As much as we rely on our smartphones these days, it can be tormenting when one starts running slow, freezing, or worse, crashing. The unfortunate fact is that these technical issues tend to occur at a time when you cannot afford to have your smartphone go down.
Don’t despair, if you are an Android user, there is one fix that can assist in troubleshooting and fixing your phone.
It’s called safe mode, and it’s a way to open up your operating system without firing up everything else on your phone. By doing so, you will prevent third-party apps from running. That will help narrow down what is causing your device to malfunction.
The good news, if your Android phone runs without issue in the safe mode, it is an indication that a third-party app is the problem and not your hardware, saving you from costly repair or replacement. The bad news, you still need to figure out which app is causing the trouble.
Of course, if you were to call your cellphone retailer or service provider, a rep would recommend you bring the phone into the center so he or she can “take a look at it.” Many have been there, done that, and walked away only to have the technical problem continue. Before you haul your dysfunctional Android to the store, first try out this trick many techies are known to use.
The following directions should apply to most Android phone manufacturers including LG, Huawei, Google, Lenovo, Sony and Panasonic.
How to turn on safe mode
Before turning on safe mode, try rebooting your device, as this may resolve most problems. Here is the correct method for a simple reboot:
• Hold down the power or suspend button on the side of your device until the power menu appears.
• If there is a restart option in the menu, tap restart. If restart is not an option, choose power off.
• Your phone may take several seconds to shut down. Once your screen is entirely dark, hold down the power or suspend button until a logo appears.
• After the device has powered up, test to see if the problem still occurs.
If the simple reboot didn’t resolve your issue, it is time to launch safe mode. As with the basic reboot of the system, hold down the power or suspend button. However, instead of tapping power off or restart you will press your finger down on the power off option. This action will prompt you to reboot in safe mode. Tap OK to reboot. The Android device will display the words “Safe mode” on the screen if your reboot was successful.
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The smartphone doesn’t have a safe mode option?
As I mentioned earlier, the above instructions should work with most brands of Android phones; however, there are a few holdouts, like Samsung, which has a somewhat different Android version than Google’s “stock” version, and older phones with outdated operating systems. Although these devices require alternative methods for turning on safe mode, it can be accomplished with a few steps.
If pressing the power off button in the power menu does not prompt you to enter safe mode, try pressing down on the restart button. This technique applies to older versions of Android.
Using these same instructions, with an additional step, will work for Samsung devices, including the Galaxy series. In addition, this method can work on older Android phones.
After completing the above actions, watch for a logo to appear on the screen when the device powers back up. While the logo is visible, hold the volume down button on the side of your device until your device boots up. Once fully rebooted, you should see the words ‘Safe mode’ in the lower left corner.
Using safe mode to help resolve the problem
Now that you are in safe mode, you may notice your Android phone is performing without any issues. If this is the case, you need to determine which app is causing the problem. Even though it can take a bit of sleuthing on your part, there are a few apps that are most likely triggering your phone troublesome behavior.
Take a look at apps that automatically start when booting up your device, including widgets, like your clock and calendar. Other apps to check out are the most recently installed or updated ones and non-essential apps, which are those you do not use regularly.
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Even though you cannot run apps while in safe mode, they can be uninstalled. Removing apps one at a time and retesting your system in between in normal mode is the best move. If after uninstalling apps your Android device continues to function poorly in safe mode, you should contact your retailer or carrier about a repair or replacement.
How do you turn off safe mode?
To test your phone and see if it is working correctly after removing individual apps, you will need to leave safe mode and return the phone to normal mode. Turning off safe mode is simple and the steps will work across the board of smartphone manufacturers.
Press and hold the power button, then tap restart. This procedure will reboot your device in normal mode and can be completed whenever you to exit safe mode.
