How to Reboot an Android Smartphone or Tablet

Hold down the Power button to get the power off menu, or try Power+Volume Up

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Updated on January 5, 2024

What to Know

Press-and-hold the Power button, or Power + Volume Up, to find the power off menu.
Alternatively, to force a reboot, hold that button(s) until it restarts on its own.
If your device has a battery you can remove, doing that will force a shutdown. Hold the Power button to start back up.

Sometimes, you must reboot (or restart) a wonky Android device to solve problems like freezing/crashing apps and slow performance. The specifics might differ, but these reboot instructions generally apply regardless of the phone manufacturer or Android version.

Press the Power Button

Press and hold the power button for a few seconds. It's usually on the right side of the device.

A menu will appear with the Power off option. The latest Android version might offer other options, including Restart, which is a better option.

Some devices work a little differently. For example, the latest Pixel phones show the power off menu when you press the Power + Volume Up keys at the same time.

Do a Hard Reboot

Even when the Android operating system can't display the power down menu, you can perform a hard reboot, also known as a hard restart. Not every Android device is programmed to do a hard reboot the same way.

Many devices reboot when you hold down the power button. However, it may take 10 to 20 seconds before it's triggered.

If that doesn't work, try holding down both the Power and Volume Up buttons for up to 20 seconds. After that, the screen will go black, signaling that the device has powered down.

Factory resetting an Android device is very different from rebooting one. Learn more about reboot vs reset to see which option is best for you.

Remove the Battery

If you have a removable battery in your device (not all do), remove it to shut everything down. Then, reattach it and power on your phone or tablet. It's a great backup if you've exhausted all other options.

Don't touch the battery or any components on the device with your fingers. Instead, use a piece of plastic, such as a guitar pick, to pop the battery out. Some devices include a battery lock or switch that you must press to pop it out.

Try Closing Apps Instead

You don't always need to reboot to solve problems. If your device is running slowly, closing a few apps might speed it up. When you leave an app, Android keeps it available so that you can quickly switch back to it. In the meantime, it continues to consume memory.

Swipe up, or tap the square at the bottom right of your device, to show recently used apps. Then, swipe up on an app to close it. On some devices, you can swipe all the way to the left while viewing the open apps to find a Clear all button which quickly closes down all the apps.

Close Recently Used Apps

Some Android devices have a Recently Used Apps button in the lower-left corner of the device. To close apps in this view, tap the X on each app or tap Close All.

Task Manager

If these options don't work, try long-pressing (or double-tapping) the Home button to bring up a menu with several options, including one for the Task Manager. In the Task Manager, you can choose to close or exit apps. On some phones, the Task Manager is a Pie Chart icon.

FAQ

Why does my phone randomly restart?

If your Android phone randomly restarts, you may have a poor quality app, your device may be overheating, there may be a loose battery, or system apps were disabled. Try uninstalling any recently installed apps, reduce screen brightness to stop overheating, check your battery, and enable system apps.
What happens when I restart my phone?

When you restart a phone, everything in your RAM is cleared out, purging fragments of previously running apps and closing any open apps. With a fresh start, apps will load and perform more quickly, and you'll see an overall performance improvement.

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