Dr.Fone - System Repair (Android)

Dedicated Tool to Fix Android Errors!

Fix Samsung system issues like black screen of death.
High success rate of fixing Android issues. No skills are required.
Handle Android system to normal within less than 10 minutes.
Easy-to-follow instructions provided.

Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Learn More >

Watch Video Tutorial

Tips to Switch on Samsung without Power Button

Selena Lee

Oct 24, 2026 • Filed to: Mobile Tips & Tactics • Proven solutions

TL;DR:

Which route should you try?

Screen asleep, phone still on: use Double tap to wake or Lift to wake if available and enabled.
Screen responsive: use Quick settings > Power > Restart, not Power off.
PC already authorized: ADB can reboot a running device; it cannot cold-start a powered-off one.
Fully off or buttons physically damaged: check charging first, then arrange service if you still cannot start it. Do not wipe the phone to fix a switch.

Ask AI for a summary

ChatGPT

Perplexity

Gemini

Claude

Grok Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free Try It Free

Dr.Fone Basic:
Better Control for Your Phone

Manage, transfer, back up, restore, and mirror your device

Free

Download Download

Claim 7-Day Trial Claim 7-Day Triall Claim 7-Day Trial

You can use a Samsung without its Power or Side button if Android is still running: wake the screen with an enabled gesture, or restart through the on-screen power menu. If the phone is completely switched off, those features and ordinary ADB commands cannot run. A charging symbol alone does not mean Android has started.

First identify the phone's state below. There is no single no-button startup trick that works on every Galaxy model. The three methods in this guide explain what charging, Recovery mode, and ADB can actually do, and when a damaged button needs repair rather than another app.

Part 1: 3 Methods to switch on Samsung without the power button
Part 2: FAQs about a broken Samsung power button

Part 1: 3 Methods to switch on Samsung without the power button

A black screen can mean sleep, an empty battery, a frozen system, or a failed display—not necessarily that the phone is powered off. Call the phone from another device and check for ringing, vibration, or notifications. If it responds while the display stays black, treat it as a display/access problem rather than a confirmed shutdown.

Choose by the phone's current state

What you observe	What can work	Next action
It rings or vibrates; the display is asleep or may have a fault	Previously enabled wake gestures; charging may illuminate the screen	Wake it and set up button-free access. Persistent black display needs service.
Android is on and the touchscreen responds	The on-screen Restart option; no PC needed	Restart through Quick settings.
Android is running; USB debugging and PC authorization are available	ADB normal reboot, even without pressing the key	Use the four-step ADB procedure.
Only a battery symbol appears, or the phone was shut down	Charging can restore battery energy, not a broken physical switch	Check power supply; if it will not boot, seek model-specific service.
Power and volume buttons are both broken	Screen controls or authorized ADB only while the system is running	Use the matching route above. If fully off, do not rely on a volume-key trick; get a repair assessment.

Galaxy A12, A13, S21, or an older model? The phone's state matters more than its name. Older Galaxy phones may have a physical Home button or a separate Bixby key; newer ones often use a Side button. Their boot-menu combinations are not interchangeable. Gesture and Quick settings availability also vary by model and One UI version. A method shown on a different Galaxy is not a compatibility guarantee for yours.

After regaining access: these guides cover separate photo-transfer or screen-lock tasks.

7 Ways to Transfer Photos from Android to PC Wirelessly

Samsung screen-unlock options and limitations

Method 1. Connect Your Phone to a Charger

Connect a compatible Samsung-approved charger and cable to a working outlet. Remove a case if it obstructs the port or button. Do not charge a device with visible liquid damage, a swollen battery, or unusual heat; arrange service instead.

For an otherwise undamaged phone with a drained battery, Samsung's black-screen guidance recommends charging for at least one hour; the indicator can take up to 10 minutes to appear. Try another compatible cable and charger if necessary. This is a battery check, not a guaranteed startup or repair time.

Read the result: if the Lock screen or Home screen appears, Android is running—use the screen alternatives. If you see only the charging indicator, the phone may still be off. Pressing a completely broken Power button will not fix that. If charging does not restore access, stop cycling through software tricks and have the switch and charging hardware checked.

Method 2. Restart Your Device through the Boot Menu

This is not a workaround for a completely dead Power key. Use this method only if your phone is already in Android Recovery and the required selection button still responds. Samsung's button-based Recovery procedures vary by device, and normally use the Power/Side key to enter or select an item. The common force-restart combination also includes that key.

Do not confuse Android Recovery with Download mode. Recovery has maintenance options such as Reboot system now; Download mode is a different firmware-related state. A generic Android Fastboot tutorial is not proof that your Samsung supports the same commands or startup sequence.

