Android Phone Keeps Restarting? 10 Fixes to Try Before a Reset

If your Android phone keeps restarting, it may reboot randomly while you’re using it, restart when you open a certain app, turn off and back on repeatedly, or get stuck in a restart loop.

The frustrating part is that the same symptom can have very different causes.

A recently installed app, low storage, an Android update, overheating, a problematic accessory, or a hardware issue can all cause unexpected restarts. Google’s current Android troubleshooting guidance recommends checking updates and storage, testing apps, using Safe Mode, and leaving a factory reset until the more basic troubleshooting steps have been exhausted.

Before you reset your phone, find out what kind of restart problem you’re dealing with. That can help you avoid deleting your data unnecessarily.

Quick Diagnosis: Why Is Your Android Phone Restarting?

Start with the symptom that matches what you’re seeing.

Don’t start with a factory reset. It’s one of the most destructive steps because a factory data reset removes data stored on the device. Google recommends backing up your phone before performing one.

1. Remove the Case and Accessories First

Before changing Android settings, try one surprisingly simple test.

Remove:

• Your phone case
• External battery packs
• Magnetic accessories
• Anything pressing against the buttons

Then use the phone normally for a few minutes.

Why?

A poorly fitting case or accessory can interfere with physical buttons or sensors. Google specifically recommends removing cases, external batteries and accessories while troubleshooting repeated restarts.

This is especially worth checking if:

• The restart happens when you hold the phone a certain way.
• The power button feels stuck.
• The problem started after changing your case.
• The phone restarts when the case is pressed.

It’s a 30-second test that can rule out a surprisingly simple cause.

2. Check How Much Storage You Have Left

Low storage is easy to overlook.

Open your phone’s:

Settings → Storage

The exact menu can vary depending on the manufacturer.

Look at how much free space remains.

Google says an Android phone can start experiencing problems when less than 10% of its storage is available.

If you’re almost out of space

Start by removing things you don’t need:

• Large downloaded videos
• Old screen recordings
• Unused apps
• Duplicate photos
• Offline downloads
• Large files from messaging apps

Don’t delete random Android system files just to create space.

A useful clue

If the phone started restarting after you received a “Storage almost full” warning, deal with storage before trying more advanced repairs.

3. Install Available Android Updates

If your phone keeps restarting, check whether an Android system update is available.

Go to:

Settings → System → Software update

On Samsung and other Android brands, the location can be different.

For example, Samsung may use:

Settings → Software update

Then select:

Download and install

Google recommends checking for Android updates as part of its current troubleshooting process for restarting and crashing devices.

Why this matters

A restart problem can sometimes be related to software.

If the issue appeared after an update, don’t immediately assume the update permanently damaged the phone. First check whether another update is available.

4. Update All Your Apps

Don’t only update Android itself.

A buggy or outdated app can also cause instability.

Open:

Google Play Store → Profile picture → Manage apps & device

Then check:

Updates available

Update the apps that need attention.

Google specifically recommends checking for app updates when troubleshooting an Android device that is restarting or crashing.

Pay special attention to recently updated apps

If your phone started restarting immediately after an app update, remember the app name.

You may have found an important clue.

5. Uninstall Apps You Installed Before the Problem Started

Think back to when the restarting began.

Did you install:

• A new launcher?
• A battery optimizer?
• A cleaner app?
• A third-party antivirus?
• A game?
• A VPN?
• A customization app?
• An app installed outside Google Play?

If the problem began shortly after installing something, remove that app and test the phone again.

Google recommends removing recently downloaded apps one at a time, restarting after each removal to identify the app causing the problem.

Don’t uninstall everything

You don’t need to delete 20 apps.

Start with the ones installed or updated immediately before the problem appeared.

That’s much more useful diagnostically.

6. Use Safe Mode — The Best Diagnostic Test

If your Android phone keeps restarting and you don’t know whether an app is responsible, Safe Mode is one of the most useful tests you can perform.

Safe Mode temporarily disables downloaded apps.

That means you can observe the phone without most third-party applications running.

Google explains that if the problem disappears in Safe Mode, an app is likely causing it.

The important part

If your phone stops restarting in Safe Mode:

A downloaded app becomes the main suspect.

If it keeps restarting in Safe Mode:

The problem is less likely to be caused by a normal downloaded app, so continue with the advanced checks.

