The Crosswalk
GrapheneOS Restarting Over and Over? Here's the Simple Fix
Caught in a boot loop after your battery hit 0%? It's usually a safety feature, not a disaster. Here's how to get unstuck.
There is one situation where my phone can get stuck in a restart loop. It's not every time, but when the battery runs to 0%, the phone will protect itself by restarting.
Why this happens
It tries to load the operating system The core software that manages a computer and lets applications run. This would be Windows or MacOS on computers, Android or iOS for phones, for example. , but if it can't guarantee a stable start up because it doesn't have enough juice, it restarts. It's a safety feature. When I searched online for some easy things to try to fix it, I saw a lot of complicated things.
Quick fix
If you have a fast charging cable, you may be able to just plug in and everything's fine. If that doesn't work, try the below.
First step for troubleshooting
The first thing I do when this happens is to catch the phone when it gets to the boot screen. The screen looks like the below picture and says something like, "You are using a non-standard OS" (or similar).
You can click the volume buttons and the power button to select from the menu that's there.
This will pause the phone from restarting over and over. Then you'll have time to look for a phone charger. Unless it's right there. Problem should be solved soon if that's the case!
Boot screen
Below is the screen you'll see when you restart your phone. Don't worry, it's ok.
Let your phone charge up
I let the phone charge to about 20%, or I make sure I'm using a fast charging cable and let it sit for a few minutes. It should be fine.
Why does he always do this
The first time we came across any problem in Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is when my partner's phone kept rebooting over and over after an update. This is when I couldn't find solutions online, but then I thought to ask.... "Hey... what was your battery at?"
Plug your phone in for updates if you can. I actually typically don't. I let the updates come when they come, and tell Graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. that it can reboot restarting a computer, as in, 'have you tried turning it off and on again?' in the middle of the night.
Oops I did it again
Something funny about graphene An alternative to Android or iOS on phones. is my phone battery lasts so much longer, and I tend not to need to charge it as often as when I had an early iPhone or a plain Android the system running most smartphones (like Pixel, Samsung, LG, etc) off the shelf. So after my partner had his thing happen, oops I did it too! I forgot to charge and let my battery run down to 0. The solution is don't do that. Keep your phone charged at least a little.
More importantly, make sure the phone is charged for updates. Do as I say, not as I do?
Conclusion
Once the phone charges to about 20%, it should boot up just fine. It can be fine at a lower percentage, but it might depend on how strong your charger is. If it's a fast charger, it seems to tolerate a lower percentage. I haven't noticed any adverse effects from this happening on my phone. Just something to be aware of that can happen.
Keep your phone charged!
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About Katie B
I'm a mom and a programmer in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. I like reading, games, hiking.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my GrapheneOS phone keep restarting over and over?
When the battery drains to 0%, the phone may not have enough power to guarantee a stable startup. It restarts as a safety feature rather than risk a failed boot. Plugging it in and letting it charge resolves the loop.
How do I stop the restart loop on GrapheneOS?
Catch the phone when it reaches the boot screen that says 'You are using a non-standard OS,' then press the power button (you can also use the volume buttons to navigate the menu) to pause the loop. Plug in a charger — ideally a fast charging cable — and let it charge to about 20% before letting it boot normally.
What battery percentage do I need to boot GrapheneOS after a boot loop?
Around 20% is a safe target for me, though a fast charger may let the phone boot at a lower percentage. The key is making sure the phone has enough charge to start up stably.
Can a low battery cause problems during GrapheneOS updates?
Yes. Allowing a phone to reboot for an update while critically low on battery can trigger the same restart loop. Make sure your phone is charged before installing updates.