you have a Samsung tablet with a stylus (like a Galaxy Tab S), the restart process is identical to phones. For older Galaxy Watch models, the button location may differ, so check the side or bottom of your watch for the power button.
When to restart versus when to contact Samsung support
A restart fixes most temporary glitches — freezing, app crashes, slow performance, and battery drain that appeared suddenly. Restart first before trying anything else. However, if your phone will not turn on at all, shows a black screen even after a force restart, or keeps restarting on its own in a loop, the hardware may be damaged and a restart will not help.
If your phone is physically damaged, wet, or has a cracked screen, or if it restarts repeatedly even after you have tried a soft reset and Safe Mode, contact Samsung support or visit a service center. These problems usually require professional repair and are not fixed by rebooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a restart erase my photos, messages, or apps?
No. A soft restart, force restart, and Settings restart all keep your data intact. They only clear temporary files and stop running processes. Your photos, messages, contacts, and installed apps will be exactly as they were before the restart.
How often should I restart my Samsung phone?
Restart whenever you notice freezing, app crashes, or slowness. Many people restart once a week as routine maintenance, which can prevent problems from building up. There is no harm in restarting daily if you want to.
What is the difference between a soft reset and a factory reset?
A soft reset (restart) stops and restarts your phone while keeping all your data. A factory reset erases everything on your phone and returns it to the state it was in when you first bought it. Only do a factory reset if you plan to sell the phone or if a technician tells you to.
Why does my phone keep restarting on its own?
Repeated restarts usually mean a problematic app, low storage, or a software bug. Try restarting in Safe Mode to see if an app is the cause. If the phone still restarts in Safe Mode, the issue is likely a software problem that requires a factory reset or professional repair.
Can I restart my phone while it is charging?
Yes, restarting while plugged in is safe. However, if your phone is overheating, unplug it and let it cool down before restarting. Restarting a phone that is too hot can sometimes cause the restart to fail.