At a Glance
There are millions upon millions of Android devices out there. While Android has grown into a robust mobile operating system, it still has its flaws and bugs (like any OS does). You may run into issues with apps freezing, device crashes, or even malware.
In this article, I’ll explain what Android Safe Mode is, and why you may need to put your Android device into Safe Mode from time to time. I’ll discuss how to turn Safe Mode on or off, and how the mode can be used to troubleshoot issues you may have with your Android device.
What Is Android Safe Mode?
Android Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that is a minimalistic version of the Android operating system. By booting into Safe Mode, Android users can troubleshoot their device. When in Safe Mode, all third-party apps are disabled, and only the core system apps and services that are required for operation of the device are loaded. Safe Mode helps users determine the issues that could be caused by third-party apps or malware.
In Safe Mode, applications that are causing issues can be removed from your Android device. Safe Mode also allows users to determine and address problems they may be having with the device’s operating system, remedying freezes, crashes, and other irritating issues.
Problematic apps can be removed more easily while in Safe Mode. Meanwhile, the device operates only with its default settings. This aids in determining whether or not an issue is related to settings-related problems.
How to Turn On Android Safe Mode
Android Safe Mode is easy to turn on, just do the following:
Method #1
- Press and hold the power button on your device.
- When the power menu appears on your device, tap and hold on the “Power Off” option on the screen. You’ll see an on-screen prompt asking if you want to boot into Safe Mode.
- Tap the “OK” button on the prompt to confirm that you want to boot into Safe Mode.
- Your device will reboot and go into Safe Mode. This may take a while, so be patient.
- Once your Android device has finished booting into Safe Mode, you’ll see a message on your device’s screen informing you that the device is now in Safe Mode. (You can also look in the lower-left-hand corner of your device’s screen. You’ll see the words “Safe Mode” there.
Method #2
- Turn off your Android device.
- Press and hold the volume down button.
- While still holding down the volume down button, press and hold the power button. Keep both buttons pressed until your device starts to power up.
- Your device will now boot into Safe Mode. This may take a while, so be patient.
- Once your Android device has finished booting into Safe Mode, you’ll see a message on your device’s screen informing you that the device is now in Safe Mode. (You can also look in the lower-left-hand corner of your device’s screen. You’ll see the words “Safe Mode” there.
These two methods may not work on your Android device. The process for entering Safe Mode on your device may be different, depending on the maker of your device and the version of Android that is installed on your device.
What Can I Do While in Android Safe Mode?
As previously mentioned, all third-party apps are disabled in Safe Mode, leaving only the core system apps and services required for operation of the device loaded and running. This is how Safe Mode helps users determine if the issues they’re experiencing are being caused by third-party apps.
If your device appears to run properly, with none of the issues you had been experiencing rearing their ugly head, you can exit Safe Mode and begin determining which app is causing the issues. You can do this by deleting apps one by one, and then seeing if your device returns to running properly. This will be time-consuming, but it’s a lot better than wiping your device and starting from scratch and it’s much cheaper than buying a new device.
Your device could also be infected by malware. While anti-malware apps on the Android platform have improved greatly over the years and are quite good at removing malware from your device, there are still types of malware-infected apps that cannot be fixed by anti-malware apps. This means you may have to enter Safe Mode to delete the malicious software.
While manually removing malware from your device is beyond the scope of this article, we have posted an article that walks you through this. Read here for step-by-step instructions on removing malware while in Safe Mode.
How to Exit Android Safe Mode
After troubleshooting and (hopefully) remedying the issues you were having with your Android device, you’ll want to exit Safe Mode.
Restart the Device and Exit Safe Mode With the Power Button
- Press and hold your device’s power button.
- When the power options menu appears on the screen, tap “Restart” to reboot your device normally.
- Your device should reboot and it should no longer be in safe mode.
Performing a Factory Reset of Your Android Device
It may be necessary to perform a factory reset of your Android device. If your device is stuck in Safe Mode or if restarting your device did not fix your issue, it may be wise to reset your device and start from scratch.
It should be noted that performing a factory reset of your device is the nuclear option and a reset should only be performed as a last resort when nothing else works. A factory reset erases all apps, photos, videos, and other files from your device, restoring it to its fresh out of the box condition. This is why it’s a good idea to create a backup of all valuable data on the device before performing a factory reset.
To perform a factory reset of your Android device, do the following:
- Perform a backup of the data stored on the Android device. This can be accomplished by transferring your files to a computer via a sync cable or by using cloud storage, such as that provided by Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud storage services.
- Enter the Settings app and find the “Backup & Reset” menu option. Tap on that.
- In the “Backup & Reset” menu, tap the “Factory data reset” menu option. At this point, you may be required to enter your device’s PIN, password or swipe patterns to continue.
- The device should now begin the factory reset procedure. It could take a while to complete the process.
- Your device will automatically restart once the factory reset procedure has completed.
- Perform the initial setup process, just as you did when you first purchased the device. I strongly suggest testing the proper operation of your device after installing each app. While this may take quite a while (depending on the number of apps you install) it will reduce frustration down the line by possibly identifying the culprit for your previous issues.
In Closing
Your Android device’s Safe Mode can be used to troubleshoot your device when you’re experiencing freezes, crashes, and other irritating issues. In addition to troubleshooting issues with your device, the handy mode also allows users to take moves to remove apps that may contain malware from their device.
Android Safe Mode FAQs
Why Did My Android Device Go Into Safe Mode By Itself?
You look at your Android device’s screen and it’s in Safe Mode and you don’t know the reason why. Well, Android may have been protecting itself. If you recently installed an app that Android sees as a threat, it will automatically enter Safe Mode.
Or, you forgot that you previously entered Safe Mode and you just need to restart your device.
Why Can’t I Turn Safe Mode Off?
If you are trying to disable Safe Mode on your Android device and you’re not receiving any response, try restarting it using the method I told you about earlier in this article.
