The quickest way to power down your S22

To turn off your Samsung Galaxy S22, press and hold the power button (on the right side of the phone) and the volume down button together for about three seconds. A menu will appear with options including "Power off." Tap Power off and the phone will shut down completely within a few seconds.

If you only press the power button alone, you'll see the lock screen instead — that's not the same as turning the phone off. You need both buttons pressed at the same time to bring up the power menu.

The phone will take a moment to shut down. You'll see the Samsung logo briefly, then the screen will go black. Once it's off, the screen stays dark even if you accidentally touch it.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the power button and volume down button together for three seconds to open the power menu on your S22.
  • Tap "Power off" from the menu that appears — pressing the power button alone will only lock the screen, not shut down the phone.
  • The phone takes a few seconds to power down completely after you tap "Power off."
  • You can also restart your phone from the same menu by selecting "Restart" instead of "Power off."
  • If the buttons don't work, you can turn off the phone through Settings by going to General > Shutdown.

Using the Settings menu as an alternative

If the physical buttons aren't responding, you can shut down your S22 through the Settings app. Open Settings, then scroll down and tap General. At the bottom of the General menu, you'll see Shutdown. Tap it, and the phone will power off the same way it does from the button method.

This route takes longer than using the buttons, but it works if your power button is stuck or not responding. The shutdown process is identical — the phone will display the Samsung logo briefly before the screen goes dark.

What to do if your phone won't turn off

If your S22 doesn't respond to either the button combination or the Settings method, try a force restart. Press the power button and volume down button together, but this time hold them for about 10 seconds instead of three. You'll see the Samsung logo and the phone will restart rather than shut down.

A force restart clears temporary files and can fix freezing or unresponsive buttons. After the restart completes, you can then use the normal power-off method. If the phone still won't shut down after a force restart, the power button itself may need repair.

Restarting instead of powering off

If you want to restart your phone rather than turn it off completely, use the same button combination: press the power button and volume down together for three seconds. When the menu appears, tap Restart instead of "Power off." The phone will shut down and turn back on automatically.

Restarting is useful when your phone is running slowly or an app is frozen. It clears the phone's temporary memory without losing any of your data or settings. The restart usually takes about 30 seconds from start to finish.

Powering on your S22 again

Once your phone is off, press and hold the power button (on the right side) for about three seconds until you see the Samsung logo on the screen. Keep holding the button until the lock screen appears — this usually takes 5 to 10 seconds total. Release the button and your phone will finish starting up.

The first startup after being completely off takes a bit longer than usual. You may see the Samsung logo for several seconds before the lock screen shows up. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong.

When to power off your S22

Power off your phone when you're not using it for an extended period — overnight, during flights, or when you need to preserve battery. Turning off the phone completely uses no battery at all, unlike sleep mode, which still draws a small amount of power.

You should also power off your phone if it's running very slowly or if an app keeps crashing. A complete shutdown and restart often fixes these problems better than just locking the screen. If you're troubleshooting a problem with your phone, turning it off and back on is usually the first step to try.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between turning off my phone and locking the screen?

Locking the screen (by pressing the power button once) keeps your phone on but prevents accidental touches. Turning off the phone (power button plus volume down) completely shuts it down and uses no battery. A locked phone still receives calls, texts, and notifications. A powered-off phone does not.

Will I lose my data if I turn off my S22?

No. Turning off your phone does not delete any photos, contacts, messages, or apps. Everything stays on your phone exactly as it was. The only thing that happens is the phone stops running until you turn it back on.

How long does it take to turn off my S22?

From the moment you tap "Power off" to when the screen goes completely dark usually takes 3 to 5 seconds. If you're using the Settings menu method, it may take a few seconds longer because you have to navigate through the menus first.

Can I turn off my S22 if the battery is dead?

No. If your battery is completely drained, the phone is already off. Once the battery reaches zero percent, the phone shuts down automatically. You'll need to charge it before you can turn it on again.

What should I do if my power button is broken?

Use the Settings menu method: open Settings, tap General, then tap Shutdown. This works even if the physical power button is not responding. If neither the buttons nor the Settings method work, your phone may need professional repair.