How to power on or off your Samsung Galaxy

Last Update date : Mar 13. 2025
Power menu on a Galaxy phone displaying Power off, Restart and Emergency mode options.

There are several methods to power your Galaxy phone or tablet on and off. You can use the Power icon located in the Quick Settings panel, or you can ask Bixby to handle the task for you. On many of the newer Samsung Galaxy models, the traditional Power and Bixby buttons have been combined into a single Side button. This change means you can also use the Side button along with the Volume Down button to control the power functions of your device.

Note: Information provided is specific to mobile devices sold in Canada. Screen availability and settings may vary by wireless service provider, software version and model.

Button layout

Side view of a Samsung Galaxy phone showing the Side and Volume buttons.

For your Samsung Galaxy, the type of power control buttons varies by model. Older models, including some tablets, are equipped with separate Power and Bixby buttons. In contrast, the latest Galaxy devices consolidate these functions into a single Side button. Each of these configurations allows you to power down your device effectively.

Galaxy devices with a Side button

1 Press and hold the Side button and the Volume down button simultaneously for a few seconds.
Galaxy phone showing the Side button and Volume button highlighted.
2 When the Power menu appears on your screen, tap Power off.
Power menu on a Galaxy device screen showing options for Power off, Restart, Emergency call and Medical info.
3 Tap Power off again to confirm and shut down your Galaxy device.
Confirmation screen displaying a Power off button with a prompt to tap again to turn off the Galaxy phone.
4 To power the device back on, press and hold the Side button until you feel a vibration and the “SAMSUNG” logo appears on your screen.

Galaxy devices with a Power button

1 If your device has a dedicated Power button, simply press and hold the Power button until the Power menu appears on your screen.
2 When the Power menu appears on your screen, tap Power off.
3 Tap Power off again to confirm and shut down your Galaxy device.
4 To power the device back on, press and hold the Power button until you feel a vibration and the “SAMSUNG” logo appears on your screen.

Important considerations

  • Customizing the Side button: You can customize the Side button on your Galaxy device to perform different functions, such as opening Bixby or the Camera app. Additionally, you can set it to open the Power menu with a long press. Detailed instructions on how to make these adjustments can be found in the following section.
  • Charging a depleted battery: If your device isn't turning on, the battery might be completely depleted. When fully drained, it can take several minutes for any signs of charging to appear. It's advisable to let your device charge fully before attempting to power it on again.

If your Galaxy device features a Side button, you can customize according to your needs. By default, pressing this button brings up Bixby, Samsung's built-in assistant. However, if you prefer, you can change this setting so that pressing the button will show you the Power off menu instead. This change makes it easier to turn off your mobile device quickly.

1 Open the Settings menu. Then, navigate to and tap Advanced features.
2 Tap Side button to customize its functions.
3 Depending on your model, you may see different options. If you see Long press, tap on it, then select Power off menu. If your screen shows “Press and hold”, simply select the Power off menu option under it.
Side button settings menu on a Galaxy phone.

Note: You can customize the Side button on your Galaxy device to perform various functions, such as opening Bixby, the Camera app, or any other pre-set option that suits your needs.

On newer Galaxy phones and tablets, a Power icon has been added to the Quick Settings panel. This feature makes it easy to turn off your device if it lacks a dedicated Power button or if you're simply seeking an alternative method.

1 To access the Quick Settings panel, place two fingers slightly apart at the top of your screen and swipe down.
2 Tap the Power icon located in the top right corner.
Samsung phone Quick Settings panel displaying various icons including WiFi, Bluetooth and the Power icon.
3 Tap Power off.
Power menu on a Galaxy device screen showing options for Power off, Restart, Emergency call and Medical info.
4 Tap Power off again to confirm and shut down your Galaxy device.
Confirmation screen displaying a Power off button with a prompt to tap again to turn off the Galaxy phone.
5 To power the device back on, press and hold the Side button (or Power button) until you feel a vibration and the “SAMSUNG” logo appears on your screen.

Bixby is always ready to assist you throughout the day, including helping you turn off your phone or tablet. First, ensure Bixby Voice is set up on your device. Once activated, press and hold the Side button to summon Bixby, then simply say “Turn off the phone” or “Turn off the tablet”. Bixby will ask you to confirm your decision; respond with “Yes” or an equivalent affirmation to proceed.

Bixby confirmation screen on a Samsung Galaxy displaying options for Power off and Reboot.

However, to power your device back on, you'll need to use the Side button or Power button. For detailed instructions on powering your device on, please refer to the first section of this article.

If your Galaxy device is freezing or not functioning properly, you can force a restart. This method is particularly useful if the screen becomes unresponsive and normal operations cannot be performed.

Galaxy phone showing the Side and Volume down buttons highlighted. Galaxy phone showing the Side and Volume down buttons highlighted.

Step 1. Press and hold the Volume down button and the Side button (or Power button) simultaneously for about 10 seconds or until the device turns off and then turns back on.

Samsung Galaxy startup screen displaying the Samsung logo and Secured by Knox text. Samsung Galaxy startup screen displaying the Samsung logo and Secured by Knox text.

Step 2. The screen will turn black as the device powers off. Shortly afterward, the Samsung logo will reappear, indicating the device is restarting.

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