How to Fix a Phone that Keeps Restarting by Itself

15 October 2021

Does your smartphone keep restarting by itself for no apparent reason? This is a common problem for iPhone and Android users alike.

In this article, find out why your phone keeps restarting and how you can break the reboot loop.

Why does my phone keep restarting?

It’s important to determine the cause of your restarting problem so that you can figure out which solution is most likely to work.

There are a few different issues that can cause your phone to keep restarting by itself.

A hardware problem

Sometimes, continuous rebooting is caused by a hardware problem, meaning that one or more physical components of the phone are at fault. Generally, this type of problem can be resolved by replacing the defective part.

For example, a defective battery can cause a phone to restart by itself every 5 minutes. In such cases, the device restarts because the battery cannot supply the amount of energy needed for it to function properly.

A phone may also restart continually if something is holding down its power button. This is a common problem for those who use a protective case that isn’t designed specifically for their device.

If your phone keeps restarting after you drop it in water or on the ground, the problem is most likely related to hardware components that have been damaged by moisture or shock.

A software problem

Software problems can also cause a phone to keep restarting by itself. These kinds of problems are less easily identifiable, but here are a few of the most common ones:

An outdated operating system
A malicious app
Conflicting apps
Corrupted cached data
A lack of storage space

How to fix the problem

Whether or not you’ve determined why your phone keeps restarting, here are strategies you can try to break the reboot loop:

1 – Make sure your operating system is up to date

Sometimes an out-of-date iOS or Android operating system can cause a reboot loop.

If you’re able to use your smartphone between reboots, try checking to see whether your OS is up to date. If it isn’t, try installing the latest software update. It may well fix the problem, in addition to providing you with new features and protecting you from the latest security threats.

2 – Check your available storage space and delete data if necessary

Did you know that smartphones with too much memory usage can be affected by a variety of bugs? Specialists recommend keeping at least 10% of your space free for your phone to function optimally.

Go into your settings and check to see whether you fall within the limit. If your internal memory is over 90% full, try deleting unnecessary files and cached data from your device—you may solve your rebooting problem. There are even “cleaner” apps that can help you free up space by automatically deleting unnecessary files.

If your device supports microSD cards, you can opt to add memory to your phone rather than deleting files to free up space.

Note that many apps (Facebook, for example) offer a lite version. They aren’t as comprehensive, but they take up much less storage space. Consider using lite versions of some of your apps to free up space on your device.

3 – Close apps you aren’t using

If an app is left open and isn’t working properly, it could cause your device to restart over and over again. Try closing all of your apps to see if it fixes the problem.

If you determine that one of your apps is causing the problem, you can try updating it or uninstalling and reinstalling it.

If you try these solutions only to find that the app is still causing bugs, it’s best to delete it permanently.

4 – Remove your accessories

Phone accessories like protective cases and portable chargers can cause restarting problems by covering sensors or holding down buttons on your smartphone.

Try removing them for a moment to see if your phone keeps restarting without them.

5 – Do a factory reset

This strategy is usually only recommended as a last resort, because it will erase all of the content saved on your phone. You’ll need to back up all of the saved media, contacts, apps and texts you want to keep before moving forward. Some of your device’s settings will also need to be reconfigured afterwards: mobile data blocking, APN, WiFi networks, Bluetooth, etc. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

The procedure for doing a factory reset depends on the type of phone you have.

If you have an iPhone, follow these steps:

Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings

If you have an Android (Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, Huawei, etc.), follow these steps:

Applications → Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset → RESET → DELETE ALL

No luck fixing your phone? Get a replacement from Recycell

If you’ve tried all of the tips listed above without success, you may need help from a professional to get your phone working again.

If your device is under warranty, great. If not, you’ll need to decide whether to repair or replace it.

If you decide to buy a replacement, you can avoid paying an exorbitant price for a new phone by opting for a used or refurbished one instead. At Recycell, we offer used models as recent as iPhone 12 Pro so that you can replace your phone without breaking the bank or resorting to an outdated device!