Does your Samsung Phone keeps Restarting? Here’s How to Fix!
Your Samsung phone may keep on restarting mainly due to issues with the phone’s OS or its internal configurations. The OS issues might range from an outdated Android OS to some of its modules not working as intended. The error is reported on nearly all models of Samsung smartphones.
In some cases, the issue occasionally occurs twice/ thrice a day, whereas in other cases, the phone starts continuously, and it becomes impossible to use the device. In some instances, the problem started to occur after an OS update.
Pre-requisites
Before going with the troubleshooting process, check if removing the phone’s case clears the restart error as a tight case can push the phone’s buttons (like the power button) and cause a restart. Moreover, make sure none of the buttons (power, home, volume up, or volume down) are stuck in a pressed position as it can also cause a sudden restart of the phone.
1. Update the OS to the Latest Build
A Samsung phone may keep on restarting due to a bug in the operating system. Here, updating the phone’s OS to the latest build may resolve the issue as Samsung developers may have patched the bug in the newer release of the phone’s OS.
- Go to the Settings of your Samsung phone and open Software Update or System Updates.
Open Software Update in the Samsung Phone Settings - Now tap on Check for System Updates or Download and Install.
Tap on Download and Install in the Samsung’s Software Update - Once the update is downloaded, follow the prompts on the screen to complete its installation process, and afterward, check if the Samsung phone’s restarting issue is resolved.
2. Wipe the Cache Partition
The Cache Partition of a Samsung phone holds the cached data of the OS or apps that might be re-used. If it becomes corrupt, that could lead to the sudden restart of the phone. This is because the OS may fail to load cached data from a corrupt Cache Partition. In this context, wiping the Cache Partition of your Samsung phone may clear the reset issue.
- Power off your Samsung phone and simultaneously press/hold the volume up, home, and power buttons of your phone.
- When the Samsung logo is shown, release the power button but keep hold of the volume up and home buttons.
- Then, when the Android logo is shown, release the volume up and home buttons.
- Now, in the Android Recovery menu, press the volume up or down buttons to highlight Wipe Cache Partition and press the power button to confirm to wipe the cache partition.
Wipe Cache Partition of the Samsung Phone - Then wait till the process completes, and once done, reboot your phone into normal mode and then check if the phone’s restart issue is resolved.
3. Enable the “Protect Battery” Feature
If your phone’s battery is overcharging and is failing to perform normally due to overcharge, that could cause a sudden restart of your Samsung phone. Here, enabling the Protect Battery feature of your phone may resolve the issue as it limits the phone’s battery to 85% charge.
- Launch the Samsung phone Settings and open Battery & Device Care.
Open Battery in the Battery and Device Care of the Samsung Phone Settings - Now select Battery and open More Battery Settings.
Enable Battery Protect in the More Battery Settings of the Samsung Phone - Then enable Protect Battery by turning its status switch to the on position and afterward, check if the Samsung phone restarting issue is resolved (you may have to perform a discharging and charging cycle on the phone’s battery).
4. Disable the “Auto Restart” Feature
If you or an Android OS update have enabled the Auto Restart feature of your Samsung phone, then the phone will restart at the configured time. In this case, the phone will be restarted according to schedule but it will seem like it’s restarting due to an issue. Here, disabling the Auto Restart feature of the phone may clear the error.
- Go to your Samsung phone Settings and open Battery and Device Care.
- Now expand the 3 dots menu and select Automation.
- Then disable Auto Restart or Auto Restart at Set Times, and afterward, check if the phone’s restart problem is solved.
Disable the Auto Restart Feature of the Samsung Phone - If the Auto Restart feature is already disabled, enable it for 24 hours and then disable it to check if that clears the restart error.
5. Disable Bixby Routines
Bixby Routines are built-in automation in Samsung phones. If these automation features are crashing in their execution, then those crashes might cause a sudden restart of your Samsung phone. In such a case, disabling the Bixby Routines of the Samsung phone may resolve the issue.
- Go to your Samsung phone Settings and select Advanced Features.
