Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
To restart a responsive Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, swipe down from the top-right of the screen, tap the power icon, then tap Restart. If the phone is frozen or the menu cannot be used, press and hold Side and Volume Down together for more than seven seconds, until the phone restarts.
How do I restart my Galaxy S23 Ultra normally?
- Swipe down from the top-right edge of the screen to open the Quick panel.
- Tap the power icon.
- Tap Restart and allow the phone to shut down and start again.
Samsung says a restart closes running apps and refreshes the system, so it is a reasonable first step for a temporary slowdown or software hiccup. It is not a guaranteed fix for every performance or hardware problem. Samsung US Support
Can I restart it with the buttons?
When the screen is responsive, press and hold Side and Volume Down together to open the power options, then tap Restart. The Side button’s press-and-hold behavior can be configured at Settings > Advanced features > Side button; choose Power off menu if you want that press-and-hold action to open the power menu. Menu labels and availability can vary with software version, carrier, and model. Samsung Galaxy S23 series user manual
How do I force restart it if the screen is frozen?
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button at the same time.
- Keep holding for more than seven seconds, until the phone restarts. If a power menu appears first, continue holding rather than releasing at the menu.
The S23-series manual gives the more-than-seven-second instruction for a frozen or unresponsive device. Samsung Canada’s restart guide instead says to hold the same buttons for about ten seconds or until the device turns off and back on; follow the S23-series manual’s instruction to hold until restart. Samsung Canada Support
#1 Best Overall
- 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to ~1750 nits brightness, HDR10+ support, and ultra-smooth responsiveness for gaming and scrolling.
What if restarting does not solve the problem?
If the same slowdown or unresponsiveness returns, treat the restart as a first recovery step, not a diagnosis. Samsung recommends Safe mode as a way to check whether a third-party app may be causing a problem; its guidance also points to Samsung Members diagnostics or contacting support for persistent issues. Samsung troubleshooting guidance for a slow or unresponsive Galaxy device
A factory reset is different from a restart and should not be used casually as the next button-press option. Samsung advises saving information you need before proceeding with a reset. For recurring failures or suspected hardware trouble, use Samsung’s troubleshooting and support options rather than assuming a restart will fix the cause. Samsung boot-loop troubleshooting
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O QHD+, Edge Screen, 120Hz Refresh Rate, 500ppi, 1750nit (Outdoor Peak), 1440 x 3088 pixels, 5000mAh Battery
- 512GB, 12GB RAM, No SD Card Slot, Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), Octa-Core, Adreno 740
- Rear Camera: 200MP, f/1.7 + 10MP, f/4.9 + 10MP, f/2.4 + 12MP, f/2.2, Front Camera: 12MP, f/2.2, Android 13, One UI 5.1
- 2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, CDMA 800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/46/48/66/71, 5G: 1/7/28/41/66/71/78/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Single SIM
- No Warranty. Compatible with Most GSM and CDMA Carriers like T-Mobile, AT&T, MetroPCS, etc. Will Also work with CDMA Carriers Such as Verizon, Sprint.
Rank #4
- 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to ~1750 nits brightness, HDR10+ support, and ultra-smooth responsiveness for gaming and scrolling.
Rank #3
- 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to ~1750 nits brightness, HDR10+ support, and ultra-smooth responsiveness for gaming and scrolling.
Rank #2
- 6.8" Dynamic AMOLED 2X QHD+ display with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to ~1750 nits brightness, HDR10+ support, and ultra-smooth responsiveness for gaming and scrolling.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
