When your phone shows the Apple, Samsung, or Google logo and never gets to the home screen, it's usually stuck in a boot loop. The phone starts up, fails partway through, and begins again. The cause is often a software problem, and you can often fix it without losing anything, as long as you try the gentler options first.
This guide covers both iPhone and Android, because the early steps are similar but the recovery tools are not. Each step below is safer than the one after it. Skip nothing that could save your data.
Is it a boot loop or just a slow startup?
Give the phone a few minutes before you act, especially after a software update. Large updates can leave a phone on the logo or a progress bar for a while, and interrupting one can cause the damage you were trying to avoid.
If the logo has been on screen for 15 to 20 minutes with no progress bar, or the phone keeps restarting every minute or so, treat it as a real boot loop.
What usually causes a phone to get stuck on the logo
- An interrupted or failed update. A dead battery, lost connection, or full storage during an update can leave system files incomplete.
- A very low or faulty battery. The phone may not have enough power to finish starting, even if it briefly shows the logo.
- A misbehaving app (mostly Android). A recently installed app, or one that updated badly, can crash the system during startup.
- Corrupted system data. This can follow a crash, a failed restore, or running out of storage.
- Hardware damage. Drops, liquid exposure, or a failing battery or storage chip can all produce the same symptoms.
- Modifications. Rooting, custom ROMs, or unlocking the bootloader can cause boot loops when something goes wrong.
Step 1: Charge the phone properly
Plug the phone into its original charger, or a reputable one, and leave it for at least 30 minutes before trying anything else. A battery that's nearly empty can make a phone loop at the logo, and it looks identical to a software fault.
Use a wall outlet rather than a computer port, and check the cable and charging port for lint or damage. If the phone doesn't show a charging indicator at all, try a different cable and charger before assuming the worst.
Step 2: Force restart the phone
A force restart doesn't erase anything. It simply cuts power and reboots, and it clears many temporary startup hangs.
iPhone
- iPhone 8 and later (including iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation): Press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down. Then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears again.
- iPhone 7: Hold Volume Down and the side button together until the logo appears.
- iPhone 6s or earlier, and the first iPhone SE: Hold the Home button and the top or side button together until the logo appears.
Android
The combination varies by manufacturer. Holding the power button for 10 to 30 seconds works on many phones, including Pixels. On many Samsung phones, hold Volume Down and the side key together for several seconds. If one method doesn't work, check your manufacturer's support page for your exact model.
Step 3: Remove anything that might interfere
Disconnect cables, accessories, and any case that might be pressing buttons. On Android, you can also try removing the SIM card and microSD card if your phone has them, then restart. A faulty card occasionally holds up startup, and this takes less than a minute to test.
Fixing a boot loop on iPhone
If a force restart doesn't help, use a computer. Open Finder on a Mac running macOS Catalina or later. On a PC or older Mac, use the Apple Devices app or iTunes, depending on what your system supports.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer with a cable.
- Run the same button sequence as a force restart, but keep holding the side button even when the Apple logo appears. Release only when the recovery mode screen shows up (usually a cable or computer symbol).
- When the computer offers the choice, select Update, not Restore.
Update tries to reinstall iOS while leaving your data in place. Restore wipes the phone completely, so save it for when Update fails. If the download takes longer than about 15 minutes, the phone may exit recovery mode. Just repeat the process.
If Update fails and you must Restore, you can recover data afterward only if you have an iCloud or computer backup. You'll also need your Apple ID password, because Activation Lock may ask for it after a restore.
Fixing a boot loop on Android
Try safe mode first
Safe mode starts the phone with downloaded apps disabled. If it boots normally there, a third-party app is very likely the cause. The method varies by brand:
- Pixel and many other phones: Power on the phone, and when the boot animation appears, press and hold Volume Down until it finishes starting.
- Samsung: Power off, then power on. When the Samsung logo appears, release the power key and immediately hold Volume Down until the phone finishes starting.
If you reach the home screen, you should see "Safe mode" at the bottom. Uninstall the app you added or updated most recently, then restart normally. If it still loops after that, remove other apps you don't need, one at a time.
Wipe the cache partition, if your phone offers it
Many Android phones, including Samsung models, have a recovery menu with a "Wipe cache partition" option. It clears temporary system files and doesn't touch your photos, messages, or apps. You usually enter recovery by powering off, then holding a button combination such as Volume Up plus the power key. The combination depends on the model.
Not every phone has this option. Pixels, for example, don't offer cache wiping in recovery. If you don't see it, move on rather than guessing at other menu items.
Factory reset as a last resort
If nothing else works, the recovery menu's factory reset (often labeled "Wipe data/factory reset") may fix the loop, but it erases the phone's contents. Photos synced to the cloud, contacts tied to your account, and anything backed up will come back. Local files that were never backed up will not.
Before you do it, make sure you know your Google account password. After a reset, Factory Reset Protection requires the account that was previously on the phone. Without it, you'll be locked out, and the fix then becomes a support case.
When it might be hardware, not software
If the phone loops after being dropped, soaked, or overheating, or if recovery methods fail repeatedly, suspect the battery, charging system, or storage. Resetting won't fix those.
Stop charging and get the phone looked at if the case is bulging, the screen is lifting, or the phone feels unusually hot. A swollen battery is a safety risk, and it needs professional handling.
Be careful with third-party "repair" programs that promise to fix boot loops without data loss. Some are legitimate, but results vary, and they often cost money or ask you to install software on your computer. Official tools and manufacturer support are the safer route.
What to do next
Work through the sequence: charge, force restart, remove accessories, then safe mode or recovery mode. Most software-related loops respond to one of these, and only a full restore or reset costs you data.
If the phone still won't start, contact Apple, your phone's manufacturer, or a reputable repair shop. If it's under warranty or covered by a protection plan, check that before paying for repairs. Once you're running again, make a backup so the next failure is less stressful.