Is your phone restarting by itself over and over again for no reason? Maybe it restarts while you’re watching videos, gaming, calling, or even when it’s just sitting on the table. This problem is annoying and can make your phone almost unusable. The good news is that in many cases, random restarts can be fixed at home without opening the device.
In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn the most common causes and effective solutions to fix a phone that keeps restarting randomly.
Common Reasons Why Phones Restart by Themselves
Before you start fixing the issue, it helps to understand what might be causing it. Some of the most common reasons include:
- Buggy or incompatible apps causing system crashes
- Overheating due to games, charging, or heavy multitasking
- System updates that did not install correctly
- Corrupted system files or cache data
- Insufficient storage space for normal operation
- Battery or power IC issues on older or damaged devices
- Faulty SD card causing system instability
Start with the easiest software fixes, then move to more advanced solutions if needed.
Fix 1: Check for Overheating
If your phone gets too hot, it may automatically restart to protect the internal components. This often happens during gaming, charging, or long video calls.
Signs of overheating:
- Back of the phone feels very hot
- Performance becomes slow
- Battery drains faster than normal
What to do:
- Stop using heavy apps (games, video editors, etc.)
- Disconnect the charger
- Remove the phone case
- Let the phone cool down for 10–15 minutes
After it cools down, use it normally and see if restarts continue.
Fix 2: Remove Recently Installed or Suspicious Apps
Buggy apps can crash the system and force the phone to restart. If the problem started after installing a new app, that app might be the cause.
Steps:
- Go to Settings → Apps
- Tap Sort by Recently Installed (if available)
- Uninstall apps you added shortly before the problem started
- Restart the phone and test
If you are unsure which app is causing it, move to the next fix and test in Safe Mode.
Fix 3: Boot Into Safe Mode and Test
Safe Mode disables all third-party apps and only runs the core system. If your phone stops restarting in Safe Mode, the cause is almost certainly one of your installed apps.
How to enter Safe Mode on most Android phones:
- Hold the Power button until the power menu appears
- Tap and hold Power Off until you see Safe Mode
- Tap OK to restart into Safe Mode
Use your phone for a while in Safe Mode:
- If it does not restart → uninstall recently installed or suspicious apps.
- If it still restarts → the problem is likely system or hardware related.
Fix 4: Update the System and All Apps
Outdated apps or firmware can cause random crashes and restarts.
Update your apps:
- Open the Google Play Store
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right
- Select Manage apps & device
- Tap Update All
Update your system software:
- Go to Settings → Software Update or System Update
- Tap Download and Install
After all updates finish, restart your phone and observe if the random restarts stop.
Fix 5: Free Up Storage Space
Low storage can cause serious performance issues and system instability, including random restarts.
Check your storage:
- Open Settings
- Tap Storage
- Check how much free space is available
Try to keep at least 20–25% of storage free.
How to quickly free up space:
- Delete unused apps
- Remove large videos and photos you don’t need
- Clear downloads folder
- Use cloud backups for media files
Fix 6: Remove or Replace the SD Card
A corrupted or failing SD card can cause apps and the system to crash, which may trigger restarts.
Steps:
- Turn off your phone
- Remove the SD card
- Turn the phone back on without the SD card
- Use it normally and see if the restarting stops
If the problem disappears, the SD card is likely faulty. Back up your data and replace the card.
Fix 7: Clear Cache Partition (Advanced but Safe)
Over time, cached system data may become corrupted and cause random restarts. Clearing the cache partition can help without deleting your personal files.
General steps (may vary by device):
- Turn off the phone completely
- Press and hold Power + Volume Up (or Power + Volume Down) to enter Recovery Mode
- Use the volume buttons to navigate to Wipe Cache Partition
- Confirm with the power button
- Reboot the phone
After rebooting, test whether the restarts continue.
Fix 8: Disable Scheduled Power On/Off
Some phones have a feature that automatically turns the phone on or off at certain times. If misconfigured, it can look like the phone is restarting randomly.
To disable scheduled power settings:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Advanced Settings or System (depends on brand)
- Look for Scheduled Power On/Off
- Make sure it is disabled
Fix 9: Reset All Settings (Without Erasing Personal Data)
If system configurations are causing problems, resetting all settings can help without deleting your files.
Steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap General Management or System
- Select Reset
- Tap Reset All Settings
This will reset Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display, and other preferences but keep your apps and personal data.
Fix 10: Factory Reset (Last Software Option)
If your phone still restarts randomly even after trying all the fixes above, there may be deep system corruption. A factory reset can often fix this—but it will erase all data, so make sure to back up your important files first.
How to factory reset:
- Go to Settings
- Tap General Management or System
- Select Reset
- Tap Factory Data Reset
After the reset, set up your phone as new and test it before reinstalling all your apps. If it works fine when clean, the problem was software-related.
When It Might Be a Hardware Problem
If the phone continues to restart after a factory reset and without any apps installed, there is a good chance of a hardware issue. Common hardware-related causes include:
- Weak or damaged battery (especially on older phones)
- Damaged motherboard or power IC
- Loose internal connections from drops or impact
- Short circuits due to liquid damage
Signs of hardware issues:
- Phone restarts when you move or shake it
- Restarts only happen when the battery is low
- Device restarts even in Recovery Mode or Safe Mode
- History of water damage or physical damage
If you suspect hardware problems, the best step is to visit a professional repair shop or authorized service center for a full diagnosis.
Conclusion
A phone that keeps restarting randomly can be caused by many things—from overheating and bad apps to system corruption or hardware failure. Most of the time, you can fix the problem by uninstalling problematic apps, freeing up storage, updating the system, checking the SD card, and resetting settings.
If none of the software solutions work and the device still restarts by itself, it’s likely a hardware issue that needs professional repair. Ignoring the problem may cause it to get worse over time, so it’s better to fix it early.
For more step-by-step repair tutorials, explore our Phone Repair Guides section.
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