What Is Safe Mode?

Android Safe Mode loads the phone with only pre-installed system apps — all downloaded apps are disabled. It is used for troubleshooting. You can tell you are in Safe Mode by the “Safe Mode” label in the bottom left corner of the screen.

How to Exit Safe Mode

  1. 1

    Restart your phone normally

    Press and hold the power button. Tap Restart (not Power Off). The phone boots normally and Safe Mode turns off. This is the standard way to exit Safe Mode and works on all Android phones.

  2. 2

    If Restart is not available: power off and on

    Power off the phone completely. Wait 10 seconds. Power on. The phone should boot into normal mode.

  3. 3

    Notification panel shortcut (some Android versions)

    Pull down the notification panel. A “Safe Mode enabled” notification may appear with a tap-to-disable option. Tap it to restart into normal mode.

If Safe Mode Keeps Coming Back

  1. 4

    Uninstall recently installed apps

    A problematic app can trigger Safe Mode on boot. Think back to what you installed recently. Uninstall those apps one at a time (Settings → Apps → select app → Uninstall), restarting after each to see if the problem is resolved.

  2. 5

    Check for a stuck power button

    Holding the power button during startup triggers Safe Mode on some Android phones. A sticky or physically stuck power button can cause this. Check that the button moves freely. If the phone is in a case, check the case is not pressing against the button.

  3. 6

    Factory reset as last resort

    If Safe Mode persists after removing apps and checking the button, a factory reset (Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory Data Reset) will resolve it. Back up your data first.

How did Safe Mode get turned on?Most commonly by accidentally holding the power button during a restart, or by a buggy app. It can also be triggered intentionally by pressing and holding the Power Off option when it appears on screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

No — all third-party apps (everything you downloaded from the Play Store) are disabled in Safe Mode. Only pre-installed system apps work. This is by design — Safe Mode exists specifically to isolate third-party app problems. You can make calls, use the browser and access settings, but downloaded apps show as greyed out and cannot be opened until you exit Safe Mode.
Press and hold the power button until the Power Off option appears on screen. Then press and hold the Power Off option until a Safe Mode prompt appears. Tap Safe Mode. The phone restarts into Safe Mode. This is useful for diagnosing problems caused by third-party apps.