If your Samsung phone is restarting repeatedly, it can be frustrating trying to figure out what’s causing the issue. A phone that keeps restarting generally points to some type of system failure or crash that’s triggering a reboot. There are several potential culprits that could lead to this problem.
Quick Overview of Main Causes
Here’s a quick rundown of the most common reasons a Samsung phone may keep restarting:
- Software glitch or system crash
- Overheating due to intensive usage
- Faulty power button
- Damaged hardware component
- Outdated firmware
- Buggy app causing crashes
- Full storage causing system instability
Figuring out exactly which issue is plaguing your particular device takes some troubleshooting. Let’s dive deeper into the various causes and potential solutions for a Samsung phone that keeps powering down and restarting.
Software Glitch or System Crash
One of the most common triggers for constant restarts on Samsung phones is a software glitch or system crash. Like all gadgets, smartphones rely on software code and operating systems that can sometimes have bugs. If a system file becomes corrupt or a core app crashes repeatedly, it can create a domino effect leading to continual reboots.
This issue is often caused by a recent system update that introduced new bugs. It may also happen after you install a bad third party app. The endless reboot cycle indicates the software is unstable and unable to load correctly before crashing.
Solutions for Software/System Crashes
- Try booting the phone in Safe Mode, which disables third party apps. If the restarts stop in Safe Mode, it points to a bad app.
- Check if a recent software update coincided with the reboot loop starting. You may need to rollback the update.
- Try wiping the cache partition, which clears out corrupted system files.
- Backup data and perform a factory reset, which will do a clean install of the OS.
- If available, flash the latest firmware via Odin.
Overheating Causing Shutdowns
Excessive heat buildup can also lead to constant restarting on Galaxy phones. The sensitive electronics packed into these compact devices generate a fair bit of heat during normal usage. But when you push the phone’s hardware components too hard through intensive activities, it can overheat and automatically shut down as a safety precaution.
Using resource-heavy apps, multitasking numerous apps, playing graphics-rich games, streaming high-def videos, and using camera/navigation apps are examples of system-intensive tasks that crank up the heat. If the phone doesn’t have adequate cooling and ventilation, internal temperatures can soar out of safe parameters and essentially melt down the hardware.
When the overheated components eventually cool back down, the phone restarts and the cycle continues. This indicates overheating is most likely the culprit.
Fixes for Overheating Related Shutdowns
- Avoid using the phone in hot environments that reduce cooling.
- Don’t bundle the phone tightly in cases while using processor-intensive apps.
- Clean out dust buildup by blowing compressed air into the charging port and other openings.
- Update software, as Samsung sometimes pushes fixes for overheating shutoffs.
- Replace the battery if it’s old and worn out, unable to provide proper voltage.
Faulty Power Button Causing Boot Loops
The physical power button is one of the most frequently used components on your phone. It endures thousands of presses over the lifetime of a device. If the button becomes stuck or damaged, it can get “stuck” in a pressed position and continue toggling the phone on and off uncontrollably.
Take a close look at the power button on the side of the phone. Look for any dirt, grime, or moisture buildup around the button. Try pressing it firmly to dislodge anything stuck under it. The button may also become misaligned if the phone is dropped. You can try adjusting it back into proper position.
If the power button seems faulty or intermittently stuck, the constant unwanted reboots definitely point to a hardware issue with the button itself.
Power Button Fixes
- Use isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab to clean around the power button and remove grime buildup.
- Apply a few drops of contact cleaner into the power button to flush out any debris.
- Gently pry up the power button to realign it if it’s become crooked.
- Replace the power button sub-assembly if cleaning doesn’t resolve the sticking issue.
Damaged or Worn Out Hardware Component
If you’ve ruled out the more obvious software and power button causes, the issue may stem from a damaged hardware component inside the phone. Dropping the phone can potentially knock loose delicate electronics that control essential functions like powering on and loading the operating system.
Thermal stress from chronic overheating situations can also take a toll on internal chips, connectors and solder joints. As phones age, the daily stresses of use slowly degrade the physical hardware. For example, the battery may no longer provide stable voltage to the system.
If a vital component like the processor, memory chip or internal storage becomes too damaged, it can lead to the continual crashes and reboots.
Solutions for Hardware Damage
- Open up the phone to check for any obviously damaged parts or loose connections.
- Scan through system logs after booting into Safe Mode to pinpoint crash events.
- Try replacing the battery in case inadequate power is contributing to the problem.
- You may need to replace the motherboard or other internal parts if you can isolate the issue.
Outdated Firmware Causing Compatibility Issues
Samsung is usually very good about pushing out firmware updates for their phones, even models that are several years old. But if you’re still running a very outdated version of the firmware, it can sometimes cause stability issues and crashes, especially after updating apps or installing newer apps that require a newer OS.
System conflicts, changed APIs, and missing firmware optimizations for current third party apps can all lead to a higher rate of system crashes that continually reboot the phone.
So if the endless reboot just started happening out of the blue, there’s a decent chance a very old firmware version coupled with updated apps may be to blame.
Firmware Update Solutions
- Check Settings to see if new firmware is available for over-the-air updating.
- Use a PC to update the firmware via Odin if unable to update wirelessly.
- Back up data and perform a factory reset after updating firmware.
- Avoid outdated third party apps that may conflict with the updated OS.
Buggy App Causing Repeated Crashes
While the operating system itself is a common culprit for random crashes and reboots, misbehaving third party apps can also be at fault. If a particular app has coding bugs or software flaws, using that app can lead to frequent crashes that reboot the phone.
This can happen after updating an app to a newer version that’s full of glitches. Or if you install an app that wasn’t designed properly and ignores system resources and limitations. If the phone starts restarting right after you begin using a new app, that app is likely the problem child.
Troubleshooting App Issues
- First, boot the phone in Safe Mode to see if the restarts go away when third party apps are disabled.
- If Safe Mode helps, uninstall any new apps you suspect could be buggy.
- Check for app updates to see if the developer has fixed bugs in a new version.
- Remove the app data/cache for apps that are force closing often.
- Perform a factory reset if necessary to wipe out improperly coded apps.
Full Storage Causing Instability
Letting internal storage fill up too much can also lead to stability issues like constant restarts and crashes. The system partition needs free space to function smoothly. When storage space gets critically low, it can wreak havoc in unexpected ways.
Full storage causes problems like:
- System lag and slow performance that can end in a crash.
- Corrupted data due to the system unable to write files properly.
- Important apps force closing due to insufficient storage space.
- Inability to update and patch apps/services that protect against crashes.
If you’ve ruled out the other culprits on our list, take a look at the phone’s internal storage usage under Settings. If it’s almost completely full, the lack of free space could very well be the smoking gun.
Making More Storage Space Available
- Uninstall unused apps and delete old files you don’t need.
- Move photos, videos and music to a microSD card.
- Transfer files to a computer or cloud storage service.
- Disable or delete local data for apps that don’t need it.
- Clear cached data for apps and services hogging space.
Conclusion
A Samsung phone that keeps restarting can stem from various software faults, hardware damage, or environmental conditions like overheating. The exact cause may require some troubleshooting steps like booting into Safe Mode, wiping the cache partition, uninstalling apps, or factory resetting the device to isolate the issue.
If software tweaks don’t resolve the problem, hardware damage from an accidental drop could be preventing components from loading properly on startup. Chronic overheating can also destroy internal chips over time. In these cases, physical replacement of components may be necessary if feasible for your model.
Hopefully the common troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide provide a good starting point to stop that annoying reboot loop and get your Galaxy phone working properly again.