How do I restart or turn off a Samsung Galaxy phone when the power menu will not open?
Answer
For most recent Samsung Galaxy phones, hold Volume Down and the Side button together for about 20 seconds to force a restart. To power off normally after it responds, hold the Side button (or Side and Volume Down briefly) and tap Power off.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- A force restart does not delete your data; do not use Factory data reset just to turn the phone off.
Follow these steps
Try the normal power menu first
Press and hold the Side button for a few seconds, or press Side and Volume Down briefly, then tap Power off or Restart if the menu appears.
You should see: The phone shuts down or restarts from the on-screen menu.
Force-restart with Volume Down and Side
If the menu never appears, hold Volume Down and the Side button together continuously for a full 20 seconds, even if the screen seems unchanged at first.
You should see: The Samsung logo appears and the phone restarts.
Power off after it responds
Once the phone is working again, open the power menu and tap Power off, or use Settings > Battery and device care / General management power options if your model places shutdown there.
You should see: The phone shuts down completely and stays off until you press the Side button to turn it on.
Check for stuck buttons or low battery
If force restart fails, charge for at least 15–30 minutes with a known-good cable and brick, confirm Volume and Side buttons are not physically stuck, then try the 20-second hold again.
You should see: The phone gains enough power or button travel to restart successfully.
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Extra tips
What to look for: No response to the Side button power menu, a frozen screen, or the Samsung logo appearing only after a long button hold.
Before you change anything: Note your Samsung model if button combinations differ. Force restart does not erase data; factory reset does—avoid reset for this issue. Charge the phone if the battery is extremely low. Never share account passwords with unexpected callers.