How to Turn Off Your Phone: Android, Samsung, Motorola, and Force Restart
updated 11 July 2026
Quick answer
On most Android phones, you turn the device off by holding the power button for a moment and choosing Power off. On newer Samsungs, the side button alone opens the assistant, so press and hold the side button together with volume down, or pull down the notification shade and tap the power icon. If the phone is frozen, hold the same buttons longer until the screen goes dark and the device restarts.
Step by step
- 1
Classic shutdown with the power button
On most Android phones, just press and hold the power button on the side of the device for about two seconds. A menu appears on screen with Power off and Restart options. Tap Power off, then confirm by holding your finger on the icon or tapping the confirmation button. The phone goes dark after a few seconds. This method works on older models and on stock Android.
- 2
Turning off a newer Samsung (One UI)
On newer Samsung Galaxy phones, holding the side button alone launches the Bixby assistant instead of the shutdown menu. To reach the Power off option, press and hold the side button and the volume down button at the same time. After a moment, you'll see the power menu. If you want a long press to shut the phone down again, go to Settings, search for side button, and change the press-and-hold action to the power menu.
- 3
Turning off from the notification shade
On many phones, you don't need the buttons at all. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification shade and quick settings. In the corner of the panel, you'll find a power icon shaped like a vertical line in a circle. Tap it and a menu with the Power off option appears. It's a handy way out when the physical button is worn out or hard to reach.
- 4
Motorola and stock Android phones
Motorola phones and models close to stock Android, like Pixel or Nokia, usually stick to the simple pattern. Hold the power button for about two seconds and choose Power off from the menu. On some newer models, as on Samsung, a long press may open Google Assistant - in that case, use the power plus volume down combination. The exact behavior depends on the model and system version.
- 5
Force restart when the phone freezes
If the screen doesn't respond to touch and the phone can't be turned off normally, a force restart will help. On most Androids, press and hold the power button together with volume down for about 7 to 15 seconds, until the screen goes dark and the manufacturer's logo appears. On some models, a long press of the power button alone is enough. It's a safe operation that doesn't erase data - it just cuts the power.
- 6
Turning the phone back on
To turn on a powered-off phone, press and hold the power button for a few seconds until the logo appears. The first boot after a full shutdown can take a bit longer, because the system loads from scratch. If you're turning the phone on after a force restart, it may ask for the SIM card PIN and the screen lock code, since the fingerprint reader is temporarily inactive after a restart.
How to turn off ads on your phone
Ads on your phone come from several sources, and each one gets disabled separately. First, limit personalization. In Settings, open the Google section, then Ads, and delete your advertising ID. Apps will stop tailoring ads to your phone activity, though ads themselves may still appear.
You can cut ads in the browser and in some apps by setting up a private DNS with a filter. Go to your network or connections settings, find the Private DNS option, and enter the hostname of a provider that blocks ads, for example dns.adguard.com. Filtering then runs in the background for the whole phone.
If ads suddenly pop up full-screen or outside of apps, you probably have an app installed that's serving them. Review the list of recently added apps in Settings and uninstall any you don't recognize or that raise doubts.
When to power off and when to just restart
A full shutdown comes in handy before a longer break from using the phone, on a plane without airplane mode, or when you want to save battery at a low charge level. For everyday problems, like a stuttering system or lost signal, a restart is the better fit - it clears the cache and refreshes connections.
A restart every few days helps keep things running smoothly, because it closes processes left over in the background. You don't need to turn your phone off every night. Modern systems handle running around the clock just fine, and they limit power consumption overnight anyway.
Frequently asked questions
›How do I turn off a Samsung phone if the side button opens Bixby?
Press and hold the side button and the volume down button at the same time until the menu with the Power off option appears. You can also pull down the notification shade and tap the power icon in the corner of the panel. If you prefer the old behavior, change the side button's press-and-hold action to the power menu in Settings.
›How do I turn off ads on my phone?
Delete your advertising ID in Settings under Google and Ads, set up a private DNS with an ad filter, for example dns.adguard.com, and uninstall suspicious apps that display ads outside their own window. These three steps are usually enough to noticeably cut down the number of ads.
›How do I turn off a Motorola phone?
Hold the power button for about two seconds and choose Power off. On newer models, a long press may open Google Assistant - in that case, press the power button and volume down together. The exact combination depends on the model and system version.
›What if the phone doesn't respond to the buttons at all?
Plug it into a charger for 15 minutes or so, because a fully drained phone won't respond to anything. Then try a force restart by holding power and volume down together for 10-15 seconds. If that doesn't help, the cause may be a damaged button or battery.
›Does turning my phone off at night harm it?
No, turning it off and on doesn't wear the phone out in any noticeable way. You don't have to do it every day though. A restart every few days is enough to keep the system running smoothly. Save full shutdowns for longer breaks from use.