If your Samsung Galaxy S25 FE won't turn on, the first thing to try is a force restart. Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button together for about 10 seconds. Keep holding them until you feel a vibration or see the Samsung logo appear on the screen. This simple step can clear out a temporary software glitch that's preventing a normal boot.
Charge With the Right Gear
Your phone might just have a completely dead battery. Since the S25 FE doesn't come with a charger in the box, the one you're using might not be powerful enough. Plug it into a Samsung 45W adapter with a good USB-C cable for the fastest charge.
Let it sit for at least 30 minutes on the wired charger. If you have a Qi wireless charger, try that too, as it supports up to 15W. Sometimes a different power outlet or cable can make all the difference if the first setup isn't working.
Check for Physical Issues
Take a close look at the USB-C port on the bottom of your phone. Lint and pocket debris can get packed in there, preventing the cable from making a proper connection. Use a can of compressed air or a plastic toothpick to gently clear it out.
Also, remove any case you have on the phone. A thick case can sometimes interfere with wireless charging or even prevent a cable from plugging in all the way. While you're at it, inspect your charging cable for any fraying or damage.
Boot Into Safe Mode
If the phone turns on but gets stuck or crashes, a recently installed app could be the culprit. Booting into Safe Mode temporarily disables all third-party apps. To do this, first power the phone off completely.
Then, press and hold the Side button. As soon as you see the Samsung logo, release the Side button and immediately press and hold the Volume Down button. Keep holding it until the phone finishes starting up. You'll see "Safe mode" in the bottom corner of the screen.
If the phone works fine in Safe Mode, you know a downloaded app is causing the problem. You can then restart normally and start uninstalling apps you recently added.
Address a Warm Phone
The Exynos 2400 chip in the S25 FE can run warm, especially during long gaming sessions or if it's been in a hot car. Samsung's software includes optimized charging that deliberately slows down charging if the battery gets too hot for safety.
If the phone feels hot and won't turn on, let it cool down completely in a shaded spot. Then try charging it again. For daily use, turning off 5G when you don't need it and enabling Adaptive Battery in settings can help manage heat and improve overall battery life.
Wipe the Cache Partition
Corrupted system cache files from old updates or apps can cause boot problems. Clearing them doesn't delete your personal data. First, connect your phone to a computer with a USB-C cable or make sure it has at least 20% battery.
Power the phone off. Then, press and hold the Volume Up button and the Side button at the same time. When you see the Samsung logo, let go of both buttons. You'll enter the Android Recovery Menu.
Use the Volume Down button to highlight "Wipe cache partition," then press the Side button to select it. Confirm the action, and when it's done, select "Reboot system now."
Consider a Software Glitch After Update
Some users have reported occasional display flicker or boot issues after a major software update. If your problem started right after an update, the force restart and cache partition wipe mentioned above are your best first steps.
If the screen remains completely black but you feel haptic feedback (vibrations) when you press where the buttons should be, it could be a temporary display driver issue that a force restart may resolve.
Perform a Factory Reset
If every other step has failed, a factory reset is the final software solution. This will erase all data, apps, and settings from your phone, returning it to its original out-of-the-box state. Make absolutely sure you've exhausted the other options first.
To do this, you'll need to get back into the Android Recovery Menu using the same method as wiping the cache: hold Volume Up and the Side button while the phone is off. This time, use the volume keys to navigate to "Factory data reset" or "Wipe data/factory reset." Select it with the Side button and confirm. After it completes, choose "Reboot system now."
