Safe mode occurs in smartphones and tablets, among other devices. Any electronic device can experience a sudden, unexpected malfunction. Find out how to deal with it. How to turn safe mode on and off?
What is safe mode on a phone for?
System or app freezing, battery life issues, or constant error messages... As a result, using such a smartphone will likely become cumbersome. Find out if safe mode on your phone can help fix it.
The Play Store and App Store are filled with apps, games, and widgets. It happens that people download a lot of things they later forget about. Sometimes they also install apps from unknown sources. Ultimately, one of these programs can cause errors in the operation of the entire device. The list of malfunctions that can occur on a smartphone includes:
- constant lags (slowdowns) in interface operation;
- freezing or resetting of the phone at random moments;
- reduced battery health;
- problems with the proper functioning of various applications;
- lack of notifications (even for calls).
If you've encountered one of the above situations, safe mode on your phone can be very helpful. It's useful precisely in critical moments. Thanks to it, you have a chance to quickly locate the cause of the malfunction and restore your smartphone to full working order. This is possible because, in such a situation, the system uses only factory applications and settings. Safe mode allows you to continue using, among other things:
- phone calls;
- SMS messages;
- contacts;
- utility tools (flashlight, calendar, calculator, and alarms);
- Google apps;
- internet and Bluetooth connections, as well as location.
This process ensures that the smartphone is not burdened by widgets or applications or games from external sources. If everything works correctly in this case, it's most likely that safe mode on your phone will also allow you to restore the device to factory settings. Furthermore, you can also perform system updates from this mode.
How to turn safe mode on and off? Quick guide (Android)
Safe mode on an Android-based phone can be enabled using one of two methods. It's not a feature used every day. Therefore, it's not activated with a single click in the settings. Here's the classic way, which is booting the phone in safe mode when the device is off:
- Press and hold the power button for a few seconds.
- When you see the startup animation with the manufacturer's logo, simultaneously press one of three button combinations:
- power button and volume down button;
- power button and volume up button;
- power button and both volume control buttons.
- When you choose the correct key combination, the phone will boot into safe mode.
And how to start the phone in safe mode with the smartphone already on?
- Press and hold the power button for a few seconds (when the phone is on).
- Two icons will appear on the screen side-by-side – "Restart" and "Power off." Press and hold the power off option.
- Wait for the "Boot into safe mode" message. When it appears, all you have to do is confirm it. Done.
And how do you turn off safe mode on an Android phone? To do this, simply restart the device.
Turning Safe Mode On and Off – Quick Guide (iPhone/iOS)
When it comes to iPhones based on iOS, the whole process is a bit more complicated. You'll need a Lightning cable and a computer for this:
- Turn off your iPhone.
- Connect it using a Lightning cable to a computer with the iTunes app installed (it must be updated to the latest version).
- This step depends on the model of smartphone you have. For iPhone 8 or newer models – first, press and quickly release the volume up button. Then do the same with the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until safe mode is activated.
For iPhone 7/7 Plus – instead of the above combination, simultaneously press the volume down button and the side button. Hold them until safe mode is activated.
For iPhone 6s and older models – press the Home button and the side button, then wait for safe mode to activate.
It's worth knowing that on an iPhone, this mode is used to install system updates or restore the device to factory settings. After the operation is completed, safe mode will be exited.
