On older Samsung Galaxy phones, holding the Power button brought up the power menu immediately. On newer models (Galaxy S8 and later), Samsung reassigned the side button to launch Bixby by default, which surprises many users who just want to turn the phone off. Here is how to do it on every model.

Standard Power Off (Older Models – Galaxy S7 and Earlier)

1. Press and hold the Power button on the right side of the phone.
2. The power menu appears with Power off, Restart, and Emergency mode.
3. Tap Power off.
4. Tap Power off again to confirm.

Power Off on Newer Samsung Galaxy Phones (S8 and Later)

On Galaxy S8 through S23 and many A-series phones, the side button may open Bixby instead of the power menu. Use one of these methods:

Method 1: Power + Volume Down

Press and hold Power (Side key) + Volume Down simultaneously for about 2 seconds. The power menu (Power off, Restart, Emergency mode) will appear. Tap Power off.

Method 2: Change Side Key Settings

Reassign the Side key back to the power menu:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Advanced features.
3. Tap Side key.
4. Under ‘Press and hold,’ select Power off menu instead of Wake Bixby.

After this change, holding the Side key alone will bring up the power menu as expected.

Method 3: Power Off from Notification Shade

1. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
2. Tap the Power icon in the top right corner (next to the Settings gear).
3. Select Power off.

Scheduled Power Off

Samsung allows you to schedule automatic power-off and power-on times:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap General management.
3. Tap Reset, then Auto restart – or on some models, look for a dedicated Scheduled power on/off option under Device care or Battery settings.

Turning Off Specific Features Instead of the Phone

If you want to save battery without fully powering off, these are useful alternatives:

• Airplane mode – Disables all wireless radios (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) but keeps the phone on.
• Power saving mode – Reduces performance and background activity to extend battery life significantly.
• Do Not Disturb – Silences notifications without turning off the phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does holding the power button open Bixby on my Samsung?

Samsung changed the default behavior of the side button starting with Galaxy S8. Go to Settings, Advanced features, Side key, and change ‘Press and hold’ to Power off menu to restore the traditional behavior.

My Samsung phone won’t turn off – what do I do?

If the screen is frozen and the phone will not respond, force restart it by holding Volume Down and the Power button simultaneously for 7-10 seconds. The phone will restart, after which you can power it off normally.