Google Pixel keeps restarting? 8 fixes to stop the reboots

A Pixel that restarts at random can be a single bad app, a bug that Google already fixed in an update, or a battery that is getting old. The trick is to work out which, without wiping your phone too early. Safe mode is the best first test. This page also covers a Pixel that is stuck in a reboot loop, where it restarts again and again and never reaches the Home screen.

How to stop a Pixel from restarting

Is it a random restart or a reboot loop?

• Random restart: the Pixel works for hours or days, then restarts by itself. Usually an app, heat or a software bug.
• Reboot loop: the Pixel shows the Google logo, restarts, and repeats without reaching the lock screen. Usually a failed update or a corrupted system. Go straight to the repair tool.
• Restart at the same moment every time: for example when you open the camera or plug in the charger. That points to a specific app, accessory or the battery.

What safe mode tells you

Safe mode turns off every app you installed and runs only the software that came with the Pixel. Use the phone normally for a day. If it does not restart in safe mode, an app you installed is the cause. Restart normally, then uninstall the apps you added most recently one by one, starting with anything that runs in the background, such as launchers, cleaners, VPNs and battery savers. If the Pixel still restarts in safe mode, the cause is the system, the battery or the hardware.

Heat, charging and the battery

Pixels shut down or restart to protect themselves when they get too hot. Charging while gaming, using the camera in the sun, or wireless charging under a thick case can all do this. Take the phone out of the case, move it to the shade and let it cool before you test again. See how to cool down an overheating phone for the full list.

On newer Pixels you can check the battery in Settings › Battery › Battery health, where the phone shows how much capacity the battery has left. A weak battery cannot deliver power in a burst, which makes the phone reboot when you open the camera or start a game. If the battery shows its capacity is low, replacing it often ends the restarts. Use a charger and cable that meet USB-C standards, because cheap ones can deliver unstable power.

How to fix a Pixel in a reboot loop

If the Pixel never reaches the lock screen, charge it for at least 30 minutes first, because a low battery makes boot loops worse. Then try the force restart. If that does not work, use Google’s Android Flash Tool or the Pixel repair tool from a computer, as described in Google’s help page. It can reinstall Android on the phone. Some options erase the phone, and Google’s page tells you which, so read each prompt before you confirm. See also what to do when a Pixel is stuck on the Google logo.

Check the apps and accessories that run all the time

Some restarts come from things plugged into or running on the phone all day. Unplug any USB hub, adapter, car charger or battery pack and use the phone for a day with only the original cable. Remove a screen protector that covers the sensors if you recently added one. Then open Settings › Apps › See all apps and look at what you installed recently: launchers, call recorders, screen filters and apps that draw over other apps are common causes. Uninstall one, use the phone for a while, and see whether the restarts stop. Changing one thing at a time is slow but it tells you exactly what caused the problem.

If the restarts began right after an Android update, check the Pixel Community or Google’s Pixel status page to see whether other people report the same bug. Google usually fixes widespread problems within one or two monthly updates, so installing the next patch when it arrives can solve it without a reset. Do not install beta builds on the phone you rely on every day, since they are the most common source of surprise reboots.

Check mobile signal and SIM problems

A faulty SIM or eSIM, or a phone that keeps searching for a signal, can sometimes cause reboots on a Pixel. Turn the phone off, take out the SIM tray and put the SIM back firmly. If you use an eSIM, go to Settings › Network & internet › SIMs and check that it is active. If the restarts only happen with the SIM in, ask your carrier for a new SIM, which is usually free at a store. If they happen with no SIM at all, the SIM is not the cause.

Back up before you reset

A factory reset erases the phone, so back up first. Photos and videos go to Google Photos, and settings, apps, contacts and call history can be backed up to your Google account under Settings › System › Backup. A Google One plan gives you more backup space if the free storage is full. The guide on backing up an Android phone walks through the steps. If the phone restarts too often to finish a backup, plug it in and try again, or copy photos to a computer over USB.

Warranty, Pixel Care and repair

Pixels come with a limited warranty from Google, and some buyers add Preferred Care or a carrier protection plan. If the Pixel keeps restarting with no sign of damage, ask Google Support or your carrier whether a repair or replacement is covered. Have the serial number ready, which is in Settings › About phone. Warranty rules and coverage periods differ by model, country and plan, so check yours instead of assuming.

If the phone is out of warranty, get a quote from Google or an authorized repair center before you pay. A battery replacement costs far less than a new phone, but if the Pixel is several years old and near the end of its software updates, the money may be better spent on a newer model. A trade-in can lower the price.

Keep it from happening again

• Install system and app updates when they appear.
• Keep at least 10% of storage free.
• Install apps only from the Play Store, and delete ones you do not use.
• Avoid leaving the phone in a hot car or charging it under a pillow.
• Restart the phone once a week.