Start Your Phone in Safe Mode
When your computer keeps crashing or freezing, one of the best ways to recover is Safe Mode. This lets you boot a stripped-down version of Windows so you can remove problem programs, drivers or settings.
Modern smartphones and tablets are basically mini computers, and they can crash and freeze as well. So the question is: Is there a Safe Mode for Android?
In fact, there is. It loads up the bare minimum version of Android so you can remove problem apps or make setting changes. Unfortunately, getting to Safe Mode isn't as easy as it should be.
Just like there are different variations of Android for every gadget, every gadget has a different way of getting into Safe Mode. Here are a few examples for major phones. If you don't see yours, you'll have to try them all to find out which one works for your gadget.
1. STOCK ANDROID
For stock Android gadgets, like the Nexus series or Google Play editions of smartphones, hold the power button until the power menu pops up.
Tap and hold Power Off until it asks if you want to reboot in Safe Mode. If nothing happens after five seconds, tap and hold Reboot instead.
When the Safe Mode screen appears, hit OK. Your gadget will reboot into Safe Mode - you can tell because "Safe Mode" will show up in the lower left corner of the screen. When you're done, reboot again like normal.
Note: If your gadget reboots into Safe Mode, hold down the power button to get the power menu. Tap and hold the Power Off or Reboot option (whichever worked last time) and turn off rebooting into Safe Mode.
2. SAMSUNG
On the Samsung Galaxy S4, turn off the phone. Turn it back on and tap the "Menu" button several times as the phone is booting.
For the Galaxy S3, turn it off and then turn it back. Press and hold the Volume Down button when the Samsung logo shows up on the screen.
When you're done with Safe Mode, reboot again like normal.
3. HTC
For an HTC One smartphone, turn it off and then turn it back. Press and hold the Volume Up button when the HTC logo shows up on the screen.
When you're done with Safe Mode, reboot again like normal.
4. MOTOROLA
For a Motorola smartphone, turn it off and then turn it back on. Press and hold the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons when the Motorola logo shows up on the screen.
When you're done with Safe Mode, reboot again like normal.
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