You’ll need to turn on, turn off, or restart Galaxy S21 from time to time. When the phone freezes, you may have to power it down using the power-off menu.
This Galaxy S21 how-to guide explains how to use it even if the phone hangs and how to access the power-off menu. In this article, all Galaxy S21 models are referred to collectively as “Galaxy S21.”
1. From the phone’s home screen, tap the Menu button.
2. Scroll to and tap Settings.
3. Tap Phone settings.
4. Scroll to and tap Restart phone. The restart process may take up to 20 seconds for your device to reboot successfully. The Home button blinks while your Galaxy S21 restarts.
5. After restarting, you can verify that your Galaxy S21 phone is working again by turning it off and on again. When the startup screen appears, your Galaxy S21 has successfully restarted.
What is Galaxy S21 Power-off menu?
In old smartphones, there is a dedicated power button. Over the years, smartphone manufacturers added more and more functions to the power button.
On Galaxy S21, there is no power button. Instead. Galaxy S21 uses the Side key (right to the phone) to power on the phone.
As explained in this guide, by default, you can press and hold (long press) the side key for 2-5 seconds to get the power-off menu, as shown in the screenshot below.
How to access the power-off menu on Samsung Galaxy S21?
On Samsung Galaxy S21, you can access the power-off menu using the Side key (right-hand side of the phone) by pressing and holding it for 2-5 seconds. By default, this will bring up the power-off menu, allowing you to turn off or restart your device, enter emergency mode or lockdown mode. Once the power-off menu appears, you can select your preferred option by tapping on it.
If your Samsung Galaxy S21 has frozen and is unresponsive, you can still access the power-off menu by following these steps:
- Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously for 7 seconds.
- Release both buttons once the device reboots.
- Wait for the phone to restart and then verify that it’s working correctly by turning it off and on again.
What is the Side key on Samsung Galaxy S21?
The Side key on Samsung Galaxy S21 is a multifunctional button located on the right-hand side of the phone, just below the volume rocker. It is used to perform several tasks, including turning on the device, taking screenshots, and accessing the power-off menu.
By default, a long press of the Side key will bring up the power-off menu, allowing you to turn off or restart your device, enter emergency mode or lockdown mode. You can also customize the Side key to perform other functions, such as launching Bixby or opening the camera app.
To customize the Side key on your Samsung Galaxy S21, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Advanced Features.
- Select Side Key.
- Choose your preferred option for the press and hold function.
- You can also customize the double press function for the Side key.
Galaxy S21 power-off menu allows you to:
• Power off Galaxy S21.
• Restart/reboot Galaxy S21.
• Lockdown Galaxy S21.
• Turn on Emergency mode.
• Quick access to Side key settings.
How to Force the Samsung Galaxy S21 to Reboot?
At the same time, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button.
To be precise, hold down both buttons for 7+ seconds.
Et go of these two buttons once you notice the Galaxy S21 has rebooted.
When we put the device in that special boot mode we were instructed to do this when we wanted to boot out of it. We’re just taking this method and using it in other situations.
To force the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Galaxy S21+ to restart when it is in Download Mode, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for at least ten seconds. It’s effective in Recovery Mode. It also works if you’re booted into Samsung’s OneUI Android OS.
It isn’t going to harm your device or delete any of your saved data.
If the software isn’t hacked out and frozen, you could see a message on the screen. Samsung will believe you’re attempting to capture a screenshot, so they’ll instruct you on how to do it on their OS. However, if you keep pressing those buttons for roughly 7 seconds after that, the phone will reboot.
How to Restart the Galaxy S21 with Android Not Responding?
This is fantastic, but we could just as easily utilize the Power Menu to restart the phone like before. This begins to pay off when Android gets frozen and unable to react to your taps or touches. Or when OneUI has gotten bogged down due to an overabundance of third-party apps or games.
We can reboot the Galaxy S21 by keeping the Power and Volume Down buttons for 7+ seconds. To be safe, keep holding down the two buttons until the phone restarts. You should notice when this happens by watching the screen and waiting for it to turn off.
How to Reboot the Samsung Galaxy S21 into Recovery Mode?
This mode is helpful when you’re trying to wipe the system cache on your device, or reinstall a custom ROM — just like we did with our refurbished and rooted Note 9.
To boot the Galaxy S21 into Recovery Mode, press and hold Power and Volume Up for seven seconds. The phone will immediately boot up in Android’s recovery environment once you let go of those buttons. If it doesn’t automatically reboot after pressing those two buttons together, you’ll see a message that instructs you to release them if this occurs. Once it boots up, try using the toolkit below to enter Recovery Mode manually…
If your Galaxy S21 isn’t recognized by Odin after putting it into Download Mode, or you can’t boot recovery mode after holding the Volume Up key, check out what we listed at the end of this guide. It covers all sorts of other tools that might help to reboot your phone.
You’ll use Odin (the software) to flash new firmware on the device by putting it into Download Mode first. But that is more advanced and you probably don’t want to be flashing your phone just like that.
About the Samsung Galaxy S21
The Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch full-HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the screen and a metal frame, but it is composed of plastic. The smartphone consists of a 4000mAh battery but does not include a charger in the package.
The Galaxy S21 comes with an Exynos 2100 5G processor and 8GB of RAM. You can pick between 128GB and 256GB of storage, but it isn’t expandable. With Samsung’s One UI 3.0 on top, you get Android 11 out of the box. The Galaxy S21 has decent performance, but its smaller battery capacity prevents it from staying as long as the Galaxy S21+.
The Galaxy S21 contains a triple camera setup with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera. It features a 10-megapixel front camera for selfies. The Galaxy S21’s excellent picture quality in all lighting situations will not disappoint you. The smartphone’s small battery and polycarbonate back are the only significant drawbacks.
FAQ
Can I turn on my Galaxy S21 without using the Side key?
Yes, you can turn on your Galaxy S21 without using the Side key by connecting it to a power source or by pressing and holding the Volume Up and Power buttons at the same time.
What is the difference between restarting and rebooting my Galaxy S21?
Restarting your Galaxy S21 means turning it off and then turning it back on again, while rebooting your Galaxy S21 means completely shutting it down and then starting it up again. Rebooting is usually done when there is a software issue or when the phone is unresponsive.
Will restarting or rebooting my Galaxy S21 delete any of my data?
No, restarting or rebooting your Galaxy S21 will not delete any of your data. However, if you choose to factory reset your device, all of your data will be erased.
How often should I restart or reboot my Galaxy S21?
It’s not necessary to regularly restart or reboot your Galaxy S21, but if you notice any issues with performance or software, a reboot may help resolve the issue.
Can I power off my Galaxy S21 if the screen is unresponsive?
Yes, you can power off your Galaxy S21 even if the screen is unresponsive by pressing and holding the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time for 7-10 seconds. This will force the phone to power off.
What is Emergency mode on the Galaxy S21?
Emergency mode is a feature on the Galaxy S21 that allows you to conserve battery life and limit phone functions in emergency situations. It can be activated by pressing and holding the Power button until the Power off menu appears, then tapping Emergency mode.
Can I customize the Side key settings on my Galaxy S21?
Yes, you can customize the Side key settings on your Galaxy S21 to perform different functions, such as opening Bixby or turning on the camera. To do so, go to Settings > Advanced features > Side key, and choose your preferred setting.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy line is among the most recognizable smartphone brands in the market. Samsung has done a great job at making sure OneUI works smoothly on all devices with different chipsets and hardware under the hood. But if you do run into issues, don’t panic! You can always reboot your Galaxy S21 or put it into Recovery Mode to fix things up.
