As you may probably know, Samsung phones, just like all the other phones and devices, have special startup modes:
Recovery mode, where you can clear cache, factory wipe your phone, repair apps (defragmentation), and even install custom software; and Fastboot mode/Download mode (Samsung), where technicians, or even you, can flash firmware images onto the device.
Starting with Android 11 bootloaders, Samsung devices can only boot into the special modes while connected to a PC. This is a welcome security measure
to prevent accidental button presses or inadvertent attempts at bricking the device.
By allowing the special startup modes to be accessed only while connected to a PC, Samsung made sure that only technicians, or someone with the clear
know-how and intent, will access these special modes. The special startup modes, however, can be used by average users too, and the recovery mode,
in particular, offers true benefits, even with a stock recovery used by a normal user.
DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for you causing your device to work improperly, or even worse, bricking your device by misusing any of the special startup modes.
Please note: Screen readers cannot be used in either Download or Recovery modes.
Table of Contents
What Can a User Do in Recovery? Is It Beneficial?
Using the recovery menu is, after all, really efficient, especially for phones that don’t use the A/B partitions update system, particularly after having installed an update.
-
Wipe the Cache Partition: Magic that makes phones run back faster:
After an update, for phones that don’t use A/B partitions where this is not really needed and the cache management is far superior, cache files are always piling up and never getting deleted.
This, if left unresolved, will slow down your phone. It is very important after an update to clear your cache partition. This doesn’t delete any user or app data, as app cache gets copied
into the memory via stream, meaning app cache never remains in the cache partition. Clearing the cache partition is the most harmless way to gain back some large performance that usually gets lost with cache. -
Partition Defragmentation: The last option in the stock recovery menu is called “Repair apps.”
This doesn’t do anything else but disk defragmentation, a function present in all recovery systems, including Linux recovery, macOS, and Apple recovery, as well as in all available Windows BIOS recovery options.
This improves the disk clusters, unites files, and frees up clusters that are unnecessarily occupied but never filled up. After an update, your phone automatically does this. However, for phones that don’t receive
updates anymore, this function is only available through the Galaxy App Booster module, which is far less efficient.
The Secret: How to Boot a Samsung Phone Running Android 11 Bootloader or Higher into Special Startup Modes?
The tip is simple: Have anything connected into the USB port, such as a keyboard, headphones, or USB stick. Data should be successfully passed to any device. This is how the bootloader knows a PC is connected.
Simply restart the phone with a device connected to it, then press the key combination for either Download mode or Recovery.
Download Mode and Recovery Mode Key Combos
The devices starting with the S10 series are included here, as S9 and Note9 received Android 10, while S10 has Android 12.
Bixby Key Phones:
- Download Mode: Press Bixby plus Volume Down before the phone boots.
- Recovery Mode: Press Power, Bixby, and Volume Up. Release them 2 seconds after the phone vibrates.
No Bixby Key Phones:
- Download Mode: Hold Volume Up plus Volume Down after pressing restart.
- Recovery Mode: Hold Power plus Volume Up after pressing restart. Release them 2 seconds after the phone vibrates.
Conclusion
Samsung restricting the special startup modes to when the phone is connected to a computer was a smart and necessary move. It prevents many without the know-how from booting their phone into
Download mode or Recovery mode, potentially bricking their device. However, when you encounter a fatal app crash, or if your phone is running slowly, clearing the cache partition is the best solution, along with defragmentation.
Simply connecting something to your USB port makes this possible anywhere. This is a useful and neat asset when your phone doesn’t operate the way it once did.
Comments