Step 1 — Confirm the menu. Continue only when the screen actually shows Android Recovery and Reboot system now. Do not enter Recovery just to compensate for a broken selection key.

Step 2 — Highlight the normal reboot option. Use the Volume keys to highlight Reboot system now. Avoid Wipe data/factory reset; it erases user data and does not repair a physical button.

recovery-mode-samsung

Step 3 — Select only if the required key works. Use the selection key indicated for your model (commonly Power/Side). If that key does not respond, stop; navigating with Volume alone does not complete the selection. Seek service rather than choosing other maintenance options.

The screenshot is a legacy Recovery example, not a current menu for every Galaxy. If you are instead at a blue Download warning that explicitly offers a cancel/restart choice, follow that screen's cancel instruction only. Do not continue to download, unlock a bootloader, or flash firmware to solve a damaged button. There is no universal USB-and-volume-key cold-start procedure established for every Galaxy model.

Data distinction: a normal ADB reboot or Reboot system now requests a restart, not a factory reset or data wipe. It can interrupt unsaved work, and you will need your PIN/password after restarting; do not assume fingerprint unlock will be enough. When you regain access, back up important files before arranging repairs.

Method 3. Use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to Restart Your Samsung Device

ADB can restart a Samsung phone without the Power button only when an ADB connection is available. For this USB procedure, Android must be running, USB debugging must be enabled, and the computer must be authorized. It does not turn on a completely powered-off phone or bypass a lock screen.

If your touchscreen still works, try the simpler on-screen Restart option first. Otherwise use the steps below on a computer you trust. Save open work and make sure you know the phone's PIN/password.

Step 1 — Get the official tools. Download and extract Google's SDK Platform-Tools for your computer. A full Android Studio installation is not required. On the running phone, enable USB debugging under Settings > Developer options if needed and if you can unlock it.

Step 2 — Connect and open a terminal. Connect the Samsung with a USB data cable. Unlock it and accept the Allow USB debugging prompt for your trusted computer if shown. Open the extracted platform-tools folder in File Explorer, type powershell in its address bar, and press Enter to open Windows PowerShell in that folder.

open-cmd-here

Legacy terminal-opening screenshot: use the File Explorer/PowerShell route above on current Windows.

Step 3 — Check the connection. In Windows PowerShell, run:

.\adb.exe devices -l

Continue only when your Samsung's serial number is followed by device. Copy the serial if more than one device is connected. The screenshot below is a legacy output example; use the current command above.

adb-devices

Step 4 — Request a normal reboot. Replace SERIAL with the exact serial reported for your Samsung. Do not type angle brackets. Run:

.\adb.exe -s SERIAL reboot

The phone should disconnect from ADB while restarting, then display its startup screen. Unlock it with your PIN/password when ready. Do not add recovery or bootloader to this command for a normal restart. The legacy screenshot illustrates the reboot action, not current PowerShell syntax.

adb-reboot

Other terminals: in Windows Command Prompt use adb.exe in place of .\adb.exe; in macOS/Linux Terminal use ./adb from the extracted Platform-Tools folder. The arguments stay the same.

If ADB cannot see or authorize the phone

No serial listed: try a known USB data cable and another PC USB port; check that Android is running and USB debugging is on. If Windows does not recognize the Samsung, use the appropriate Samsung USB driver rather than an unrelated phone driver.
unauthorized: unlock the phone and accept its RSA debugging prompt. If the screen cannot be used and this PC was never authorized, the PC command is not a workaround for granting permission.
offline: reconnect the cable, wait for Android to finish starting, and check the authorization prompt again. Retry the device-list command; reboot only after the state becomes device.
USB debugging never enabled and no usable screen: you cannot enable it with this ADB procedure. A phone that is fully off is also outside this method. Use a repair assessment rather than a factory reset.

These prerequisites and device states follow Android's ADB documentation; the official ADB command reference defines the serial selector and reboot action.

Optional mobile tools—not a startup method. Dr.Fone's mobile editions are for separate tasks after you have a running, accessible device. A downloaded app cannot run while a Samsung is completely powered off, and software does not replace a physically damaged Power switch.