Open Advanced Features in the Samsung Phone Settings - Now disable Bixby Routines by toggling its switch to off and afterward, check if the Samsung phone’s restart problem is solved.
Disable Bixby Routines in the Samsung Phone Advanced Features
6. Disabling the Adaptive Display
Your Samsung phone might get restarted if the Adaptive Display modules of the phone are crashing when trying to adjust your phone’s display to best suit your eyes. In this scenario, disabling the phone’s Adaptive Display may solve the problem.
- Launch your Samsung phone Settings and open Display and Wallpaper.
- Now select Screen Mode and change it to AMOLED Photo.
Change Samsung Phone’s Screen Mode to AMOLED Photo - Then check if the phone is clear of the restarting issue.
- If not, check if changing screen mode to WQHD and Vivid mode clears the error. If it is already set to WQHD, check if reverting it to FHD resolves the issue.
7. Disabling Auto Optimization Feature
If your phone’s Auto Optimization is restarting the device to complete optimization operations on the phone, then that could be the root cause of the issue. In this context, disabling the phone’s Auto Optimization feature may solve the problem.
- Go to your Samsung phone’s Settings and select Battery & Device Care.
- Now expand More Options (3 vertical ellipses in the top right) and select Automation.
Open Automatic in the Device Care Settings of the Samsung Phone - Then disable Auto Optimize Daily by toggling its switch to the off position and afterward, check if the phone’s restart problem is solved.
Disable Auto Optimize Daily in the Settings of the Samsung Phone
8. Uninstall Updates of some Internal services
If the latest updates of the Android System WebView and Google Play Services are not compatible with your Samsung phone or failed to apply properly, then they can crash the phone’s OS and cause a sudden restart of the phone. In this case, uninstalling the updates of the Android Syxstem WebView and Google Play Services may resolve the issue.
- Launch the Samsung phone Settings and open Apps.
- Now open Android System WebView and tap on the three vertical ellipses in the top right.
- Then select Uninstall Updates and afterward, confirm to uninstall updates of the Android System WebView.
Uninstall Updates of the Android System WebView - Once done, hit the back button, and in the Apps list, open Google Play Services.
- Now uninstall updates of Google Play services as well and restart your phone.
Uninstall Updates of the Google Play Services - Upon restart, update the phone’s OS, Android System WebView, and Google Play Services.
- Then check if the phone’s restart problem is cleared.
9. Disable Always on Display & Fingerprint Reader (if applicable)
The Always on Display or AOD feature on your Samsung phone (the option is available on some models only) lets you view the data, time, missed calls, notifications, and more even when the phone’s screen is turned off. Also, the Always on Finger Print Reader option helps in showing a fingerprint icon on a turned-off screen.
If any of these options are crashing in their operations, this could result in the restarting issue. In this scenario, disabling the Always on Display and Always on Fingerprint Reader features may clear the issue.
- Launch the Samsung phone’s Settings and open Biometrics and Security.
- Now select Fingerprints and enter the PIN (if asked to).
- Then disable Fingerprint Always on by toggling its switch to off.
Disable Fingerprint Always on in the Samsung Phone Settings - Now hit the back button till the Settings screen is shown and open the Lock Screen.
- Then disable Always on Display by toggling its switch to the off position and afterward, check if the Samsung phone restarting issue is resolved. For some models, you may find the option under Reset or in the Device Care menu. If you are failing to find the option, you may try the Settings Search to find the Always on Display feature.
Disable Always on Display in the Samsung Phone Settings
10. Repair and Optimize Apps
A Samsung phone may keep restarting if the installation of a 3rd party app is corrupt or not optimized for the phone which is causing frequent crashes of the phone’s OS. In such a case, repairing and optimizing apps on your Samsung phone may resolve the issue.
- Power off your Samsung phone and press/hold the following buttons:
Volume UP Home Power
- Now, wait till the Android logo (not the Samsung logo) is shown on the screen and then release the buttons.
- Then use the volume up or down buttons to highlight the Repair Apps (or Repair and Optimize Apps) option and use the power button to select it.
