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In Safe Mode, an Android device will only boot up and allow software and apps that are essential to the system. You can use Safe Mode to troubleshoot problems. An Android phone or tablet may enter Safe Mode accidentally, or when its operating system has encountered a significant error, or when one or more third-party applications have caused it to malfunction. You can typically turn off Safe Mode by restarting your Android or removing a corrupted app. This wikiHow article teaches you how to exit Safe Mode on an Android device.
Turn Off Safe Mode on Android
- You can usually turn off Safe Mode by restarting your phone. On some phones, you can swipe down from the top of the screen and open the Safe Mode notification. Tap Turn Off .
- If your phone is stuck in Safe Mode, check to make sure none of the buttons are stuck. You may also have a problematic app you need to uninstall in Safe Mode.
- If you can't get your phone out of Safe Mode, you may need to do a factory reset your phone. If it continues, you'll need to have it repaired or replaced.
Steps
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Press and hold your Android's Power button. The Power button is usually on the right side of the Android's housing.
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Tap Power off when prompted. Doing so will prompt your Android to begin shutting down.
- You may have to tap Power off again to confirm this decision.
- Alternatively, you can tap Restart to restart your phone.
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Wait for your Android to shut down completely. This process will take a few minutes.
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Turn back on your Android. Press and hold the Power button until you see your Android's boot screen, then release the button. [1] X Research source
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Wait for your Android to finish restarting. Once your Android turns back on, it should no longer be in Safe Mode.
- If your Android is still in Safe Mode, press and hold the Power button and Volume Up buttons for about 30 seconds until your phone shuts off. Then turn it back on.
- If your phone is stuck in Safe Mode, one of the buttons may be stuck. Remove your phone from its case and press each of the buttons on the side of your phone. This includes the Power button and both Volume buttons. Make sure no buttons are stuck. If the problem continues, you may have a corrupted app. You'll need to uninstall it in Safe Mode .
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Swipe down from the top of the screen. On some phone models, you can turn off Safe Mode using the notifications panel. Swipe down from the top of the menu to display your notifications.
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Tap the "Safe mode is turned on" notification if available. It should be at the top of your list of notifications. If you don't see this notification, this option is not available on your phone model.
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Tap Turn off . It should be in the Safe Mode notification. This will restart your phone. When it boots up again, Safe Mode should be turned off.
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Make sure you know which app is causing trouble. A corrupted or malicious app is the most common reason for Android phones or tablets to boot into Safe Mode. If your Android had never booted into Safe Mode until you installed a certain app, that app is probably the reason. [2] X Research source
- Uninstalling bad apps can be a bit of a trial-and-error process, so start with any apps that load immediately when your Android starts up (e.g., Home Screen widgets).
- You can check that the app you're uninstalling is bad by looking it up online to see whether or not other users have experienced the same problem.
- To avoid errors with apps, make sure you only download apps from the Google Play Store (or Galaxy Store, Amazon App Store, etc). Downloading apps from unofficial sources may increase the chances of installing malware or viruses on your phone.
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Open your Android's Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notifications shade and then tap the Settings/Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
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Scroll down and tap Apps . You'll find this in the middle of the Settings page.
- On some Androids, you'll tap Apps & notifications instead.
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Select the app that's giving you trouble. You'll see a list of all the apps you have installed. Tap the app that you want to uninstall. Its page will open an information page.
- You may have to scroll down to find the app.
- On some Androids, you may have to tap App info before proceeding.
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Tap Force Stop or if needed. If the app is running, you'll need to stop it. Tap Force Stop at the bottom of the screen to do so.
- This option may say Disable on some Android devices.
- If this option is greyed out, then the app is already not running.
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Tap Storage . It's on the app information page. Tap this option to display the Storage options.
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Tap Clear cache . It's at the bottom of the page. This will erase any cached data the app has saved. That way you won't have any residual data after you uninstall the app.
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Tap Clear data . It's the second option at the bottom of the page. This will delete any files or saved data the app has created.
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Return to the app info page. To do so, tap the icon pointing left in the upper-left corner. This will take you back to the previous page.
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Tap Uninstall . It's the button that has an icon that resembles a trashcan. It's at the bottom of the page. This will display a pop-up window.
- If the app won't uninstall, you may need to tap Force Stop or Disable at the bottom of the screen.
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Restart your Android. You'll need to |restart your phone for the changes to take effect. When the Android finishes restarting, Safe Mode should be turned off again.
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Open the Settings menu. To do so, swipe down from the top of the screen. Then tap the icon that resembles a gear in the upper-right corner.
- If you've tried everything and your phone is still stuck in Safe Mode, there may be a software issue. You'll need to factory reset your phone . This will erase all apps and saved data on your phone. Do this as a last resort. Make sure you back up your phone before resetting it if you are able to.
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Tap General Management . It's near the bottom of the Settings menu, you may need to scroll down a bit to find it.
- On some devices, this may be under the " System " menu. The Settings menu is different from one phone manufacturer to the next. Consult your user's manual or manufacturer's web page to learn how to factory reset your specific phone model.
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Tap Reset or Reset options . It's near the bottom of the General Management menu.
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Tap Factory data reset or Erase all data . It's at the bottom of the menu.
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Tap Reset Device or Erase all data . It's at the bottom of the page. This will factory reset your phone and restore it's factory settings. This process is irreversible.
- You may need to enter your PIN or passcode.
- When your phone restarts, you will need to go through the process of setting up your phone again. If you have a backup saved, you will be given the option to restore your phone from the backup during the setup process.
- If your phone is still stuck in Safe Mode after factory resetting it, there is most likely something wrong with the hardware. You will need to have your phone repaired or replaced. Contact your mobile carrier or point of sale to see if your phone is still under warranty.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionI've tried everything in order to get rid of safe mode but it didn't work, can you help me?Community AnswerMine kept coming up in safe mode until I took it out of the Otter Box case. Apparently the case was pushing the volume button and causing it to enter safe mode. You never know!
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QuestionI have a Galaxy A7. It is continuing in safe mode. I have restarted many times, done a factory reset also but still safe mode is not going off. What can I do?Community AnswerFirst download Odin and stock firmware, then boot your phone into download mode/ Now start Odin and press AP or PDA and browse to your firmware. Now press start and wait.
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QuestionMy phone's battery is going down rapidly, and my phone switches off and on automatically. What could this be?Community AnswerYour battery is probably inflated, leaked or damaged. Remove the cover and check to see your battery for any visible defects. You'll probably need a replacement.
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Warnings
- Safe Mode is a system response to an error or malware on your Android. If your Android is repeatedly booting into Safe Mode, don't ignore it.Thanks
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References
About This Article
Article Summary
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To turn off safe mode on Android, start by swiping down the notifications shade and tapping on the safe mode notification. Then, tap “Restart” when prompted. If you don’t see this notification, turn off your phone by holding down the power button. When your phone is off and the screen is black, hold the power button again to start your phone. If your phone is still in safe mode, try powering it down again, removing its battery if you can, and waiting a few minutes before turning it on again. For more tips, including how to uninstall a corrupted app that’s causing your phone to go into safe mode, read on!
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