If your Samsung Galaxy A won't turn on, charge it for a while with a Samsung charger and cable you know works, then hold the side key and the volume down key together for more than seven seconds to force a restart. Those two steps are Samsung's own first advice, and they bring a lot of "dead" phones back. If it still won't start, the cause is usually the battery, the charging port or, less often, the phone's main board.
Step 1: charge it properly
A completely flat battery can take a while before the phone shows any sign of life, and Samsung says the time needed varies by model. Plug it into a wall charger rather than a computer, which charges more slowly, and leave it for a good while before you try to turn it on.
- Use a Samsung charger and cable, or ones you know work with another phone.
- Make sure the plug sits firmly in the port without wobbling.
- Keep it on charge even if the screen stays blank: some phones show nothing until the battery has recovered a little.
Step 2: check the charging port
Samsung's advice is to check the port and cable for dirt, damage, corrosion or bent pins. In practice, the most common problem is pocket lint packed into the bottom of the port, which stops the plug making contact. Switch the phone off if you can, shine a torch in, and ease any fluff out gently with a wooden toothpick. Don't use anything metal.
On water-resistant models, a "moisture detected" warning blocks cable charging until the port is dry. Samsung says water in the port usually evaporates in an hour or two. Don't push anything into the port to dry it. Wireless charging still works on models that support it.
Step 3: force a restart
Press and hold the side key and volume down together for more than seven seconds. Let go when the phone vibrates and the Samsung logo appears. If a recovery menu appears instead, use the volume keys to choose Reboot system now and press the side key.
A phone that's frozen with a black screen can look exactly like a dead one, and a force restart is often all it needs.
Step 4: if it gets stuck on the Samsung logo
A phone that starts but hangs on the logo, or keeps restarting, is usually a software problem or an app, not a hardware fault. Try safe mode, which starts the phone without the apps you've installed: when the Samsung logo appears, press and hold volume down until it finishes starting. If it works in safe mode, an app is the likely cause. Restart normally to leave safe mode.
If it won't get past the logo even in safe mode, the software may need reinstalling, which can mean losing data that isn't backed up. That's a job for Samsung's support rather than a repair shop.
What the signs usually mean
- Charges, but dies the moment you unplug it: almost certainly a worn battery.
- Only charges at an angle, or not at all with any cable: usually the charging port.
- Turns on, but shuts down at 20% or 30%: a worn battery.
- Vibrates or rings but the screen stays black: the display, not the power. This guide covers black screens.
- Hot, swollen, or the back is lifting: stop charging it straight away, and don't post it without contacting me first.
- Got wet, then died: water damage. I don't repair water-damaged phones.
- No response at all, with a known-good charger, after all the steps above: it could be the battery, the charging port or the main board.
What I can repair
A worn battery and a damaged charging port are repairs I offer on every Galaxy A model on my repair page, with genuine Samsung parts. A battery is £49 or £59 depending on the model, and so is a charging port. Before booking, the guide to a Galaxy A that won't charge helps you tell which you need, and this guide shows how to check the battery if the phone does start.
I don't repair main boards. If you book a battery or charging port repair and I find the fault is elsewhere, there's no repair fee: I refund what you paid, less return postage, and tell you what I found. If your phone shows no sign of life at all, get in touch before booking and I'll give you an honest view of whether it's worth posting.
Some model pages: Galaxy A12, Galaxy A52, Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A14. The rest are on the Samsung Galaxy A repair page.
If your phone is still under warranty
If your Galaxy A is inside Samsung's warranty and has stopped working without being dropped or getting wet, go to Samsung first. A repair by anyone else ends Samsung's warranty.
Frequently asked questions
How do I force restart a Samsung Galaxy A?
Press and hold the side key and volume down together for more than seven seconds, until the phone vibrates and the Samsung logo appears.
My Samsung is dead and won't charge. Is it the battery or the port?
If the plug feels loose or it only charges at an angle, it's more likely the port. If it charges but dies as soon as you unplug it, it's more likely the battery. If there's no response at all with a charger you know works, it could be either, or the main board.
Why is my Samsung stuck on the logo?
Usually software or an app. Force restart it, then try safe mode. If it won't start even in safe mode, contact Samsung's support about reinstalling the software.
Can a completely dead phone be repaired?
Often, if it's the battery or charging port. If the main board has failed, it's usually not worth repairing on a Galaxy A. Contact me before posting a phone that shows no sign of life.
