To restart a new Samsung phone, press and hold the Side button and Volume down button together until the power menu appears, then tap Restart. This standard method works for most situations, whether you are restarting and rebooting phones to fix a minor glitch or just refreshing the system.
How to restart a new Samsung phone: Three methods
Regular restarts can resolve slow performance, app freezes, or software hiccups. Depending on your situation, normal use, a frozen screen, or a scheduled restart, you have three reliable options.
Method 1: Using the side and volume buttons
This is the quickest way to restart a responsive phone.
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume down button at the same time.
- When the power menu appears, tap Restart.
- Tap Restart again to confirm.
- The phone restarts automatically.
Method 2: Force restart when the phone is frozen
If your screen is unresponsive or the phone is frozen, use this method to force a reboot. For models with non-removable batteries, this force restart method also applies.
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume down button together for about 7 to 10 seconds.
- Release the buttons when the screen turns black and the Samsung logo appears.
- The phone will restart. Samsung documents this as the option to use when the phone is frozen or unresponsive.
Method 3: Restart through settings
This method lets you schedule automatic restarts or let the phone decide when one is needed.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Device care.
- Tap Auto optimization.
- Tap Auto restart.
- Turn on Restart when needed to let the phone choose the best time to restart.
- Or turn on Restart on schedule and choose the day(s) and time.
Bonus: Restart with Bixby
For a hands-free option, say “Hi, Bixby, restart my phone” and Bixby will restart the device for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the phone does not respond to Restart?
Use the force restart method by holding the Side and Volume down buttons together for about 7 to 10 seconds until the Samsung logo appears.
Does restarting erase data?
No. A standard restart or force restart does not delete any personal data, apps, or settings. It only turns the phone off and back on.
Do these steps work on all Samsung Galaxy phones?
Yes. Samsung confirms these restart methods apply to its Galaxy phone and tablet support pages, with no model-specific limits documented for the standard restart or force restart steps.
Can the phone restart on a schedule?
Yes. Under Settings > Device care > Auto optimization > Auto restart, you can turn on Restart on schedule and choose specific days and times for automatic restarts.
How often should I restart my Samsung phone?
Samsung recommends restarting your phone at least once a week to clear temporary files and maintain optimal performance.
Does Samsung document an iPhone restart path on these pages?
No. The cited Samsung pages document only Galaxy restart methods, not steps for iPhone.