Repair Apps in the Recovery Mode of the Samsung Phone - Now wait till the phone restarts and optimizes the installed apps.
- Once done, check if the phone’s restart problem is solved.
11. Uninstall Conflicting Apps
The restarting issue can also be caused by a 3rd party app on your phone. If this application crashes unexpectedly, your phone might restart to recover. In this scenario, booting your Samsung phone into safe mode and uninstalling the conflicting apps may resolve the issue.
- Power off your Samsung phone and then press/hold the phone’s power and volume down buttons.
Press Volume Down and Power Buttons to Boot System in the Safe Mode - When the Samsung logo is shown on the screen, release the power button but keep a hold of the volume down button.
- Then, when the login screen shows Safe Mode written at the corner of the screen, release the volume down button and log in using your PIN.
Samsung Phone in the Safe Mode - Now check if the phone is working fine without crashing. If not, then most probably the issue is hardware related, and you may get your phone checked for a hardware malfunction.
- If the phone is working fine in safe mode, then the issue is most probably caused by a software or app issue.
Now comes the toughest part as you may have to find the app causing the error. You may uninstall the last 5 to 6 apps you recently installed and if that does not work, then you may uninstall the last 5 to 6 apps recently updated to resolve the error.
If the case of a system app (that cannot be uninstalled), you may disable it. Device Pulse is a reported app to cause the issue at hand. If you have this app or any similar app, you may uninstall it to resolve the issue. Just a word of caution, make sure to back up the app’s data before uninstalling it.
12. Reset the Network Settings
If the network settings of your phone are corrupt, then the phone may restart whenever a network change occurs like turning your Wi-Fi on or off. In this context, resetting the network settings of the phone to their defaults may clear the restart problem. Before moving on, make sure to note down network-related info/data like Wi-Fi credentials that may be required later.
- Go to Settings of your Samsung phone and open General Management.
- Now select Reset and tap on Reset Network Settings.
Reset Network Settings of the Samsung Phone - Then confirm to reset the phone’s network settings and once done, re-set up the network on your phone and check if the Samsung phone is clear of the restart issue.
- If that did not work, check if resetting all settings of your Samsung phone (if the option is available on your phone’s model) clears the problem.
13. Reset Your Phone to Factory Defaults
If none of the above worked for you, then the corrupt OS of your Samsung phone could be the root cause of the issue, and resetting your Samsung phone to its factory defaults may resolve everything. Before proceeding, back up the data on your phone.
If the data cannot be backed up due to the restart loop, then connect your phone to a PC after putting the phone into recovery mode and use the Samsung Smart Switch PC app to back up the data. Also, if you have encrypted the phone’s SD card, make sure to decrypt it, otherwise, data on it would be lost. Do not forget to remove the SD card and SIM from your Samsung phone before factory resetting the phone. Also, make sure the phone is charged fully.
Reset Through the Settings Menu
- Launch the Samsung phone Settings and open General Management
- Now select Reset and then tap on Factory Data Reset.
Factory Reset The Samsung Phone Through the Settings Menu - Afterward, confirm to reset your Samsung phone to the factory defaults and wait till the process completes.
- Once done, re-setup your Samsung phone and hopefully, it will be clear of the restart problem.
Hard Reset Your Samsung Phone
If you cannot reset your phone through the Settings menu due to a restart loop, then hard resetting it is the way forward:
- Power off your Samsung phone and press/hold the volume up, home, and power buttons of the phone.
- Now wait till the phone boots into recovery mode and then release the buttons.
- Then use the volume up or down buttons to highlight the Factory Data Reset option and use the power button to select it.
Factory Reset The Samsung Phone Through the Recovery Menu - Afterward, confirm to reset the Samsung phone to the factory defaults and wait till the process completes.
- Once done, re-set up the phone as per your requirements and afterward, check if it is clear of the restart issue.
- If that did not work, then you may reflash Android on your Samsung phone with ODIN but make sure that does not void your warranty.
If none of the above worked and your phone is under warranty, it will be better to get it replaced. If that is not an option, then get your phone checked for a hardware error, especially, the phone’s battery.