Has your Android phone been crashing multiple times lately? Are your Android devices, phone, or tablet malfunctioning, or are very slow to load to function? Your phone might be due for some clean-up or repair. Before going ahead and paying for a service, try to do some basic troubleshooting first. One way to do this is by turning on Android Safe Mode.
What Is Android Safe Mode?
So what is safe mode on Android exactly? How will you benefit from it or why should you turn it on? It may sound quite overwhelming, especially if you’re looking at it with computers in mind. Device boots, operating systems, or boots in safe mode are often associated with PCs. Well, the same principle applies to smartphones. Putting an Android phone in Safe Mode is basically turning on your smartphone without any active third-party apps.
Having your phone in safe mode is a basic troubleshooting technique in figuring out why the device is slow to load various apps and functions, or why it is constantly crashing. Putting your Android in safe mode will block third-party apps from operating and help you diagnose any issues with the device. Consequently, this can help fix any errors and increase device speed. It will, however, limit what you can do with the device.
Turning on Android Safe Mode is easy enough to do. There are, however, some things you must ensure or do before following the steps provided below. In the same way, there are things you must be prepared to do after diagnosing your phone while on Safe Mode. Here are the things turning on safe mode in your device will typically entail:
- Restarting your phone.
- Removing phone case, and keeping it off while testing.
- Making sure no buttons are stuck or not working.
- Removing and reinserting the battery. Performing a soft reset if the battery is unremovable.
- Uninstalling apps that were downloaded or installed around the time that the issues you encountered on your device ensued.
How To Turn On Android Safe Mode
Once you enter safe mode, the things you can do with the device will be limited. The end result will, however, be more than worth it. There is no need to worry if you are not tech-savvy because the steps are straightforward and easy to follow. If, however, you feel uncomfortable or anxious in doing it yourself, you can ask someone more technologically inclined for help. This mode can be done on various Android devices like Samsung Galaxy, LG, HTC, etc.
To enter Safe Mode on your Android device, simply do the following steps. Please note, though, the steps may vary depending on the device. For instance, some may require you to press and hold the power button while some may require you to press and hold the volume down button along with the power button.
- Press the power button of the device until Power Off and Restart appear.
- Wait until the Safe Mode prompt appears by tapping and holding the Power Off option.
- Tap Safe Mode to initiate your device to restart in safe mode.
- To ensure you have entered Safe Mode, check whether third-party apps like social media apps are grayed out. Also, Safe Mode will typically appear at the bottom of the screen.
How To Turn Off Android Safe Mode
Once you’ve tested the device in Safe Mode, you can revert to the regular settings and functions of the device. Exit Safe Mode by doing the following:
- Hold down the power button of the device until the Power Off and Restart options appear.
- Choose Restart to initiate restarting the device back to normal mode.
- After the device has restarted, you can make sure you’ve exited Safe Mode by checking if you can access your applications, even the third-party apps.
What Do You Learn From The Process?
Android Safe Mode, as previously stated, is a basic troubleshooting technique enabling one to diagnose and uncover the root of any issues being experienced on a device. While this limits what can be done on a device, it will eventually allow one to make the most of their device again once underlying issues are resolved.
So what exactly do you get from turning on Android Safe Mode? Well, what you learn or find out from the process could be narrowed down to two things.
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Phone Running Properly on Safe Mode
If your phone runs smoothly while on Safe Mode, this means the device issues are likely caused by third-party apps. You can uninstall recently downloaded, updated, and/or non-essential apps. After doing this, turn off safe mode to see if the issues have been resolved. If the issues remain unresolved, you can check if you’ve missed some apps. If, after that, the issues still remain unresolved, you may opt to do a factory reset on your device.
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Phone Issues Continue While In Safe Mode
If your phone or device still acts up (crashes; overheats) even while in safe mode, then the problem may be related to an operating system or hardware malfunction. In such a case, try getting in touch with your phone carrier for a possible phone replacement or bring it in for further diagnosis and/or repair.
