Galaxy Phone Keeps Restarting? Fix It Now

If your Samsung Galaxy phone keeps restarting on its own, the fix usually starts with a forced restart and a check of your battery and apps, and most cases can be resolved without a trip to the repair shop. This guide walks you through the most common causes and the step-by-step fixes that work for current Galaxy models, from the S series to the A series. You’ll learn how to stop the boot loop, what to do if it still won’t stop, and when it’s time to get professional help.

Why Your Galaxy Keeps Restarting

A Galaxy phone that randomly restarts is almost always caused by one of four things: a software glitch, a bad app, a failing battery, or overheating. Less common but possible causes include a damaged motherboard, a swollen battery, or a corrupted system update. Understanding which one you’re dealing with will save you time and frustration.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the usual culprits:

Software glitches – temporary bugs in the operating system or a bad update can cause the phone to crash and reboot.
Problematic apps – a poorly coded or incompatible app can trigger a restart loop, especially if it runs in the background.
Battery issues – an old, damaged, or swollen battery can’t deliver stable power, causing the phone to shut down and restart.
Overheating – if the phone gets too hot, it will reboot to protect the internal components.
Hardware damage – physical damage or water exposure can short-circuit components and cause random restarts.

First Steps: Force Restart and Safe Mode

Before you do anything else, try a forced restart. This is different from a normal restart because it clears the phone’s volatile memory (RAM) without erasing your data. It often fixes a one-time glitch.

Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button together for about 10–15 seconds.
Release the buttons when the Samsung logo appears.
Let the phone boot up normally and see if the problem stops.

If the phone still restarts, boot into Safe Mode. Safe Mode temporarily disables all third-party apps, so if the problem goes away in Safe Mode, you know an app is the culprit.

Press and hold the Power button until the power-off menu appears.
Tap and hold the Power off icon until you see a prompt for Safe Mode.
Tap Safe Mode and wait for the phone to restart.
In Safe Mode, you’ll see “Safe mode” at the bottom left of the screen.
Use the phone normally for a while. If it doesn’t restart, a third-party app is the problem.

To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your phone normally.

If an App Is Causing the Restarts

If Safe Mode stops the restarts, you need to find and remove the offending app. Start by uninstalling the most recently installed apps, as they are the most likely culprits. You can also check for app updates, as developers often release fixes for bugs that cause crashes.

Here’s how to uninstall an app in Safe Mode:

Go to Settings > Apps.
Tap the app you suspect.
Tap Uninstall.
Confirm when prompted.

If you’re not sure which app it is, you can try a process of elimination: uninstall the apps you use most often or those that have access to system settings. Another option is to boot into Safe Mode and then go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage to see which apps are using the most power—a misbehaving app often shows up there.

Battery and Hardware Checks

A failing battery is a common cause of random restarts, especially on phones that are more than two years old. Over time, lithium-ion batteries degrade and can no longer hold a stable charge. If the battery is swollen, you’ll notice the back cover bulging or the screen lifting away from the body. In that case, stop using the phone immediately and have the battery replaced by a professional.

You can check your battery’s health in the Samsung Members app (on supported devices):

Open the Samsung Members app.
Tap Diagnostics.
Tap Battery status.
It will show a status like “Good” or “Weak.”

If the battery is weak, or if the phone is physically damaged or has been exposed to water, you should take it to a Samsung service center or a reputable repair shop. Attempting to open the phone yourself can cause further damage and void any warranty.

Clear Cache Partition and Update Software

Sometimes the system cache gets corrupted, which can cause all sorts of weird behavior, including random restarts. Clearing the cache partition is a safe procedure that doesn’t delete your personal data.

Turn off the phone.
Connect it to a computer via USB cable (this is required for some models).
Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons together.
When the Samsung logo appears, release the buttons.
You’ll see the Android recovery menu. Use the Volume Down button to navigate to “Wipe cache partition.”
Press the Power button to select it.
Use Volume Down to highlight “Yes” and press Power to confirm.
After the process finishes, select “Reboot system now.”

After clearing the cache, check for software updates. Go to Settings > Software update > Download and install. If an update is available, install it. Updates often include bug fixes for restart issues.

When to Do a Factory Reset

If you’ve tried everything above and the phone still restarts, a factory reset is the next step. This erases all data on the phone and returns it to its out-of-box state, so back up your important files first. A factory reset can fix deep software corruption that other methods can’t.

To back up your data, use Samsung Smart Switch or your preferred cloud service. Then:

Go to Settings > General management > Reset.
Tap Factory data reset.
Scroll down and tap Reset.
Enter your PIN or password if prompted.
Tap Delete all.

After the reset, set up the phone as new (don’t restore from a backup right away) and see if the restarts stop. If they do, you can restore your data. If they don’t, the problem is likely hardware-related.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Galaxy phone restart when I open the camera?

The camera app is resource-intensive and can trigger restarts if the phone is overheating or if the battery can’t handle the power draw. It could also be a software bug in the camera app itself. Try clearing the camera app’s cache (Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage > Clear cache) and make sure the phone isn’t too hot.

Will a factory reset fix a boot loop?

Yes, a factory reset can fix a boot loop caused by software corruption, a bad update, or a conflicting app. However, if the boot loop is due to a hardware failure (like a damaged motherboard or battery), a factory reset won’t help.

Can a SIM card cause my phone to restart?

Rarely, but a damaged or improperly seated SIM card can cause system crashes. Try removing the SIM card and using the phone without it for a while. If the restarts stop, the SIM card or the SIM tray might be the issue.

How do I know if my battery is swollen?

Look for a back cover that doesn’t sit flat, a screen that’s lifting away from the body, or a slight bulge on the back. If you see any of these, turn off the phone and have the battery replaced by a professional immediately. A swollen battery is a safety hazard.

Is it worth repairing an old Galaxy phone that keeps restarting?

It depends on the cause and the phone’s age. If it’s a simple battery replacement, it’s often worth it. But if the motherboard is damaged, the repair cost might exceed the phone’s value. Get a quote from a repair shop and compare it to the cost of a new phone.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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