6 Ways to Turn Off Safe Mode on Your Phone

Safe mode on your phone can be useful for troubleshooting issues and fixing software problems. However, it can also be frustrating when you want to use your phone normally. If you find yourself in this situation, then you will need to know how to turn off safe mode on your phone.

The process of turning off safe mode will vary depending on the type of phone that you have. In most cases, you can simply restart your phone to exit safe mode. However, there are some phones that require you to perform a specific set of steps to turn off safe mode. If you are unsure how to turn off safe mode on your phone, then you can refer to the user manual or search for instructions online.

Once you have turned off safe mode, your phone will restart and return to normal operation. You will then be able to use your phone as you normally would. If you are still having problems with your phone, then you may need to contact your carrier or a repair technician for assistance.

Understanding Safe Mode

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode that allows Android phones to boot up with only the essential apps and settings. This makes it easier to troubleshoot software issues, as third-party apps and their associated data are temporarily disabled. Typically, safe mode is entered by pressing and holding the power button on your phone and then tapping and holding “Power off” when the options appear. Depending on your phone’s manufacturer, you may need to follow different steps to enter safe mode. When in safe mode, you will typically see a “Safe mode” watermark in the corner of the screen.

One of the key benefits of safe mode is that it can help you identify if a third-party app is causing an issue on your phone. For instance, if your phone starts running slowly or experiencing crashes after installing a new app, you can reboot into safe mode to see if the issue persists. If the problem goes away in safe mode, it’s likely that the new app is causing the issue and should be uninstalled.

Additionally, safe mode can help you remove persistent malware or adware that may have infected your phone. Since third-party apps are disabled in safe mode, any lingering malware or adware will not be able to run and can be more easily detected and removed using a reputable antivirus app. Here’s a table summarizing key information about safe mode:

Feature	Description
Enabled by	Pressing and holding the power button and then tapping and holding “Power off.”
Purpose	Troubleshoot software issues by disabling third-party apps and settings.
Indication	“Safe mode” watermark in the corner of the screen.
Benefits	Identifying problematic third-party apps, removing malware and adware.

Deactivating Safe Mode on iPhones

When Safe Mode is enabled on an iPhone, only the essential apps and features are accessible to help identify and resolve software issues. To turn off Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. Restart your iPhone: Press and hold the Power button until the “Slide to power off” slider appears. Drag the slider to power off your iPhone. Then, press and hold the Power button again to restart it.
2. Disable the power-saving mode: Go to Settings > Battery and ensure that Low Power Mode is turned off.
3. Force restart your iPhone (for iPhone 8 and later): Press and release the Volume Up button, then press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
4. Force restart your iPhone (for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus): Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Power button until the Apple logo appears.
5. Force restart your iPhone (for iPhone 6 and earlier): Press and hold both the Power button and the Home button until the Apple logo appears.

If the above steps do not disable Safe Mode, it may be due to a more complex software issue. In such cases, it is recommended to backup your data and restore your iPhone using a computer with iTunes or Finder.

Method	Steps	iPhone Models
Restart iPhone	Press and hold Power button > Slide to power off > Press and hold Power button again	All iPhones
Disable Low Power Mode	Settings > Battery > Turn off Low Power Mode	All iPhones
Force Restart (iPhone 8 and later)	Volume Up > Volume Down > Power button	iPhone 8 and later
Force Restart (iPhone 7 and 7 Plus)	Volume Down + Power button	iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
Force Restart (iPhone 6 and earlier)	Power button + Home button	iPhone 6 and earlier

Turning Off Safe Mode on Android Devices

1. Restart Your Device

The simplest way to turn off Safe Mode is to restart your device. This will usually disable Safe Mode and allow you to access your device normally. To restart your device, press and hold the power button until the power menu appears. Then, tap “Restart” and wait for your device to reboot.

2. Disable Safe Mode from the Notification Panel

If restarting your device doesn’t disable Safe Mode, you can try disabling it from the notification panel. To do this, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification panel. Then, tap the “Safe Mode” notification. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm that you want to disable Safe Mode. Tap “OK” and your device will exit Safe Mode.

3. Use the Hardware Keys

On some Android devices, you can disable Safe Mode using a combination of hardware keys. The key combination varies depending on the device manufacturer, but it usually involves pressing the power button and one of the volume buttons simultaneously. For example, on Samsung devices, you can press the power button and the volume down button simultaneously to exit Safe Mode. Consult your device’s user manual for the specific key combination for your device.

If none of the above methods work, you may need to factory reset your device. This will erase all data from your device, so be sure to back up your data before performing a factory reset.

Table of Key Combinations to Exit Safe Mode on Android Devices:

Device Manufacturer	Key Combination
Samsung	Power + Volume Down
Google Pixel	Power + Volume Up
LG	Power + Volume Down
Huawei	Power + Volume Up

Exiting Safe Mode on Samsung Phones

Safe Mode temporarily disables third-party apps and services on your Samsung phone, allowing you to troubleshoot issues and resolve software conflicts. To exit Safe Mode, follow these steps:

1. Press and hold the Power button until the power options menu appears.
2. Tap and hold the “Restart” option.
3. Your phone will restart and exit Safe Mode.