Safe Mode isn’t identical on every Android phone

The exact steps vary by manufacturer.

Google recommends checking your phone manufacturer’s instructions for the correct Safe Mode procedure.

For that reason, don’t copy one button combination from a Samsung guide and assume it works on every Pixel, Motorola, Xiaomi or OnePlus.

7. Check Whether Your Phone Is Overheating

Pay attention to when the restart happens.

Does the phone become very hot immediately before it restarts?

For example, it may happen when:

• Playing demanding games
• Recording long videos
• Using GPS for a long time
• Charging while using the phone heavily
• Sitting in direct sunlight
• Running several demanding apps

If the phone becomes unusually hot, stop intensive use and let it cool down.

Don’t ignore excessive heat

If the device is extremely hot, swollen, smells unusual, or appears physically damaged, stop using it and seek professional assistance.

A repeated restart combined with abnormal heat can point beyond a simple app problem.

8. Test the Phone Without the Charger

Here’s a useful diagnostic test if the restarting happens mainly while charging.

Unplug the phone.

Then use it normally for a while.

If the restarting stops when the charger is disconnected, investigate:

• Charging cable
• Power adapter
• Outlet
• Charging port
• Battery condition
• Heat generated during charging

Try a different known-good charger and cable.

Why this test matters

If the phone only restarts while connected to power, that’s a very different clue from a phone that randomly restarts while sitting idle.

Don’t immediately factory-reset a phone that only restarts during charging.

First investigate the charging setup.

9. Clear Up the Problem Before a Factory Reset

If you’ve already tried updates, storage cleanup, Safe Mode and app troubleshooting, take a moment to identify the exact pattern.

Ask:

Does it restart in Safe Mode?

Does it restart without the charger?

Does it restart when a particular app opens?

Does it restart when the phone gets hot?

Did it start after an update?

Did it start after installing an app?

These answers tell you much more than simply knowing that the phone “keeps restarting.”

Why we’re doing this

A factory reset can erase your data, but it won’t magically tell you why the problem happened.

If the cause is a failing battery or another hardware problem, you could reset the phone and still have the same restart loop afterward.

10. Factory Reset Only After You Back Up Your Data

This is the final software step—not the first one.

A factory reset removes the data stored on the phone and uninstalls apps and their associated data.

Google explicitly recommends backing up your phone before performing a factory reset.

Before resetting, make sure you have access to important:

• Photos
• Videos
• Contacts
• Messages
• Documents
• Authentication information
• WhatsApp or other app backups
• Google Account credentials

Why this is a last resort

If the problem is caused by an app, Safe Mode may already have identified it.

If the problem is caused by low storage, freeing space may solve it.

If the problem is hardware-related, a factory reset may accomplish nothing.

So don’t erase your phone just because it’s the easiest option to find in Settings.

Android Phone Stuck in a Restart Loop?

A restart loop is different from an occasional random reboot.

You may see something like:

Manufacturer logo → phone starts → phone restarts → manufacturer logo → repeat

If this happens continuously, your priority is to determine whether Android can remain stable long enough to troubleshoot.

Try this order:

1. Remove the case and accessories

↓

2. Disconnect the charger

↓

3. Try Safe Mode

↓

4. Check whether storage is critically low

↓

5. Remove recently installed apps

↓

6. Check for Android updates

↓

7. Back up your data if the phone becomes stable

↓

8. Consider a factory reset only after backup

If the phone remains stuck in a loop even after a clean reset, the possibility of a hardware issue becomes much stronger.

Android Keeps Restarting After an Update?

If the problem started immediately after an Android system update, don’t panic.

First:

1. Restart the phone normally.
2. Check whether another system update is available.
3. Update all apps through Google Play.
4. Check storage.
5. Test Safe Mode.
6. Watch for overheating.

Google’s current troubleshooting guidance places system and app updates among the first checks for repeated restarts.

Record what changed

Write down:

Android version:
Phone model:
Date the problem started:
Last system update:
Apps installed around that time:

This information can be useful if you eventually need manufacturer support.

What If Safe Mode Fixes the Problem?

This is actually good news.

It means your phone can remain stable when downloaded apps are disabled.

Now restart normally and start removing recently installed apps one by one.

After removing each suspicious app, test the phone.

Google recommends this one-at-a-time approach rather than removing everything at once.

