How do I enable and exit safe mode for Xperia? (Android 8.0 or lower)

If your Xperia smartphone is on another Android version, please refer to the following article:

• For Android 11 or higher: How do enable and exit safe mode for Xperia? Android 11 or higher)
• For Android 9 or Android 10: How do I enable and exit safe mode for Xperia? (Android 9 or Android 10)

Downloaded applications may affect the performance of your device or cause it to behave unpredictably. Use safe mode to check whether a downloaded application is causing the problem.

In safe mode, your device only starts with software and applications already installed when you purchased your device. If the device performance improves in safe mode, it’s likely that one or more downloaded applications are affecting the device negatively. You can exit safe mode by restarting the device and uninstalling the application or applications you suspect are causing the problem. (It is also possible to uninstall applications from inside safe mode.) If the problem is recent and you’re not sure which application is causing the problem, you can start by uninstalling the most recently downloaded one.

Enabling safe mode

Android™ 8.0

1. While the device is powered on, press and hold down the power key.
2. Touch and hold Power off until the device starts to power off.
3. Wait for the device to restart in Safe mode.

Tip: To watch a video showing how to enter and exit safe mode in Android 8.0, tap or click here.

Android™ 7.1.1 or lower

1. While the phone is on, press and hold down the power key.
2. In the pop up window, touch and hold Power off until the Reboot to safe mode message appears.
3. Tap OK and let your device restart in safe mode.

Tip: To watch a video showing how to enter and exit safe mode, tap or click here.

Exiting safe mode

• When in safe mode, restart the phone.

If you can't exit safe mode by restarting the device, try these actions one after the other. Verify after each action whether the problem was solved, before trying the next one:

• Remove any protective case. A case might interfere with one of the physical keys of the device and prevent the device from starting properly.
• Make sure that the volume key, power key, and camera key respond properly, and that they are not stuck in one position.
• Make sure you just tap Restart or Power off when restarting your device; don't touch and hold. If you touch and hold Restart or Power off, it might result in a restart into safe mode in some device models.
• Check for new software wirelessly in your device using Settings → System → Software update (in Android 8.0) or Settings → About phone/tablet → Software update (in Android 7.x or lower). However, some updates are not available for wireless download. You then need to check for new software using a computer and the Xperia™ Companion computer application.
• If your Xperia™ device has the latest available software and the problem still persists, try to perform a factory data reset on your device.
  
  Note: All personal content on the internal memory of your device gets deleted when you perform a factory data reset. You can back up content that you want to keep. To back up your content, you can copy it to a computer using the Xperia™ Companion application. Content on an external memory card (SD card) is not deleted.