How to Force Reboot an Android Phone (No Power Button Needed!)

Are you wondering what to do if your Android freezes or becomes unresponsive? Many troubleshooting processes have you restart the phone or tablet before trying any other troubleshooting steps. Note that this is not the same as a factory reset, and you will not lose your phone's data by forcing a restart. Read on to learn more about forcing your Android to reboot.

Easily Force Reboot Your Android

Press and hold your Android device's Power button for 20-30 seconds or until the screen shuts down. Release the buttons once you see the screen light up again.

Section 1 of 5:

Forcing a Restart

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Press and hold the "Power" button for 20-30 seconds. Some phones, like Samsung Galaxy models, offer another way to power off your device quickly; press and hold the "Volume Down" key and "Power" buttons simultaneously for about 7 seconds.^{[1]
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- You can let go of the buttons when you see the screen light up again after turning off. If you see the Restart option, tap it or continue holding the "Power"/"Power + Volume Down" keys until the phone reboots.

Section 2 of 5:

Removing the Battery

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If your Android has a removable battery, take it out of the phone. None of the newer Android phones or tablets have replaceable batteries, but if you're still rocking an older device, take the battery out of your phone to force it to restart. Put the battery back into the phone or tablet to turn it back on after it turns off.
- Many batteries are behind the back cover of your Android, which you can slide off to reveal the battery.

Section 3 of 5:

Restarting Without Buttons

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If your Android's screen is still responsive, you can use this trick to force a reboot without using the physical buttons on your phone or tablet. Once you unlock the screen, swipe down from the top to open the Quick Settings panel, tap the "Power" icon, and your phone or tablet will restart.
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Ask Google Assistant or Bixby to restart. If you have Google Assistant or Samsung's Bixby assistant enabled, you can use it to hard restart your Android. Just ask the assistant, "Hey Google/Bixby, restart my phone/tablet," and your device will reboot.
- This will not work if your phone or tablet is unresponsive.^{[3]
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Section 4 of 5:

Tips to Keep Your Android Responsive

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Don't install apps or games from anywhere except the Google Play Store. If your Android keeps freezing and requiring frequent restarts, it may be due to apps you've installed from APK files and other app stores. Downloading apps and games from unknown sources increases the risk of downloading something that contains malware or malicious code. The Google Play Store has strict guidelines in place for app developers to ensure the apps you install on your phone or tablet won't make the device unusable.
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Use Auto Restart for Samsung Galaxy phones or tablets. This setting restarts your device at least once a day when you're not using it to help improve performance and prevent crashes.^{[4]
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- To set up Auto Restart on your phone or tablet, go to Settings > Device care > Auto optimization > Auto restart and tap the toggle next to "Restart when needed" or "Restart on schedule."
- If you choose to schedule an automatic restart, you'll be prompted to select which days and times to reboot your device automatically.
- If you enable this feature, your Android will only restart when the screen is off, you're not using the phone, the battery is above 30%, and SIM card lock is off.^{[5]
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Section 5 of 5:

When to Force Reboot

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Rebooting your Android is the first troubleshooting step for many issues, including a frozen screen, unresponsive apps, and general sluggishness. If your phone does not respond to your touch or button presses, forcing a reboot will typically solve the problem.

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Question

What if I can power up the phone, but it doesn't work?

Community Answer

WARNING: WILL DELETE ALL USER DATA Try a factory reset. Hold the power and volume buttons down until the boot loader appears. Use the volume down button to scroll to "factory reset" and press volume up. Select "yes" when it asks if you are sure.

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Will apps be deleted if I reboot my Android?

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Reboot, no. Restore factory settings, yes.

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What do I do if I keep getting messages that the camera on my Android phone has failed and the hardware is busy?

Reda Brikci

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It is possible that one of the applications you are using is using the camera of your phone. Android phones can only have one app use the camera at one time, so uninstall or force close any app that might be using it.

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Force rebooting does not alter any software installed nor change any settings on your device.

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No warranty will be voided by simply forcing your Android device to reboot.

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