Phones · Repair guide

How to fix an Android phone that won't turn on

8 fixes, easiest first4 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

Plug the phone into a working wall charger for at least 10-30 minutes, then force restart it: on Samsung, hold the Side (Power) and Volume Down buttons together for at least 7 seconds; on Pixel, hold the Power button for about 35 seconds.

What it means

An Android phone that seems dead is often just completely flat, frozen with the screen off, or stuck while starting up. A force restart and a proper charge fix most cases. If it starts but gets stuck on the logo or keeps restarting, an app or a software problem is the likely cause, while damage from a drop or water needs a repair shop.

Common causes

  • The battery is completely drained
  • The phone is frozen with the screen off
  • A faulty charger, cable or dirty charging port
  • A recently installed app or update that stops it from starting
  • The phone got too hot or too cold and shut down to protect itself
  • Damage from a drop or liquid
  • A failed battery, screen or other part

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01Charge it properly and waitEasy

  1. Plug the phone into a wall outlet using the charger and cable that came with it, or another one you know works.
  2. Wait one minute and look for a battery or charging icon. If you see one, the phone is off and charging, and you can try to turn it on.
  3. If the battery was very low, leave it charging for at least another 10 minutes before trying the Power button.
  4. Keep it charging even if the screen stays dark. Google says a Pixel that has been flat for a long time can show nothing for up to 25 minutes.
  5. Then press and hold the Power (Side) button. On Pixel, hold it for 5-7 seconds.

Why it helps: A fully drained battery needs some charge before the screen will even show a charging icon.

02Try another charger, cable and outletEasy

  1. Swap to a different cable and charger, ideally ones made or approved by the phone's maker.
  2. Try a different wall outlet instead of a computer USB port or car charger.
  3. Look into the charging port with a light. If there is lint or dirt, have a repair shop clean it rather than poking it with metal.
  4. Stop using any cable or charger that is frayed, bent or damaged.

Why it helps: A broken cable or blocked port can stop the phone from charging, which looks exactly like a dead phone.

03Force restart the phoneEasy

  1. Take off a thick case if it makes the buttons hard to press.
  2. On Samsung: press and hold the Side (Power) button and the Volume Down button at the same time for at least 7 seconds. Let go when the Samsung logo appears and the phone vibrates.
  3. On Samsung, press both buttons at exactly the same time. If only the volume bar or power menu appears, start again.
  4. On Pixel: press and hold the Power button for about 35 seconds. If the phone is frozen and nothing happens, keep holding for up to 60 seconds and let go when the G logo appears.
  5. Other Android phones: check the maker's support site, as most use Power alone or Power plus Volume Down.

Why it helps: A force restart cuts power to a frozen phone and starts it fresh without deleting anything.

04Check whether it's on with a black screenEasy

  1. After a force restart, wait about 2 minutes.
  2. Call the phone from another phone, or make it ring using Google's Find Hub app or website on another device.
  3. If it rings, vibrates or you hear sounds but the screen stays black, the phone is running and the screen is likely faulty.
  4. In that case, contact the maker or an authorized repair shop.

Why it helps: Many phones that look dead are actually running with a broken or disconnected screen.

05Let a hot or cold phone return to room temperatureEasy

  1. If the phone shut down after being in the sun, a hot car or the cold, bring it indoors and let it sit at room temperature.
  2. Do not use a fridge, freezer, hair dryer or heater to speed this up.
  3. Once it feels normal, charge it and try to turn it on.

Why it helps: Phones switch off to protect themselves when they get too hot or cold, and they won't start until they are back in range.

06Start in Safe mode if it's stuck on the logo or keeps restartingMedium

  1. On Samsung: turn the phone off completely, turn it on, and when the Samsung logo appears, press and hold Volume down. Keep holding until it finishes starting.
  2. On Pixel: press the Power button, and when the animation starts, press and hold Volume down until the animation ends.
  3. Check that Safe mode appears at the bottom of the screen.
  4. If it starts in Safe mode, a downloaded app is likely the cause. Uninstall recently installed apps one at a time, newest first.
  5. To leave Safe mode, restart the phone normally.

Why it helps: Safe mode starts the phone without downloaded apps, so it can get past an app that is crashing the start-up.

07If it got wet or was dropped, stop and get it repairedEasy

  1. If the phone got wet, don't charge it and don't keep pressing the Power button.
  2. Dry the outside with a soft cloth. Don't use rice, a hair dryer, an oven or other heat.
  3. If it was dropped, look for cracks, a bent frame or a lifting back cover.
  4. If the battery looks swollen or you smell burning, stop and keep the phone away from anything that can burn.
  5. Take it to the maker or an authorized repair shop and tell them what happened.

Why it helps: Liquid and impact damage can short out parts, and trying to power the phone on can make the damage worse.

08Factory reset from recovery mode only as a last resortAdvancedBack up first

  1. Warning: a factory reset from recovery mode, Fastboot mode or rescue mode erases everything on the phone, including photos and messages not backed up.
  2. Back up first if you can. If the phone won't start at all, only what was already backed up to your Google or Samsung account will survive.
  3. Make sure you know the Google account email and password used on the phone. After a reset done outside Settings, the phone asks for them before it can be used (Factory Reset Protection).
  4. Because the button combinations and menus differ by model, follow your phone maker's official instructions for your exact model.
  5. If you aren't comfortable doing this, contact Samsung or Google support or an authorized repair shop instead.

Why it helps: A reset can fix a phone stuck in a boot loop because of corrupted software, but it is permanent, so it comes last.

Check it's fixed

  • The phone starts, shows the lock screen and stays on.
  • A charging icon or percentage appears when you plug it in.
  • The phone restarts normally from the power menu without getting stuck on the logo.

When to get help

If nothing appears after 25-30 minutes of charging with a working charger, the phone rings but the screen stays black, or it was dropped or got wet, contact Samsung, Google or an authorized repair shop. Do not open the phone or try to remove the battery yourself.

Questions

My phone won't turn on or charge. Is it dead?

Not necessarily. A fully drained battery can show nothing for a while, so leave it on a working wall charger for up to 25-30 minutes, then force restart it. If nothing changes, the battery, port or charger may be faulty.

How do I force restart a Samsung Galaxy?

Press and hold the Side (Power) and Volume Down buttons together for at least 7 seconds, then let go when the Samsung logo appears. This doesn't delete anything.

Why is my Android stuck on the logo after an update?

The update or an app may be stopping the start-up. Force restart it, then try Safe mode. If it still won't start, contact the maker before doing a factory reset.

Will a force restart delete my photos?

No. A force restart only cuts power and restarts the phone. Only a factory reset erases your data.

Related fixes

How to fix an iPhone that won't turn onCharge the iPhone for an hour, then force restart it: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then pressHow to fix a phone that's overheatingStop using the phone, unplug it, turn it off if it shows a temperature warning, and leave it somewhere cool and shaded until it feels normalHow to fix a phone battery that drains fastOpen the battery usage screen (Settings > Battery on iPhone, Samsung and Pixel) to find the app using the most power, update or limit thaHow to fix an iPhone that won't chargePlug a different cable and power adapter straight into a wall outlet, check the charging port for lint, and let the iPhone charge for 30 min

Still stuck?

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Sources