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Welcome to the 'What to do when your device freezes' video course. Sometimes your device, whether it's a smartphone, tablet, or computer, can freeze. This means the screen will be static, button and touch actions won't register, and your device will be unresponsive. This can happen for several reasons, but there are a few simple steps you can try to get your device working again.
This demonstration uses a Samsung Android phone, and the troubleshooting steps will be similar on other devices. One of the most common ways to fix a frozen device is to restart it. Restarting your device involves turning it off and on again.
A restart is also called a power cycle. Press and hold the power button or the power button and volume down button at the same time, depending on your device. When the power options appear on the screen, select Restart or Reboot, and your device will turn off, then power back on. If you can't restart your device using the onscreen power options, you can try to force a restart.
A force restart is also called a hard restart. Press the power button and volume down button at the same time. Hold them both for 10 to 15 seconds, or until the screen turns off and the device restarts. Restarting your device is different to resetting it. A restart doesn't erase any personal data, whereas a reset deletes all information and settings.
Sometimes your device freezes because it needs an update. To check for an update, open the Settings app and look for a message about an update at the top of the screen. If an update is available, tap on the message, then tap Download and install.
If nothing you've tried has fixed the problem, it might be time to get professional help. You can get in touch with the customer support service for your device, either online or over the phone, or you can take the device to a service centre where it can be assessed and repaired if necessary.