How to fix a Samsung that keeps restarting

⚡️Fast fix 

• Disable auto restart. To toggle off this feature, tap Settings > Device care > Auto optimization. 
• Do a forced restart. Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons for around 10 seconds. 
• Uninstall recent apps. If your phone still keeps restarting, a newly installed app may be causing crashes. 

You're tapping away on your Samsung® phone when the screen suddenly goes dark. Puzzled, you watch it reboot. A few minutes later, it happens again, and then a third time. Is your phone haunted? Nope. You're stuck in a frustrating reboot loop. 

At Asurion, we know how much you rely on your devices, and we're here to fix them. From broken Samsung keyboards to Galaxy Watches that won't turn on, our experts will help you get your tech running again quickly. 

This guide walks you through what to do if your Samsung phone keeps restarting, from adjusting your settings to clearing the cache.

Check your optimization settings

If your phone randomly turns off and on, the auto restart feature may be the culprit. It's supposed to periodically restart your phone to keep it running efficiently. However, a software issue could cause your Samsung phone to continuously restart unexpectedly. 

Here's how to check your Samsung auto restart settings: 

1. Open Settings and tap Device care. 
2. Tap Auto optimization > Auto restart. 
3. Toggle off Restart when needed and Restart on schedule.

Check your apps in Safe Mode 

Not all apps are created equal. A glitchy or corrupted app might cause your Samsung phone to keep crashing and restarting​. 

If there's no obvious suspect, try restarting your phone in Safe Mode. It disables all downloaded apps and only uses the built-in software that came with the device. This helps narrow down if a third-party app is causing the reboot loop. 

Follow these steps: 

1. Press and hold the Power off button.
2. Tap the Safe Mode icon when it appears on your screen.
3. Spend a few minutes testing how the phone works. 

Is your phone working normally in Safe Mode? Try uninstalling recent apps and restarting your phone in regular mode. Then you can reinstall the apps one by one until you find the bad apple (pun intended!). 

Clear the system cache partition

If your Samsung phone keeps restarting in Safe Mode​, it could be a software issue. Some devices have a cache partition, which stores temporary files and data. If these files get corrupted, your phone may keep freezing and restarting. 

Here's how to clear the cache partition: 

1. Turn off your phone by holding the Power button for a few seconds. With some models, you may also need to hold the Volume Down button at the same time. 
2. Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons to reboot your phone in Recovery Mode. Depending on the model, you may need to use a USB cable to connect your phone to a laptop or PC to access this mode. 
3. Select Wipe cache partition > Yes. 
4. Press the Power button to confirm. 
5. Reboot your device. 

Still stuck in a pesky restarting loop​? Maybe you don't have enough storage. Follow these steps to check: 

1. Open Settings and tap Device care or Device maintenance. 
2. Tap Storage to see how much space you have left on your SD card. 

If your storage is running low, delete large files or apps to free up space. Sometimes that's all it takes to fix a Samsung phone that keeps restarting​. 

A corrupt SD card is another possible trigger for reboots. If you notice that some of your data is missing or see an error message, it may be time to replace the card. 

Update your software or perform a factory reset

Maybe you've tried all these tips, but your Samsung phone keeps restarting and won't turn on. Or it restarts but quickly shuts down again. Don't give up just yet. 

Outdated software can cause random crashes. Luckily, it only takes a few seconds to check for updates:

1. Open Settings. 
2. Tap Software update or System updates. 
3. Install any pending updates. 

As a last resort, consider a factory reset to fix a Samsung reboot loop. This wipes all the data, so be sure to back up your phone first. Otherwise, you'll lose everything that wasn't included in the original settings, including your contacts and photos. After you've backed it up:

1. Tap Settings > General management. 
2. Tap Reset > Factory data reset. 
3. Tap Delete all and enter your security credentials. You may also need to enter the password for your Samsung account. 
4. Wait while the device resets. 

If none of these troubleshooting tips work, it may be time to reach out to an experienced repair person. They can tell you what to do if your Samsung phone keeps restarting​ with no obvious trigger.