How to turn off Safe Mode on your Android phone

Editing photos, organising your day, managing your finances, and protecting sensitive data — there are no limits to what an Android phone can do with the right apps. But what happens when one of these apps is up to more harm than good?

Luckily, Android devices have a built-in fail-safe, aptly called the Safe Mode. Read on to learn more about this troubleshooting mode on Android and how you can turn it off and on.

What is Safe Mode on Android?

The Safe Mode on an Android device is a diagnostic mode. When booted in this mode, all third-party applications are disabled. Turning on the Safe Mode means no apps downloaded from Google Play or other sources will work. With only essential system software running, you get a clean environment to troubleshoot software issues on your device.

When to use Safe Mode on Android?

If your Android smartphone or tablet frequently misbehaves, you can boot your device in Safe Mode to track down the problem.

While in Safe Mode, you can only access pre-installed apps on your device when you purchased it new. If you put your phone in the Safe Mode and no longer face the issue(s), it means the problem is caused by one of the third-party apps (the ones you don’t have access to in the Safe Mode).

How to turn on Safe Mode on Android

Turning on Safe Mode on an Android phone is a matter of three simple steps:

Step 1: Press and hold the power button or the power and volume up buttons on your phone until the power options menu pops up.

Step 2: Tap and hold the ‘power off’ option or the volume down button until a pop-up window appears.

Step 3: Select “OK” or “Restart” to reboot your phone in the Safe Mode.

Please note that these steps might vary slightly depending on your phone’s manufacturer. Some phones even let you toggle between normal and Safe Modes using a shortcut in your notification panel.

How to turn off Safe Mode on Android

Once you have done your troubleshooting and want to return your phone to its normal operating state, all you need to do is restart your device. Press and hold the power button again and tap the “Restart” option. Your smartphone will now boot up in regular mode. You will have access to all the apps and features, as usual.

How to use Safe Mode on Android phones

Once booted in Safe Mode, your phone will only load with the system-installed apps. If you aren’t experiencing the issues in Safe Mode, it means one of the apps installed by you is likely responsible.

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Once you have established this, you should remove apps, beginning with the one installed most recently or just before the issues started. You can nail the culprit if the problems are fixed after the app is uninstalled. If not, repeat the steps with the other apps till you find the offender.

If your problem persists even in Safe Mode, it is most likely in your device’s system files or hardware. At this stage, it is recommended that you consult a professional. You can also try factory resetting your phone. The factory default settings will erase all your data and restore the phone to its factory default state.