How To Fix A Galaxy S23 That Turned Off And Won’t Turn On (2026)
Your Galaxy S23 shut itself off and now the screen stays black no matter what you press.
This is usually fixable, and the cause is often a drained battery, a frozen system or a faulty charging connection rather than a dead phone.
The steps below run from the quickest to the most drastic and take about 20 minutes, and the data-erasing reset comes last.
What should I try first when a Galaxy S23 will not turn back on?
Start at the top of the table and stop as soon as the phone responds.
| Try this | What to do | Erases data? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Charge it | Use a Samsung-certified 25W-or-higher charger and a good USB-C cable, and keep it plugged in even if the screen stays blank | No |
| 2. Force restart | Hold Side key and Volume down for more than 7 seconds | No |
| 3. Safe mode | Hold Volume down and Side, then touch and hold Power off | No |
| 4. Update software | Settings > Software update, or Smart Switch on a computer | No |
| 5. Recovery mode | Volume Up and Power, then Reboot system now or Wipe data/factory reset | Only if you wipe |
| 6. Service | Samsung walk-in center, online chat or the Samsung Members app | No |
Why would a Galaxy S23 turn off and stay off?
Samsung’s own troubleshooting list points at a physically damaged phone, liquid in the charging port, an uncertified charger or accessory, and an app or software fault.
- Flat battery: a fully drained phone may not show the lightning icon at all.
- Software freeze: the system hangs and the screen stays dark.
- Bad charging path: a worn cable, a dirty or bent port, or moisture.
- Faulty app: a recently installed app can cause crashes.
- Hardware fault: damage from a drop or water that only a repair can fix.
Step 1: charge the phone properly
The Galaxy S23 supports 25W Super Fast Charging, so Samsung says to use a charger rated at 25W or higher with a USB-C cable made for fast charging.
If the battery is completely empty, the lightning icon may not appear, so keep the phone plugged in even while the screen is blank.
- Plug in a Samsung-certified charger and an undamaged cable.
- Leave it charging for several minutes before you try the power key.
- If you have a spare charger and cable, swap both and try again.
- Charge from a wall adapter rather than a computer USB port, which can be too slow.
Samsung also notes that powering the phone off while it charges makes charging faster.
Step 2: check the port, the cable and the phone for damage
A phone that will not wake up often has a charging problem and not a dead battery.
- Look inside the charging port for debris, corrosion or bent pins.
- Make sure the cable seats firmly and does not wobble.
- Check the screen and back for cracks or a dented frame from a drop.
- Remove any case or screen protector and see whether the touchscreen behaves normally.
If the phone got wet, Samsung says to rinse a water-resistant model in clean water for 1 to 3 minutes, dry it completely and keep chargers away until it is fully dry.
Do not use a hair dryer, heat source or compressed air to dry it.
For the water-drop icon and moisture warnings, see our guide to the Galaxy S23 moisture detected error.
Step 3: force restart the phone
A correctly done force restart does not erase any data, and it clears most system freezes.
- Press and hold the Side key and Volume down together for more than 7 seconds.
- Release when the Samsung logo appears or the phone vibrates.
- Wait for it to boot fully.
Samsung’s UK page lists Side key plus Volume Up for this and also says some devices use Volume Down, so if one combination does nothing, try the other for the full 7 seconds.
If the phone boots to the Android recovery screen instead, use the volume keys to highlight Reboot system now and press the Side key.
Which button combination does what?
| Goal | Buttons or path | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Force restart | Side + Volume down, more than 7 seconds | Samsung US support |
| Force restart (alternate) | Side + Volume Up, more than 7 seconds | Samsung UK support |
| Safe mode | Volume down + Side until the Power off menu shows, then touch and hold Power off | Samsung US support |
| Recovery mode | Volume Up + Power with the phone off | AT&T device support |
Menu names can vary by carrier, software version and model.
Step 4: install the latest software once it boots
If the phone comes back, update it right away because the shutdown may be a software fault that an update fixes.
- One UI 8.0 or earlier: Settings > Software update > Download and install.
- One UI 8.5 or later: Settings > Software update > Check for updates.
- From a computer: install Smart Switch, connect the phone with a USB cable and select Update.
Do not unplug or use the phone while it updates, because it reboots during the process.
Step 5: test in Safe mode to catch a bad app
Safe mode switches off downloaded apps, which shows whether one of them is making the phone crash or shut down.
- Press and hold Volume down and the Side key until the Power off menu appears.
- Touch and hold the Power off icon until the Safe mode option shows.
- Tap Safe mode and look for the Safe mode label at the bottom left.
If the problem stops in Safe mode, uninstall the most recent app you added, then repeat until the problem stops.
If it continues in Safe mode, Samsung says it is probably hardware, and the fix is a service visit.
To leave Safe mode, press and hold Volume down and Side until the Power off menu appears, tap Power off, and press the Power button once it is fully off.
Step 6: use recovery mode as a last software option
Recovery mode is useful when the normal system will not load, but its wipe option deletes everything.
- Make sure the battery is at least 30% charged.
- Hold Power and Volume Down, then tap Power off, or hold them until the phone shuts down.
- Press and hold Volume Up and Power until the screen turns on.
- Use Volume Down to move through the menu.
Choose Reboot system now if you only want to restart, and pick Wipe data/factory reset only when you accept losing all data.
Step 7: factory data reset from Settings
If you can reach the home screen, the reset from Settings is safer than recovery because you can back up first.
- Back up your data, since personal information may not be recoverable.
- Connect to a network so the phone can sign out of your Samsung account.
- Go to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
- Swipe to Reset, tap Reset, then tap Delete all.
- Enter your Samsung account credentials when asked.
If stored account details block the reset or setup afterward, Samsung says to contact its support.
Which fix matches what the phone is doing?
| What you see | Most likely cause | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| Black screen, no lightning icon | Empty battery or weak charger | Step 1 |
| Charges only when the cable is held at an angle | Dirty or damaged port, or worn cable | Step 2 |
| Water-drop icon or moisture warning | Liquid in the port | Step 2 |
| Frozen screen and no response to the power key | System freeze | Step 3 |
| Phone works but shuts off after you open certain apps | Third-party app fault | Step 5 |
| Stuck on the Samsung logo | Boot or software fault | Steps 3, 6 and 7 |
For the logo problem, our Galaxy S23 stuck on boot screen guide goes deeper.
When should I contact Samsung or a repair shop?
If Safe mode does not help, the phone shows no life after charging and a force restart, or it was dropped or soaked, treat it as hardware.
Samsung says you can use a walk-in service center, schedule a repair online, or reach support through online chat and the Samsung Members app.
Other S23 guides on this site include what to do when the Galaxy S23 will not turn on and how to fix Galaxy S23 not charging.
Official sources: Samsung US troubleshooting, Samsung UK power-on guide and AT&T recovery mode steps.