How to use Galaxy S9 safe mode on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

You can use Galaxy S9 safe mode to identify possible causes of some problems or strange behaviours of Galaxy S9 and S9+.

This safe mode is safe for your data, settings and apps. They will not be affected or altered when using the safe mode on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

This Galaxy S9 how-to guide shows you when you may need Galaxy S9 safe mode, two ways to enter the safe mode for Galaxy S9 and S9+, and how to use and exit Galaxy S9 safe mode.

What is Galaxy S9 safe mode? And when do you need Galaxy S9 safe mode?

Like most other Android phones, Galaxy S9 and S9+ have a special Galaxy S9 safe mode letting you troubleshoot possible problems caused by third-party apps.

In Galaxy S9 safe mode, all third-party apps installed by you were temporally disabled so that you can determine whether the problem is caused by such apps.

Your data, settings, and app data are not affected when you reboot Galaxy S9 or S9+ into Galaxy S9 safe mode

Galaxy S9 safe mode can only determine whether some strange behaviours or problems are caused by third-party apps.  It is not able to pinpoint the app.

Unlike Galaxy S9 recovery mode which is not part of Android OS, Galaxy S9 safe mode is a special mode of Android OS.

So, under the Galaxy S9 safe mode, you can still make and receive calls,  connect to the Internet, use pre-installed apps. The safe mode only prevents you from using apps installed by you.

You need to try Galaxy S9 safe mode before you visit the service centre because technical support in most service centres does not solve issues due to third-party apps. They only diagnose problems in the firmware and pre-installed apps.

Although Galaxy safe mode does not change your data and settings, you may lose some home screen customizations after you exit the safe mode. So, you may still consider to back up Galaxy S9

before rebooting into the safe mode.

How to reboot into Galaxy S9 safe mode?

There are two ways to reboot into Galaxy S9 safe mode:

1. Use the power button options if Galaxy S9 or S9+ is currently powered on.
2. Use buttons if the phone is powered off.

Method 1: Use power button options to reboot into Galaxy S9 safe mode

If the phone is powered on, you can long press (press and hold) the power button for about 2-5 seconds to get the power button option as shown below.

In the power button options menu, long press the Power off button.

The Power off buttons turns into Safe mode button as shown above.

You should not release the finger from the screen until you see the safe mode button.

Now, release your finger from the screen, then tap Safe mode as shown above.

Then, Galaxy S9 or S9+ will reboot into safe node automatically.

Update: in Android Pie update for Galaxy S9 and S9+, you may add the lockdown mode into the power button options to lock down the phone.

Method 2: Use button combinations to boot into Galaxy S9 safe mode

If the phone is currently powered off, you can directly boot Galaxy S9 or S9+ into Galaxy S9 safe mode.

You may follow these steps to boot into Galaxy S9 safe mode.

Step 1:  Hold the power button 

You need to press and hold the power button (marked as 1 in the illustration below, you may refer to Galaxy S9 and S9+ layout page for the buttons/keys in Galaxy S9and S9+) for a few seconds to power up the phone.

Galaxy S9 or S9 should start up.

Step 2: Hold volume down button

When you see the Samsung logo on the screen, you should release the power button.

At the same time, you need to hold the volume down button (marked as 2 in the illustration below).

The interval between releasing the power button and holding volume down button should be as short as possible. If it is longer than 1 second, very likely, the phone will reboot normally, instead of booting into the safe mode.

Step 3: Hold the volume down button until you see the lock screen

You need to continue to hold the volume down button until Galaxy S9 lock screen appears on the screen.

Once you see the lock screen, you can release the volume down button and try Galaxy S9 safe mode.

How to use Galaxy S9 safe mode?

You can use most Galaxy S9 features and functions except apps installed by you in Galaxy S9 safe mode.

When the phone is in safe mode, you can find the Safe mode icon in Galaxy S9 lock screen as shown below.

You need to unlock the phone to use Galaxy S9 safe mode.

In Galaxy S9 Home screen, as shown above, you can also find the Safe mode sign.

Also, only the pre-installed apps have normal app icons. You can use them normally.

All other app icons and widgets are greyed out. So, you cannot use them.

You should test your Galaxy S9 or S9+ now to see whether the problem persists.

If the problem persists, it means the issue is caused by the firmware or pre-installed apps. You may try to clear cache partition or reset phone settings (not reset the phone) to see whether the problem is solved.

If the problem disappears in safe mode, you can probably conclude the issue is related to some apps installed by you. Galaxy S9 safe mode is unable to tell you which app is causing the issue.

Although it is OK to use Galaxy S9 or S9+ in safe mode,  it is not recommended to use Galaxy safe mode for a prolonged period, like a few days or a few weeks.

How to exit Galaxy S9 safe mode?

When Galaxy S9 and S9+ are in safe mode, you should see a notification in the notification panel as shown below.

Safe mode is on

Tap here to turn off Safe mode

Just as instructed, you can tap the notification to exit Galaxy S9 safe mode.

After tapping the notification, you will get a pop-up  message as shown above:

Turn off Safe mode?

Your phone will restart and all your apps will be activated again.

You can tap Turn off to exit safe mode.

Now, the phone will reboot normally.

Some Galaxy S9 owners are not patient. They may just hold the power button to reboot the phone normally.  This is not recommended because some settings may be lost.

Do you know how to use Galaxy S9 safe mode on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

If you have any questions or encounter any problems with Galaxy S9 safe mode in Galaxy S9 and S9+, please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will help you find the answer.

For the user guide for new features of Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 new features guides page.

For using Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 how-to guides page.

For using Galaxy S9 camera, please check Galaxy S9 camera guides page.

For accessories for Galaxy S9 and S9+, please check Galaxy S9 accessories guides page.

For the official Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ user guides (in PDF format), please check Galaxy S9 user guides page.