Safe Mode is a great tool that lets you figure out if a third-party app is responsible for the problems you may be experiencing with your smartphone. These include things like overheating, automatic restart several times a day, crashing, and more.
So how exactly can safe mode help? Well, when you start your device in safe mode, all third party apps are disabled, while the pre-installed ones still work (YouTube, Gmail…). If the problem you are having is resolved in safe mode, you can be sure that one of the third-party apps is the one to blame.
The only problem is that it may not be obvious which one is to blame, since it is not possible to disable just one app. However, it is possible to figure out which app was installed immediately before the problem started and get rid of it from the device, doing so should fix the problem.
Entering Safe Mode is an easy task to complete and will take no more than a minute of your time. See the brief instructions on how to enter Safe Mode below.
How to enter Safe Mode
So you want to know how to get into safe mode? It's actually pretty easy. To enter Safe Mode, press and hold the Power button, just like you do when you turn off your device. When the shutdown icon pops up on the screen, tap and hold for a second or two, select OK, and just wait for your device to restart. That's all.
When the device turns on again, you will see a “Safe Mode” badge at the bottom left of the screen and all third party apps will be disabled.
Step by step instructions:
Step 1: press and hold the power button.
Step 2: touch and hold the shutdown icon that appears on the screen.
Step 3: tap OK when the safe mode option appears and wait for the device to reboot.
In case the problem persists even in Safe Mode, there is a good chance it is caused by the hardware and not the software. In this case, you should consider reading this article on how to reset your Android device.
How to do a hard reset on your Android phone
So now you know how to enter Safe Mode. But what if you accidentally threw it and want to go back?
How to disable Safe Mode
There are some occasions where your phone may have restarted in safe mode, and it's not always obvious how to go back and exit that mode. This can be extremely frustrating, especially for casual users who aren't as intimate with some of their phone's features as die-hard Android fans.
Those of you imprisoned in Safe Mode, fear not! This guide will help you solve your problem and get back to using your phone as you have always known and loved it.
Because your phone is in safe mode
Usually, the phone goes into safe mode if something really bad has happened. Maybe an app was seriously knocked out or a core system function went haywire. You may even have been attacked by malware of some kind.
Find out how to remove all types of malware
Alternatively, you may have accidentally put your phone into safe mode by yourself. Just as it is possible to frame your boss the exact moment you start complaining, it is also possible to secure your device. Nothing is 100% resistant.
Android Safe Mode serves pretty much the same purpose as its analog in Windows, if you're familiar with it. Safe mode removes the operating system from its core functions, preventing you from running anything that hasn't been installed on your phone. It is a tool designed for troubleshooting, but if you have nothing to fix, it just prevents you from using all the features of your device. (Refresh the memory)
Let's tackle these solutions from the most common to the least likely.
Restart your device
In most cases and for most users, this is the solution you are looking for. Generally, Safe Mode shouldn't remain operational for multiple sessions, so restart your phone and see if the problem persists. Press and hold the power button, tap Power off, and let your phone enjoy the sweet forgetfulness of the five seconds before it reboots.
Try the notification panel
This does not apply to all smartphones, but some devices will have a notification in safe mode in the notification bar. Scroll down once or twice to locate the Exit Safe Mode option and tap on it.
No way? Well, let's start using the hardware.
Reboot via the Volume Down button
This method didn't work for me, but many users have reported being able to get out of Infinite Safe Mode by turning off their device and then turning it back on while holding the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time.
Pull out the battery
Turn off the device, remove the back of the phone and remove the battery. It takes about a minute for the battery to drain completely from the phone before reinserting it.
Remove some apps
If you haven't bingo with the advice above, you probably have a problem with the app. One of your apps is causing an error and your phone is booting in safe mode to prevent the app from wreaking havoc on your device. Time to find the culprit and take him out.
While you can't run apps in safe mode, you can uninstall them. Go to Settings> Apps to get a list of your downloaded apps. Tap an app to select it, then tap Uninstall to remove it.
The app that's causing your phone to restart in safe mode is most likely the one you recently downloaded, so start with the newest apps by going back. Uninstall the suspicious app, and restart the phone.