Device access: regain a working screen and operating system before trying mobile features.
Android recovery: available recovery options depend on the files and device state; recovery is not guaranteed.
Private space: the Android product includes a PIN-protected space for selected personal content.
File management: use only the functions shown for your installed edition and device.
Transfers: a separate data-transfer task is not a way to cold-start a phone.
Screen unlock: Android unlock workflows can require a desktop computer and can erase data; they do not repair a button.
System repair: desktop firmware repair is a different operation from replacing faulty hardware.
Platform differences: do not assume the iOS and Android editions have identical features.
Before repair: save a backup whenever you can access your files.
Choose for the actual task: do not purchase an app solely to power on a switched-off Samsung.

Optional app downloads for separate supported tasks: Try It Free (iOS) and Try It Free (Android). Check the edition's feature and purchase details before choosing.

Feature availability varies by platform and edition.

Part 2: FAQs About a Broken Samsung Power Button

The safest next step depends on whether the device is running and whether the button is physically damaged. These answers distinguish temporary screen controls from a lasting hardware fix.

When should I get the Samsung Power button repaired?

Get a repair assessment if the key is missing, loose, stuck, visibly damaged, or still unresponsive after removing the case and checking the battery. For an external obstruction, try only the gentle exterior cleaning check below. A phone that rings but has a persistently black display also needs display/access diagnosis. If the phone is fully off and you cannot operate its startup controls, screen gestures and ADB are not substitutes for service. Ask Samsung or a qualified repair provider for a quote based on the exact model, button assembly, warranty, and any liquid or impact damage; there is no single reliable price for every Galaxy. Explain that preserving your data matters and back up first if possible.

How can I clean a stuck Power button safely?

Remove the case and check for an external obstruction. Gently wipe only the accessible exterior with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth. Do not pour or spray alcohol into the button gap, pry out the key, use compressed air, or open the phone to bridge contacts. Samsung's cleaning guidance covers exterior surfaces, not repairing an internal switch. If the button remains stuck, stop and have it inspected.

How can I use my Galaxy day to day without the Side button?

Set up alternatives while Android is still running and you can unlock the screen. Keep the battery charged; a case may protect the phone but cannot guarantee the button will not be damaged. These controls do not switch on a completely powered-off device or remove the need for its passcode.

Wake and lock the screen

Open Settings > Advanced features > Motions and gestures.
Enable Double tap to turn on screen and, if available, Lift to wake. With the phone still on, let the display sleep, then double-tap it or lift the phone to test the enabled option.
If available, enable Double tap to turn off screen. Double-tap an empty area on the Home or Lock screen to put the display to sleep again.

If an option is absent, do not assume your model supports it. See Samsung's gesture guidance. A wake gesture changes display state, not the phone's powered-off state.

Restart without pressing a button

With a responsive screen, swipe down from the top using two fingers to open Quick settings. Depending on One UI, you may need to fully expand the panel.
Tap the Power icon, then choose Restart and confirm Restart if asked. Do not choose Power off if the broken key would prevent you starting the phone again.
Wait for the Samsung startup screen, then enter your PIN/password. If the on-screen power control is not available, use ADB only if its prerequisites are met; a frozen touchscreen does not make a button-dependent force restart possible with a physically failed key.

If you already set up Bixby Voice and voice activation works, Samsung also documents saying “Hi, Bixby, restart my phone.” This is an alternative for a running device, not cold boot. See Samsung's restart options.

A forgotten passcode is a separate problem. Dr.Fone's Android app and related unlock options do not switch on a powerless phone or repair a broken key. Android unlocking can involve a desktop workflow and data loss; it is not simply a computer-free app fix. The video below concerns screen unlocking, not startup without a Power button.

Dr.Fone App (iOS) & Dr.Fone App (Android)

Optional mobile editions for separate data and phone-management needs—not a cure for a physically broken key or a powered-off device. Do not buy software solely to start a switched-off phone with failed hardware; get a repair assessment instead.

Use mobile features only on a running device with the required access.
Android and iOS editions have different functions and prerequisites.
Data recovery depends on what remains accessible; no result is guaranteed.
Desktop unlock or repair workflows may be required and can erase data.
Compare the edition's actual features and terms before purchasing.

Optional downloads; platform features and purchase terms differ.

Conclusion

To switch on Samsung without a Power button, first distinguish an asleep screen from a fully switched-off phone. Wake gestures and on-screen Restart help only while the system is running; ADB additionally needs debugging and authorization. Charging can address an empty battery, but it does not repair the switch. If you cannot regain access with a method that fits the phone's state, arrange a hardware assessment and preserve your data rather than attempting a reset or firmware flash.

The following guides cover separate data, software, or credential problems after the required device access is available; they do not promise to turn on an unpowered phone.

You might also be interested:

Samsung data recovery options and limitations

How to Fix It If Your Samsung Phone Got Bricked?

Samsung screen-lock recovery options