How to restart or force restart an Android phone

2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

Open the power menu and tap Restart. On Pixel phones, press power and volume up together; on Samsung, hold the side button and volume down. If the screen is frozen, hold the power button on a Pixel for 30 to 60 seconds, or the side button and volume down on a Samsung for more than seven seconds.

A restart fixes many small problems, such as an app that keeps crashing, no signal or a slow phone. A force restart is for a frozen or black screen. Neither deletes your data.

The pictures are diagrams of the buttons to press.

Step by step

  1. Power+Volume upPixel. On Samsung: side button + volume down

    Open the power menu

    On Pixel 6 and later, press power and volume up together. On Samsung phones, hold the side button and volume down. On many other phones, hold the power button alone for a few seconds.

  2. Power menuEmergencyLockdownPower offRestart

    Tap Restart

    The phone turns off and on again by itself. If you only see Power off, tap that, wait 30 seconds and hold the power button to turn the phone back on.

  3. PowerHold for 30 to 60 seconds

    Force restart a frozen Pixel

    Hold the power button for 30 to 60 seconds. Let go when the Google logo appears.

  4. Side button+Volume downHold for more than 7 seconds

    Force restart a frozen Samsung

    Hold the side button and the volume down button together for more than seven seconds, until the screen goes black and the Samsung logo appears.

Good to know

If holding the power button opens the assistant instead of the power menu, change it under Settings, System, Gestures, Press and hold power button. On Samsung: Settings, Advanced features, Side button.

The power menu is also in Quick Settings: swipe down twice from the top and tap the power icon.

If the phone will not turn on at all, charge it for 30 minutes with a cable you know works and try again.

In short: Open the power menu and tap Restart. Frozen: hold power for 30 to 60 seconds on Pixel, or side and volume down on Samsung.

Sources
  • Google Pixel Help: Turn your Pixel phone on and off
  • Samsung Support: How to restart your Galaxy phone

Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.