Don’t reinstall the suspected app immediately

If you identify an app that appears to trigger the restarts, leave it uninstalled for a while.

If you reinstall it and the problem returns, you’ve got a much stronger indication that the app is responsible.

What If It Still Restarts in Safe Mode?

This is where the diagnosis changes.

If the phone continues restarting even with downloaded apps disabled, a third-party app becomes less likely.

Focus on:

• Android updates
• Storage
• Overheating
• Charging/accessories
• Physical damage
• Battery condition
• Other hardware problems

Google’s guidance says that if the issue doesn’t go away in Safe Mode, you should move on to advanced troubleshooting rather than continuing to remove apps.

If the phone continues restarting after a factory reset, contact the manufacturer or a qualified repair service.

A Quick Test Before You Reset Your Android Phone

Before you erase everything, spend two minutes answering these questions:

Does it restart in Safe Mode?

Yes: A downloaded app is likely involved.

No: Look beyond third-party apps.

Does it restart only while charging?

Yes: Test the cable, charger, outlet and charging port.

Is storage almost full?

Yes: Free up space before doing anything drastic.

Does it get very hot?

Yes: Stop intensive use and investigate overheating.

Did the problem begin after an app installation?

Yes: Remove that app first.

Did the problem begin after an Android update?

Yes: Check for another update and test Safe Mode.

Does it still restart after a factory reset?

Yes: Hardware becomes a much stronger possibility.

This quick diagnosis can save you from wiping the phone when the real problem is simply an app, storage issue, or accessory.

When Should You Stop Troubleshooting?

You shouldn’t keep experimenting indefinitely.

Consider professional support if:

• The phone keeps restarting in Safe Mode.
• It restarts immediately after a factory reset.
• The device is unusually hot.
• The battery appears swollen.
• The phone was recently dropped.
• The device suffered liquid damage.
• The power button appears damaged or stuck.
• The phone won’t stay on long enough to back up your data.
• The restart loop continues despite software troubleshooting.

If hardware is failing, software fixes won’t repair the physical component.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Android phone keep restarting by itself?

Common possibilities include problematic apps, low storage, outdated software, overheating, accessories, battery problems or other hardware issues. Google recommends checking updates and storage, troubleshooting apps, and using Safe Mode to determine whether a downloaded app is responsible.

Can a full storage cause Android to restart?

It can contribute to system problems. Google says Android devices can start experiencing issues when less than 10% of storage is free.

How do I know if an app is causing my Android phone to restart?

Try Safe Mode. Safe Mode temporarily disables downloaded apps. If the phone stops restarting there, a downloaded app is likely responsible.

Should I factory reset an Android phone that keeps restarting?

Not immediately. Try updates, storage cleanup, app troubleshooting, Safe Mode and charging/accessory checks first. If you eventually perform a factory reset, back up your important data beforehand.

Why does my Android phone restart when charging?

Possible causes include a faulty cable, charger, outlet, charging port, battery or heat-related problem. Test another known-good charger and cable and see whether the problem disappears when the phone isn’t connected to power.

Why does my Android phone restart after an update?

The timing may indicate a software issue, but it doesn’t automatically mean the update damaged your phone. Check for another available system update, update your apps, check storage and test Safe Mode.

What if my Android phone keeps restarting after a factory reset?

If the phone still restarts after a clean factory reset, software becomes a less likely explanation and hardware problems become more important to investigate. Contact your device manufacturer or a qualified repair service.

More Troubleshooting Guides

Still having problems with your devices? Check out these related guides for more step-by-step solutions:

Android Connected to WiFi but No Internet

iPhone Won’t Turn On? 9 Fixes to Try Before Repair

Chrome Not Responding on Windows 11

Final Thoughts

When an Android phone keeps restarting, the best solution isn’t necessarily a factory reset.

Start by looking for the pattern.

If the problem began after installing an app, investigate the app.

If storage is nearly full, free up space.

If the phone only restarts while charging, test the charging setup.

If you can’t identify the cause, Safe Mode is one of the most useful tests because it temporarily disables downloaded apps.

And if the phone continues restarting even after the software troubleshooting steps—or after a clean reset—it’s time to consider a hardware problem instead of continuing to change Android settings.

The goal isn’t just to stop the next restart. It’s to find out why the phone keeps restarting in the first place.