Why does Android randomly restart?

Android smartphones play an essential role in our day-to-day lives. The dependence of humans on their smartphones has increased with the advancements in technology. However, many Android users have complained about their device restarting randomly. This can be annoying, especially if you are in the middle of a call or some urgent office work. You may be wondering Why does Android randomly restart? To help you out, we have come up with this guide which explains the possible reasons why your Android device reboots itself every now and then. Additionally, we have compiled a list of solutions to fix Android phone restarting itself.

How to fix Android phone keeps restarting itself issue

We are going to discuss all possible methods to fix Android randomly restarts issue. But before that let us understand the reasons for this issue.

Why does Android randomly restart?

1. Malicious third-party apps: You may have download suspicious third-party apps on your device unknowingly. These apps might be incompatible and can cause your Android device to restart itself.

2. Hardware fault: Another reason why your Android device reboots itself is because of some fault or damage in device hardware like device screen, motherboard, or electronic circuit.

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3. Overheating: Most Android devices will shut down automatically if they overheat during use. This is a safety feature to safeguard your Android device. So, if your device is automatically restarting itself, it might be due to overuse and/or overheating. Overheating can also occur due to overcharging your phone.

Hence, you should utilize and maintain your smartphone wisely to avoid such issues, altogether.

4. Battery issues: If your device has a removable battery, then there are chances that it may be loosely fitted, leaving a gap between the battery and the pins. Also, the phone battery too has an expiry and may need to be changed. This, too, may cause the device to restart automatically.

Note: Since smartphones don’t have the same Settings options, and they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer hence, ensure the correct settings before changing any.

Method 1: Update Android OS

To ensure that your device runs smoothly, it is important to keep your Android operating system up to date. Remember to check and download recent updates from time to time. Updating it will help improve the overall functioning of the device and protect against security threats, if any. Therefore, if your device keeps restarting and crashing, then a simple Operating System update can help you fix the issue as follows:

1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone and go to the About phone section, as shown.

2. Tap on System update, as depicted.

3. Tap on Check for updates.

4. Your device will automatically download the available updates.

If no such updates are available, then the following message will be displayed: Your device is up-to-date.

Method 2: Close Background Apps 

If you are wondering how to fix a phone that keeps restarting, you should close all the apps running in the background. It is possible that one of these apps is causing your Android phone to restart itself. Clearly, stopping such malfunctioning apps should help. Here is how you can force stop apps on your Android phone:

1. Open device Settings and tap on Apps.

2. Then, tap on Manage apps.

3. Now, locate and tap the app you wish to stop.

4. Tap on Force Stop to force stop the selected app. We have explained it by taking Instagram as an example below.

5. Tap on OK to confirm it in the pop-up box that now appears.

6. Repeat steps 3-5 for all apps you want to stop.

If the Android randomly restarts itself issue persists, we shall discuss the methods to clear app cache and uninstall process of third-party apps below.

Also Read: Fix Android Phone Keeps Restarting Randomly

Method 3: Update Third-party Apps

Sometimes, third-party apps on your device can cause your device to restart itself. Moreover, the outdated version of these apps can answer the question: why does Android randomly restart. Hence, you need to check for updates regularly, and install app updates as detailed below:

1. Launch Google Play Store and tap the profile icon from the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Now, tap on Manage apps and device.

3. In the Updating apps section, tap See details. You will see the available updates for your device.

4. Either choose Update all to update all installed apps at once.

Or, tap on Update for a specific app. In the pic below, we have shown Snapchat update as an example.

Method 4: Clear App Cache and App Data  

If you overload your Android device with unnecessary files and data, then there are higher chances that it will crash and restart itself.

To free up storage space, you should:

• Get rid of those third-party apps that you don’t use.
• Delete unnecessary photos, videos, and other files.
• Clear cached data from your device.

Follow the steps given below to Clear cache & data saved for all apps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps as you did before.

2. Tap on Manage apps, as shown.

3. Locate and open any third-party app. Tap Storage/Media Storage option.

4. Tap on Clear Data, as depicted below.

5. Additionally, tap Clear Cache from the same screen, as highlighted below.

6. Finally, tap OK to confirm the said deletion.

7. Repeat Steps 3-6 for all apps to free up maximum space.

This should get rid of minor bugs in these third-party apps and possibly fix Android randomly restarts itself issue.

Also Read: Fix Computer Screen Turns Off Randomly

Method 5: Uninstall Malfunctioning/Rarely used Apps  

Often, malicious third-party apps get downloaded or, apps get corrupt over time. These might be causing your Android device to restart itself. Now, the questions that arise are: how to determine if third-party apps are corrupt and how to figure out which third-party app is causing this problem.

The answer lies in using your phone in Safe Mode. When you use your phone in safe mode, and your device runs smoothly, without any interruptions, then the issue on your device is definitely due to third-party apps. You can learn how to boot your phone in Safe mode by visiting your device manufacturer’s website.

Now, to resolve this problem,

• Remove the recent app downloads from your Android phone.
• Uninstall the apps that you don’t need or the ones that are rarely used.

1. Open the App Drawer on your Android phone.

2. Press-hold the app you wish to delete and tap Uninstall, as depicted.

Method 6: Perform a Factory Reset

If none of the above methods are able to fix Android phone keeps restarting issue, then the last resort is Factory Reset. When you perform a factory reset, your phone will be reset to the original system state thereby, resolving all the issues on your device.

Points to remember

• Make sure to backup all your important data, photos, videos, and other files as a factory reset will delete all the data from your device.
• Ensure that you have sufficient battery life on your device to perform a factory reset.

Follow the steps given below to perform a factory reset on your Android device.

Option 1: Factory Reset using Device Settings

1. Go to Settings > About Phone as instructed in Method 1.

2. Scroll down and tap Backup & Reset, as shown.

3. Here, tap on Erase all data (Factory reset).

4. Next, tap Reset phone, as highlighted in the pic below.

5. Finally, enter your PIN/Password to confirm and proceed with the factory reset.

Option 2: Factory Reset using Hard Keys

1. Firstly, turn off your Android smartphone.

2. To boot your device in Recovery Mode, press and hold the Power /Home + Volume up/Volume Down buttons simultaneously.

3. Next, select the wipe data/factory reset option.

4. Once the process is complete, tap on Reboot system now.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. How do I stop my Android from restarting?

To stop your Android device from restarting, you have to first identify the cause of the problem. It can be because of malicious apps or hoarding of unnecessary storage by third-party apps. After identifying the cause of the problem, you can follow the relevant methods listed in our guide to fix the Android phone keeps restarting issue.

Q2. Why does my phone restart itself at night?

If your device is restarting itself at night, it is because of the Auto-restart feature on your device. In most phones, the auto-restart feature is called Schedule power on/off. To turn off the auto-restart feature,

• Go to the Settings of your device.
• Navigate to Battery and performance.
• Select Battery, and tap on Schedule power on/off.
• Finally, toggle off the option titled Power on and off time.

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We hope the methods listed in our guide were helpful, and you were able to fix Android randomly restarts issue. Let us know which method worked for you. If you have queries/suggestions, drop them in the comment section below.