How to start Android in Safe mode to find a bad app
Safe mode runs the phone without downloaded apps. Use it to test if an app is causing popups or battery drain and to remove stubborn apps.
Safe mode starts your phone with only the apps that came with it. Downloaded apps are paused. If the problem stops in Safe mode, a downloaded app is the cause. It is also a way to remove apps that fight uninstalling. Menu names differ slightly on Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus phones.
Steps
- Press and hold the power button. Hold the power button until the power menu appears. If you only see Power off and Restart, that is fine. Do not tap them yet. Some phones need you to hold the volume buttons later instead.
- Long-press Power off. Touch and hold Power off until Reboot to safe mode or Safe mode appears. Tap OK. The phone restarts and shows Safe mode at the bottom left of the screen.
- If that does not work. Switch the phone off, then turn it on and, as the logo appears, hold the volume down button until the phone finishes starting. Keys differ by brand, so search for your phone model's Safe mode method.
- Test and uninstall. Use the phone for a while. If popups, heat or battery drain stop, a downloaded app is to blame. Go to Settings, Apps and uninstall the last apps you added, one at a time.
- Leave Safe mode. Restart the phone normally. It should return to full mode. If it stays in Safe mode, switch it off fully and turn it on again, and check that no volume button is stuck.
Menu names differ a little between phone makers and Android versions. If you cannot find a setting, open Settings and use the search box.
Why it matters
Adware, screen overlays and some malware keep you from reaching Settings or removing them, because they sit on top of the screen or block the Uninstall button. Safe mode pauses them so you can remove them. It is also a free first test before paying a repair shop or resetting the phone.
Watch out for
- Your home screen widgets may disappear in Safe mode, but they return after restart.
- Do not enter Safe mode because a caller tells you to.
- If the app is a device admin, deactivate it first, see our device admin guide.
- If problems remain in Safe mode, the cause may be the system, not an app.
How Safeavio helps
Safeavio's phone scan lists installed apps, risky permissions and apps that look like copies of other apps, which helps you decide what to uninstall once Safe mode lets you reach them. It tells you what looks wrong and how to fix it. It does not remove malware by magic.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions
Does Safe mode delete my data?
No. Your files and apps remain. Downloaded apps are only disabled until you restart normally. Widgets and home screen layout may look different for a short time.
Can I use Safe mode to remove malware?
It helps you reach and uninstall a bad app. After that, change passwords from a clean device, review permissions and consider a factory reset if the phone still behaves oddly.