Three ways to restart your Samsung phone

A restart clears your phone's temporary memory and stops apps that may be frozen or draining battery. Most Samsung phones restart in under a minute. You have three options: a soft restart using the power button, a forced restart if the screen is unresponsive, or a factory reset if you need to erase everything and start fresh. The soft restart is what you should try first.

Which method you use depends on whether your phone is responding to touch. If your screen works and apps open, use the soft restart. If your phone is completely frozen and won't respond to any taps, use the forced restart. A factory reset erases all your data, so only choose that if you are selling the phone, giving it away, or troubleshooting a serious problem after backing up your files.

Key Takeaways

  • A soft restart takes 30 seconds and works when your phone is responding—hold the power button until "Power off" appears, then tap it.
  • A forced restart works on a frozen screen by holding the power button and volume down button together for 10 to 20 seconds until the Samsung logo appears.
  • Most Samsung phones have the power button on the right edge and the volume buttons on the left edge.
  • A factory reset erases everything on your phone, so back up your photos, contacts, and messages before you start.
  • After any restart, your phone will take a minute or two to fully load—do not turn it off again during this time.

Soft restart: the normal way to reboot

A soft restart is the safest and fastest method. Your phone stays on the whole time—you are just stopping and restarting the operating system. This takes about 30 seconds and does not erase any of your files or settings.

Locate the power button on the right edge of your Samsung phone. Press and hold it until a menu appears on your screen. The menu will show options including "Power off," "Restart," and sometimes "Emergency mode." Tap "Power off." Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn the phone back on. Your phone will show the Samsung logo and then load normally.

If you see a "Restart" option in the menu instead of "Power off," tap that directly—your phone will reboot without turning all the way off. Either way works. The phone is fully restarted once you see your home screen and can unlock it.

Forced restart: when your screen is frozen

If your phone screen is completely unresponsive and you cannot tap anything, a soft restart will not work. A forced restart forces the phone to shut down and restart even when the screen is frozen. This does not erase your data.

Press and hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time. Keep holding both buttons for 10 to 20 seconds. You will see the Samsung logo appear on the screen—this is the sign that the restart is working. Release both buttons. The phone will take 30 to 60 seconds to fully restart. Do not press any buttons during this time.

On some older Samsung models, you may need to hold the power button, volume down button, and home button all three together. If the two-button method does not work after 20 seconds, try adding the home button. Once the Samsung logo appears, you can release all buttons.

Factory reset: erasing everything and starting over

A factory reset returns your phone to the state it was in when you first bought it. All your apps, photos, messages, contacts, and settings are erased. Only do this if you are troubleshooting a serious problem, selling the phone, or giving it away. Back up your important files before you start.

To back up your data, open Settings, tap "Accounts and backup," then tap "Backup and restore." Choose "Back up my data" and select your Samsung account. This saves your contacts, messages, and app data to Samsung's servers so you can restore them later. Photos and videos usually need to be backed up separately through Google Photos or another cloud service.

Once your data is backed up, go to Settings, scroll down to "General management," and tap "Reset." Choose "Factory data reset" or "Reset all settings." The phone will ask you to confirm—tap "Reset" again. Your phone will restart and erase everything. This takes 5 to 10 minutes. When it finishes, you will see the setup screen as if the phone is brand new. You can then sign in with your Samsung account to restore your backed-up data.

What to do after your phone restarts

After any restart, your phone needs a minute or two to fully load all your apps and settings. The screen may be slow to respond during this time. Do not turn the phone off again or remove the battery—let it finish loading on its own.

Once your home screen appears and you can unlock the phone, it is fully restarted. Check that your apps open normally and your internet connection works. If the problem you were trying to fix still happens, try a forced restart next. If that does not help, a factory reset may be necessary, but only after you have backed up your files.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not hold the power button for more than 30 seconds during a soft restart—your phone will force shut down instead. This is not harmful, but it is not what you intended. If you want a forced restart, use the power and volume buttons together instead.

Do not remove the battery during a restart, even if your phone has a removable battery. Let the restart finish on its own. Pulling the battery out can corrupt files or damage the operating system.

Do not assume a factory reset will fix a hardware problem like a broken screen or water damage. A restart fixes software problems—frozen apps, slow performance, or apps that crash. If your phone has physical damage or will not turn on at all, a restart will not help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a restart delete my photos and messages?

No. A soft restart and a forced restart do not erase anything. A factory reset erases everything, including photos and messages, so only use that method if you have backed up your files first or you do not care about losing them.

How long does a restart take?

A soft restart takes about 30 seconds from the moment you hold the power button to the moment your home screen appears. A forced restart takes 30 to 60 seconds. A factory reset takes 5 to 10 minutes. Do not turn off your phone during any of these processes.

What if my phone is stuck on the Samsung logo?

Try a forced restart again—hold the power and volume down buttons for the full 20 seconds, even if the logo is already showing. If it stays stuck after that, the phone may have a software problem that requires professional help. Contact Samsung support or visit a repair shop.

Can I restart my Samsung phone from the Settings app?

Yes. Open Settings, scroll to "General management," tap "Restart," and confirm. This is the same as a soft restart using the power button. If your phone is frozen and Settings will not open, use the power button method instead.

Do I need to charge my phone before restarting?

It is a good idea to have at least 20 percent battery before you restart, especially for a factory reset. If your battery is very low, plug in the charger first. A restart will not work if the phone powers off due to low battery during the process.