How To Fix A Galaxy A53 That Keeps Rebooting (2026)

If your Galaxy A53 5G restarts on its own, freezes and reboots, or never gets past the Samsung logo, the cause is usually software rather than a dead phone.

Many cases clear up with an update, a removed app or a settings change.

This guide runs from the quickest checks to the data-erasing reset and shows when to book a repair.

Quick answer: which fix matches your symptom

Symptom	Try first	Erases data?
Restarts at night while idle	Check Auto restart in Device care	No
Reboots after installing an app	Safe mode, then uninstall the app	No
Reboots after an update	Check for a newer software update	No
Reboots even in Safe mode	Samsung Members diagnostics, then factory reset	Reset only
Stuck in a loop and cannot reach Settings	Recovery mode, Wipe data/factory reset	Yes

Why does a Galaxy A53 keep rebooting?

Likely cause	Clue	Fix in this guide
Faulty or newly updated app	Reboots began after an install or app update	Steps 4 and 5
Software bug	Reboots began after a system update	Step 3
Scheduled restart	Restarts only while idle	Step 1
Battery or hardware fault	Reboots in Safe mode and after a reset	Steps 6 and 7, then repair

Overheating and a failing battery can also trigger shutdowns, so note whether the phone is hot when it restarts.

Is it a normal restart or a real problem?

Samsung says restarts after a software update are normal, and critical security updates can restart a phone even with automatic downloads turned off.

Samsung’s Auto restart feature can also restart an idle phone when the screen is off, the battery is above 30% and the SIM lock is off.

A repeated restart while you are using the phone is the real problem this guide targets.

Step 1: check Auto restart

This feature runs only when the phone is not in use, so it can look like a mystery reboot.

1. Open Settings, then Device care.
2. Tap Auto optimisation, then Auto restart.
3. Turn off Restart when needed and Restart on schedule to test.

Samsung recommends leaving Auto restart on if you rarely restart the phone, so switch it back on if it was not the cause.

Step 2: test it on the charger

Using the phone while it is plugged in helps show whether the battery is involved.

• Plug in the original cable and charger.
• Use the phone normally for a while.
• Swap the cable and charger if it still reboots.

If it only reboots on battery, the battery is a suspect and the phone needs service.

This is a diagnostic shortcut, not an official Samsung procedure.

Step 3: install the latest software update

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Software update, then Download and install.
3. Install anything offered and test the phone.

Update trackers report that Android 16 was the A53’s final OS update, though security patches may still arrive.

Reboot complaints on Samsung’s community forums have followed several A53 updates, so a reboot that began right after one is worth noting for support.

Step 4: boot into Safe mode

Safe mode stops third-party apps from running so you can tell whether one is causing the reboots.

1. Hold the Side and Volume down buttons together, or swipe down and tap the Power icon.
2. Touch and hold Power off.
3. Tap the Safe mode icon.

If the phone is off, you can instead turn it on and hold Volume down when the Samsung logo appears.

Look for Safe mode in the bottom-left corner, and repeat the steps if it is missing.

Step 5: remove the suspect app

If the phone stays stable in Safe mode, an app is the likely cause.

1. Open Settings, then Apps.
2. Tap the app installed or updated around when the reboots began.
3. Tap Uninstall and confirm.

Remove apps one at a time, newest first, and test after each.

Restart the phone to leave Safe mode, which may reset some customizations such as wallpapers and themes.

Step 6: run Samsung Members diagnostics

If it still reboots in Safe mode, test the hardware before wiping anything.

• Open the Samsung Members app.
• Run Phone diagnostics.
• Choose the components you want to test.

A failed test gives you something concrete to show a repair center.

Step 7: factory reset from Settings

1. Open Settings, then General management.
2. Tap Reset, then Factory data reset.
3. Review the screen, tap Reset and enter your lock-screen code if asked.
4. Tap Delete all and let the phone restart.

Set the phone up as new first and test before reinstalling your apps.

What if the phone loops and you cannot open Settings?

AT&T’s A53 guide gives a recovery-mode reset, and the battery should be at 30% or higher.

1. Hold Power and Volume Down, and choose the power-off option.
2. Hold Volume Up and Power until the screen lights up.
3. Press Volume Down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset, then press Power.
4. Highlight Factory data reset and press Power to start.

This erases all data and personal settings.

When to get a repair

Situation	What to do
Still reboots after a factory reset	Hardware fault is likely, so book a repair
Diagnostics shows a failed component	Take the result to Samsung support
Reboots only on battery power	Ask for a battery check

Samsung offers chat support, Help and Contact Us, WhatsApp care and a Request a Repair option, which vary by country.

What to tell Samsung support

A short, specific description gets you to the right fix faster.

• When it started and whether an update or new app came first.
• Whether Safe mode still reboots, which separates app problems from hardware ones.
• What Samsung Members diagnostics reported for the battery and other components.
• Whether a factory reset was already done and what happened afterward.

Back up your photos and files before handing the phone over, because a repair center may need to reset it.

Related Galaxy A53 and Samsung guides

• Galaxy A53 no SIM card error
• Galaxy A53 5G turned off by itself
• Samsung Galaxy that keeps restarting

Official sources

Samsung: phone keeps restartingSamsung: Safe mode