Key Points
- Safe Mode is a function on Samsung devices that disables all third-party apps and allows the device to operate on its basic operating system.
- Turning on Safe Mode can help identify and resolve issues caused by third-party apps.
- If your device still has issues in Safe Mode, it may indicate a hardware or Android issue.
- Turning off Safe Mode does not result in data loss.
An overheating battery, screen unresponsiveness, and poor connectivity are just but a few annoying issues you might encounter when using a Samsung phone or tablet. Whenever your Samsung device acts up, the first step you are likely to take is to switch it to Safe Mode. But once you identify what the issue is, you will need to turn off Safe Mode to access third-party apps.
Fortunately, exiting Safe Mode is fairly straightforward, and we’ll show you how to do it step-by-step. But before we get to the steps, let’s find out what Safe Mode is and how it works. Follow along with us!
What is Safe Mode?
You have probably heard people talking about Safe Mode as a way of resolving phone issues. But what on Earth is it and how will it solve your problems? Safe Mode is a function that allows your Samsung phone or tablet to operate on its basic operating system. That way, all the applications installed after buying the device are disabled.
Deactivating the installed third-party apps helps identify and resolve the issues on your Samsung Galaxy. If your battery is dying faster than usual, try switching your device to Safe Mode and observe how long it lasts. If the battery lasts longer, it means that a third-party app is causing you trouble.
Your next step, therefore, should be to turn off Safe Mode and identify the problematic app. To avoid doing the donkey work of uninstalling and reinstalling all the apps, start with recently installed apps. Uninstall them and observe if there are any changes.
That said, if your Samsung phone or tablet still gives you trouble while Safe Mode is on, there’s likely more than meets the eye. In that case, it could mean your Samsung Galaxy has a hardware or Android issue.
How Safe Mode Works on Samsung
Once you turn on Safe Mode, all the third-party apps on your Samsung tablet or phone are disabled, and they appear gray. You can tell if the Safe Mode is on when the bottom left of your screen “reads Safe Mode.” However, you can still access all the other pre-installed features. You can make calls, send messages, watch videos on YouTube, and even browse if your device has a pre-installed browser.
What about losing your data? Unlike factory resetting, you don’t lose data by turning on Safe Mode. In fact, before you factory reset your device to solve an issue, consider turning on Safe Mode. If switching to Safe Mode doesn’t help, you can back up your data and factory reset your device.
Some common problems you might resolve by turning on Safe Mode include:
- A freezing screen
- Sluggishness
- Phone vibrating for no reason
- Running out of data too fast
- Annoying pop-up ads
- Terrible battery life
- Poor connection during calls
Now that you have a better understanding of what Safe Mode is all about, let’s show you how to turn it off on your Samsung phone or tablet.
Method #1: Pressing the Power Button
Restarting your Samsung phone or tablet is one of the easiest ways to exit Safe Mode, and you can achieve that by pressing the power button. However, you should ensure your side button is already set to the power off menu. In most Samsung devices, the power button is on the top-right side of the screen.
Let’s look at how to turn off Safe Mode using the power button.
Step 1: Press the Power Button
Press the power button until the power menu appears.

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Step 2: Tap Restart
Click on the green Restart icon. Tap it again to restart your Samsung device. You will notice that your screen goes off and your device restarts shortly after.
After restarting your device, it should be back to regular mode, and the Safe Mode icon at the bottom of your screen should have disappeared. Also, all the third-party apps that had been disabled during Safe Mode should resume functionality.

©History-Computer.com
Method #2: Using the Power and Volume-Down Buttons
Another simple way to restart your Samsung mobile device and exit Safe Mode is by pressing the power and volume-down buttons simultaneously.
First and only step: Press the Volume-Down and Power Buttons
Press and hold the power and volume-down buttons for about five seconds. The screen will go blank and your phone or tablet will restart automatically.
You might take a screenshot when pressing the two buttons, but that shouldn’t worry you. Just press the two buttons again until the display goes off.
Method #3: Swiping Down the Notifications Bar
This is probably the easiest method of turning off Safe Mode on Samsung as it doesn’t involve pressing buttons. Just a simple downward swipe and you are on your way out of the Safe Mode.
The following steps will guide you better.
Step 1: Swipe Down the Notifications Menu
Swipe downwards from the top of your Galaxy to access the notifications panel.

©History-Computer.com
Step 2: Click “Safe Mode is on”
On the notifications bar, tap Safe mode is on.

©History-Computer.com
Step 3: Turn off Safe Mode
Click turn off to exit Safe Mode. Your device will restart and you can access all your apps again.

©History-Computer.com
Method #4: Removing the Battery
If, for some reason, the other mentioned methods fail, you can always force your device to restart by taking out the battery. However, this method is only applicable to Samsung devices with removable batteries.
Step 1: Remove the Battery
Remove your phone or tablet’s battery and put it back in.
Step 2: Press the Power Button
Press the power button to turn on your device, and Safe Mode will turn off automatically.
Wrapping Up
Turning your Samsung Galaxy to Safe Mode is great for troubleshooting and deciding on the next best step. For instance, if your device still has issues while Safe Mode is on, you might need to call support or visit your nearest Samsung support center. On the other hand, if it functions well in Safe Mode, you should check the apps you have recently installed to identify the culprit.
While you can stay in Safe Mode for as long as you wish, you’ll miss out on some apps. Therefore, once you are done figuring out the issue, use the methods we have discussed to turn off Safe Mode on your Samsung mobile device. Thankfully, turning off Safe Mode is pretty easy!
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