Smartphones are very important to our daily lives. They’re the first thing our friends talk to us about, the devices we use for social media by default, and useful tools for work. What can you do if your phone keeps turning off and on by itself? Find out how to fix this common problem on both iPhone and Android, and then get Avast Mobile Security to protect your phone and keep it from crashing.
Common causes of a restarting phone
So why does your phone restart itself all the time? This is a list of common reasons:
- An app that isn’t optimised well is using up a lot of system resources.
- You need to get your operating system up to date.
- Your phone’s short-term operating memory is being harmed by too much data in the storage.
- It’s possible that your battery is almost dead.
Hardware problems and software problems are the two main types of problems that could cause your phone to restart by itself. Hardware problems can be tricky and could be with any part of your phone that is inside. Most of the time, the problem is caused by the battery. Batteries often cause performance problems like the phone getting too hot or restarting when they reach the end of their useful life.
There are also problems with the software on your phone or the way it is set up. One example is that your operating system might not work well with your phone. Another reason could be that your Android or iPhone is restarting too often because it doesn’t have enough storage space. There are times when your Android or iPhone might need to restart because it has a virus.
7 ways to troubleshoot a phone that restarts on its own
As there are many things that could cause random restarts, it is easiest to rule out each one one at a time.
Here is a step-by-step guide to finding out what’s wrong with a phone that keeps restarting:
1. Update your operating system
When your phone’s operating system (OS) has a bug, it can sometimes do strange things. Software bugs are often fixed in updates, so making sure you have the most recent version of your OS might fix a problem with restarting.
ALSO READ: Why Is My Phone Overheating? Causes and Fixes
How to update iOS (iPhone operating system)
- Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Automatic Updates.
- Toggle on Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates
How to update Android
- Go to Settings > System.
- Tap System updates, then follow the steps on the screen if there’s a new version available.
2. Clean up your storage
If your phone’s storage is full or almost full, it may not work right and may even freeze or restart. The reason for this is that your OS will often use extra space to store temporary files that apps need to run. When you don’t have enough, apps might not work as well, and the OS might even crash.
Clear storage on an iPhone
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Check the color-coded graphic that shows how much storage space you have remaining and an overview of what’s currently saved on your phone.
Clear storage on Android
Go to Settings and then Storage. Keep in mind that these steps may be different for different Android brands and models. On a Samsung Galaxy, for instance, the way to get there is to go to Settings > Battery & Device Care > Storage.
What’s taking up space on your Android will now be clear, which will help you choose the best way to free it up.
If you want to free up space on your iPhone or Android, you can do the same things:
- Delete old photos and videos.
- Delete unused apps.
- Delete any stored content that’s backed up online.
- Delete attachments in Messages or other messaging apps.
- Clear your app cache or other app data.
- Clear your browser cache.
You can get an app that will delete your cache and unnecessary files. By getting rid of files you don’t need, Avast Cleanup for Android makes your phone run faster. It can also help you get rid of photos you don’t use, find and delete apps you don’t need, and even make your phone’s battery last longer.
3. Boot in Safe Mode
Apps from old versions can really mess up your phone. If you want to find out if an app is causing your phone to restart, you can do it in Safe Mode.
Because Safe Mode temporarily turns off apps, if restarting your phone works after running it in this mode, it’s likely an app that caused the problem. This could be because your version of the app is out of date or has a bug that needs to be fixed. Always make sure your apps are up to date.
How to boot in Safe Mode on an iPhone
- First, turn off your device.
- When it’s completely off, hold down the power button until you see your device light up.
- Press the Volume Down button until you see the Apple logo on the screen. Wait while your phone boots in Safe Mode.
A third-party app is probably to blame if your phone works fine in Safe Mode. If you hold down the power button and tap Restart, Safe Mode will be turned off. First, go to the App Store and tap your profile icon at the top of the screen. This will update your iPhone apps. You can scroll down from there to see updates that are still due. Tap Update All to update all of your apps at once, or update each one separately.
How to boot in Safe Mode on Android
- Press and hold the power button until you see the power options.
- Tap and hold Power Off until you’re given the Reboot To Safe Mode prompt.
- Tap Reboot To Safe Mode.
If your phone works fine in Safe Mode, the issue is likely with a third-party app. To update your Android apps, exit Safe Mode, open the Google Play Store, tap your profile in the upper right corner, and then tap Manage Apps and Device. Under Updates Available, you’ll see a list of apps that need to be updated.
To update, tap Update All or tap See Details to update apps separately.
4. Clean your ports
Unwanted things in your phone’s ports are a less common reason for restarts. It’s easy for dirt, dust, and lint to get into your phone’s holes, especially the charging port.
Turn off your phone before you clean the ports. Then, use a small, thin object like a toothpick to clean up any mess. Be careful not to poke or put too much pressure on the port; instead, use a gentle sweeping motion. Be careful with things that have sharp edges. For example, don’t use metal things like paper clips because they can damage ports.
You might also find paper towels, cotton swabs, and compressed air useful. It’s important to clean around the edges of your phone’s power button because anything that’s blocking this area could be making it press down, which will restart your phone.
5. Check it’s not an external accessory
The problem with restarting could be caused by an outside device. Battery packs, phone grips, phone stands, selfie sticks, and phone cases can all restart your phone without you wanting them to. When they press too hard on your phone’s buttons, this often happens.
If that doesn’t fix the problem, try using your phone without any accessories. After that, check each accessory on its own to find the problem.
6. Replace your phone’s battery
Over time, all phone batteries lose power. Towards the end of its useful life, your battery will likely start to quit working properly. Even if your battery isn’t in the red, your device may shut down or restart without warning. Remember that background data can hurt your battery, so learn how to limit it to make your phone’s battery last longer.
It may or may not be hard to change the battery depending on the type of phone you have. The batteries in some phones, like the FairPhone 4 and some Samsung Galaxy models, can be taken out and replaced by buying a new one and putting it in.
But these days, most phones have an internal battery that you can’t get to without special tools. Most of the time, this happens with iPhones. To fix this, you should follow Apple’s steps for iPhone battery servicing.
Make an appointment at an Apple Store or with an Apple Authorised Service Provider to get things started. After doing some tests, they’ll tell you if you need a new battery.
Similar steps are used to service Android phones with batteries that can’t be taken out. Check the website of the company that made your phone to find out how to get the battery replaced.
7. Do a factory reset
If nothing else works, putting your phone back to its original factory settings might be the best thing you can do. If you choose this option, your data will be lost, so make sure you have backups before you decide.
Factory reset your iPhone
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings to initiate the process.
Factory reset your Android
- Go to Settings > General > Backup and Reset > Factory Data Reset > Reset Device.
- Tap Erase all data (factory reset).
The steps on some Androids will be a little different, depending on the brand and model. For sure instructions on how to factory reset your phone, go to the website of the phone’s maker.
