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How to Start Samsung Safe Mode and Troubleshoot App Problems

Open the Power menu and touch-hold Power off, or hold Volume down when the Samsung logo appears during startup. Learn how Safe mode helps check app-related problems and how to exit.
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To turn on Safe mode on most Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, open the Power menu, touch and hold Power off, then tap Safe mode. If the device is off, turn it on and hold Volume down when the Samsung logo appears. You’ll know Safe mode is active when its label appears at the bottom left of the screen.

Choose the way to start Safe mode

Use the Power menu if your Galaxy is already on and you can access its controls. If the device is powered off, use the startup button method instead. Samsung notes that menu screens and settings can vary by model, software version, and wireless service provider.

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Starting state Method
Device is on and Power menu is accessible Touch and hold Power off, then tap Safe mode.
Device is powered off Turn it on and hold Volume down when the Samsung logo appears.

When the device is on

  1. Open the Power menu. On a device with a regular Power button, press and hold it. On a device without a dedicated Power button, swipe down from the top right to open Quick settings, then tap the Power icon. On some models, pressing the Side button and Volume down together also opens the Power menu.
  2. Touch and hold the Power off icon until the Safe mode option appears.
  3. Tap Safe mode and wait for the device to restart.

When the device is powered off

  1. Turn on the phone or tablet.
  2. When the Samsung logo appears, press and hold Volume down.
  3. Release the button when the device finishes starting. If the Safe mode label does not appear, try the steps again.

Samsung’s Safe mode instructions describe both startup methods and the on-screen confirmation.

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Confirm Safe mode is active

Look for Safe mode at the bottom left of the screen. That label confirms the device started in the mode. If it is missing, Safe mode may not have started.

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Use Safe mode to check for app-related problems

In Safe mode, third-party apps do not run; the device uses its core software. This makes the mode useful for checking whether a downloaded app may be contributing to freezing, crashing, lag, or another problem. It does not identify a particular app or repair the device by itself.

  1. Use the phone or tablet as you normally would and see whether the same problem occurs.
  2. If the problem goes away, a downloaded app may be responsible. Restart normally, then uninstall recently installed or updated apps one at a time, checking the device after each removal.
  3. If the problem continues, downloaded apps may not be the cause. In Samsung’s guidance for a device that will not start or is stuck in a boot loop, an issue that persists in Safe mode may indicate a hardware problem; Samsung advises visiting a walk-in service center or scheduling a repair in that troubleshooting context. See its boot-loop troubleshooting guidance.

Samsung also uses Safe mode as a diagnostic step in its Galaxy troubleshooting guidance. A result in Safe mode can help narrow down the cause, but it is not a definitive diagnosis for every symptom.

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Turn off Safe mode

Restart the device to boot normally. Samsung also describes turning it off by tapping the Safe mode notification and choosing Turn off.

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Safe mode does not delete downloaded apps. Samsung warns that some customizations, including wallpapers and themes, may return to their defaults when you exit.

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