Additional Note for Samsung Devices with Non-Removable Batteries:

For Samsung phones with non-removable batteries, such as the Galaxy S series and Note series, you may need to perform a hard reset to exit Safe Mode. Here’s how:

1. Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously for about 10 seconds.
2. Release the buttons when the Samsung logo appears.
3. Your phone will boot into the Recovery Mode menu.
4. Use the Volume buttons to navigate to the “Reboot system now” option.
5. Press the Power button to select and reboot your phone.

Device Model	Steps to Exit Safe Mode
Samsung Galaxy S23	Press and hold Power button > Tap and hold “Restart”
Samsung Galaxy A54	Press and hold Power button > Tap and hold “Restart”
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4	Press and hold Power button > Tap and hold “Restart”
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	Press and hold Volume Down + Power buttons for 10 seconds
Samsung Galaxy Note20	Press and hold Volume Down + Power buttons for 10 seconds

Disabling Safe Mode on Google Pixel Devices

Turning Off Safe Mode on Pixel 4a, 5, 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7, and 7 Pro:

1. Press and hold the power button to bring up the power menu.

2. Tap and hold the “Restart” option.

3. The phone will restart and Safe Mode will be disabled.

Turning Off Safe Mode on Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, and 4XL:

1. Press and hold the power button to bring up the power menu.

2. Tap and hold the “Power Off” option.

3. The phone will turn off.

4. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again to turn the phone back on.

5. Safe Mode will be disabled.

Turning Off Safe Mode on Pixel C:

1. Press and hold the power button to bring up the power menu.

2. Tap and hold the “Restart” option.

3. Select “Restart to normal mode.

4. The device will restart and Safe Mode will be disabled.

Device	Instructions
Pixel C	Press and hold the power button -> Tap and hold the “Restart” option -> Select “Restart to normal mode.”

Safely Restarting to Exit Safe Mode

1. Force Restart Your Phone

If your Android phone has a removable battery, remove it for about 30 seconds and then reinsert it. For non-removable batteries, press and hold the Power button for about 20 seconds until your phone restarts.

2. Restart from Recovery Mode

If force restarting doesn’t work, enter Recovery Mode by pressing a combination of hardware buttons (specific to your device model). Once in Recovery Mode, navigate to “Reboot System Now” and select it.

3. Use Third-Party Apps

Some third-party apps, such as “Safe Mode Exit,” can help you disable Safe Mode without restarting. Install the app, run it, and follow the provided instructions to deactivate Safe Mode.

4. Uninstall Suspicious Apps

In some cases, Safe Mode can be triggered by malicious or incompatible apps. Uninstall any recently installed or updated apps that you suspect may have caused the issue.

5. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If all else fails, a factory reset may be necessary. This will erase all data on your phone, so make sure to back up important files before proceeding. To initiate a factory reset, navigate to Settings > System > Reset Options > Erase All Data (Factory Reset) and follow the prompts.

6. Troubleshooting Specific Causes

Cause	Solution
Network issues	Turn off Wi-Fi and mobile data, then reconnect to a stable network.
Third-party keyboard	Disable or switch to the default keyboard in Settings > System > Languages & Input.
Corrupted system files	Use a computer to install the latest Android software update for your device.
Hardware problems	If no software solutions resolve the issue, consider contacting the device manufacturer or a repair technician.

Power Cycling to Deactivate Safe Mode

Power cycling, also known as a hard reset, is a simple yet effective method to turn off safe mode and revert your device to its normal operational state. Here are the steps involved:

1. Turn Off the Device:

Locate the power button on your smartphone or tablet and press and hold it until a menu appears.

2. Choose “Power Off”:

Select the “Power Off” or “Restart” option from the menu that appears on the screen.

3. Wait for the Device to Power Down:

Allow your device to turn off completely. Give it a few seconds to ensure that it is fully powered down.

4. Remove the Battery (Optional):

If your device has a removable battery, take it out. This step is optional but can be helpful in certain cases.

5. Re-insert the Battery (Optional):

If you removed the battery, now is the time to re-insert it properly into the device.

6. Press and Hold the Power Button:

Press and hold the power button again until you see the device start to boot up.

7. Wait for the Device to Boot Up:

Your device will go through its normal startup process. Once it completes this process, it should no longer be in safe mode.

Common Mobile Operating Systems	Reboot Menu
Android	Press and hold the Power button
iOS	Press and hold the Power and Volume Up buttons
Windows Phone	Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons

Resetting Network Settings to Turn Off Safe Mode

If none of the previous methods work, you can try resetting your network settings. This will delete all your Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth connections, so make sure you have them backed up before proceeding.

To reset your network settings, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Tap on “Reset.”
4. Tap on “Reset Network Settings.”
5. Enter your passcode if prompted.
6. Tap on “Reset.”

Your phone will now restart and your network settings will be reset. Once it has restarted, check if Safe Mode is still enabled. If it is, you can try one of the other methods listed in this article.