Samsung a71 power button not working

These days, physical buttons on phones are an increasingly rare sight. But we still rely on a handful of buttons to perform basic actions like waking the screen and tweaking the volume. Since we interact with them many times per day, mechanical keys can wear out over time.

If your volume button is not working, or your power button is not working, then don't rush to the service center yet. If you'd like to know what to do when the buttons on your phone won't work, here are some tricks to help you fix the keys on your Android device.

1. Check if the Button Is Really Dead

If your phone buttons are not working, there's a chance a software glitch might have caused the malfunction. To ensure the key is actually dead, we recommend going through the following basic troubleshooting steps.

Reboot Your Phone

Your first order of business is to perform a simple reboot. This will restart all background services and refresh your phone's core components in case something had crashed or malfunctioned.

If you have a Google Pixel running Android 12 or Android 13, then you can reboot your phone without using any buttons at all.

1. To reboot, swipe down twice on your home screen to open the Quick Settings menu.
2. Tap the power icon at the bottom of your screen.
3. Then tap Restart.

If you've got a Samsung phone and the power button is not working, then you can restart your device using the Auto Restart feature. This works if your phone screen is turned off and your battery is above 30%.

1. Head into your phone settings and locate the section titled Battery and Device Care or similar.
2. Head to the ellipsis in the top right-hand corner of your screen and select Automation.
3. Here, you'll find the option to Auto restart at set times.
4. Turn auto-restart on, and then choose today's day, and set a time for your phone to restart.
5. Your phone will restart within one hour of the time you set.

But what if you aren't using a Samsung device and your phone doesn't have an equivalent feature? Another way to restart a mobile whose power button isn't working is to use the Android accessibility settings.

Enable the Accessibility Menu from Settings > Accessibility. You'll now see a new shortcut on the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen that looks like a person with outstretched arms. Tap that, select the Power option, and hit Restart from the menu that appears.

If you can't see this option, download Google's own Android Accessibility Suite app to enable it.

Download: Android Accessibility Suite (Free)

Boot Into Safe Mode

Another way to test whether a software bug is causing your button problem is by booting into safe mode. At its core, safe mode is an isolated environment that restricts your phone to the software it originally shipped with.

Therefore, none of the third-party services and apps you've installed will run in safe mode. If the button in question functions normally in safe mode, you know for sure that the culprit is a third-party service.

To enter safe mode on most new Android devices, press and hold the power button. In the menu that opens up, touch and hold the Power off button. After accepting the prompt, your phone will soon restart in safe mode. To exit safe mode, repeat the procedure, selecting the Restart option instead.

If you can't open the power menu because your power button isn't working, refer to the above steps to open the power menu through the accessibility shortcut.

Diagnose Your Phone's Hardware Buttons

The final method to confirm that your problem is due to hardware failure is by diagnosing your phone's buttons through a third-party app.

To do that, install an app called TestM from the Play Store. Launch it and tap Hardware on the home page. Next, choose Hardware Buttons and follow the on-screen instructions. If TestM is able to detect your button inputs, you've confirmed that your problem is due to software rather than the button itself.

Based on these tests, you should have a clear idea of whether your phone's button is actually dead. If it's a software bug, you can try uninstalling recent apps, as well as any that you don't trust or haven't used in a while. Failing that, you may wish to go ahead with a complete factory reset at Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options.

Download: TestM (Free, premium version available)

2. Clean the Gaps Around the Button

Your phone's volume keys are regularly exposed to the outside world and all of its grime. It's possible the gaps around them have accumulated some minute debris, which could hamper the internal connections. This is less likely to be an issue on newer IP68-rated devices but can be on older handsets

While there's not much you can do here without professional help, you have the option to blow canned air inside the potentially affected areas and clean them using a toothpick. Sometimes this will be enough to get them moving again.

3. Virtually Replicate Button Actions With Apps

Before seeking professional help, you can give virtual button replacement apps a shot. These apps have the ability to replicate button actions so you can get by without using the physical keys. Gesture control apps can make navigating your Android phone that little bit easier, so it's worth giving them a try.

Lock and Unlock Your Phone Without a Power Button

If your power button is the one that's not working, waking up your phone from sleep is your first issue.

The best way forward is to configure apps that let you unlock your phone without a power button. You don't need to worry about this if you own a phone with a fingerprint sensor, as you can unlock it using that. For the rest, you have a few options.

You can install an app like Gravity Screen, which detects your phone's motions and can wake it as soon as you pick it up. The app is even capable of locking the phone when you put it in your pocket or on a table.

Alternatively, you can set up a double-tap to wake screen gesture. Once enabled, you can simply double-tap the display to activate the screen. A lot of phone makers like OnePlus and Samsung include a built-in option for this. If you can't locate it, try searching for it from the bar at the top of the settings app.

Download: Gravity Screen (Free, premium version available)

Android Accessibility Suite

Google's own Android Accessibility Suite, which we mentioned earlier, is a good choice for virtually replicating button actions. The app adds a panel of shortcuts for a range of essential functions such as power, volume up and down, brightness adjustment, multitasking, and more.

On phones running Android 9 or above, the Android Accessibility Suite comes pre-installed under Settings > Accessibility. Otherwise, it's a free download from the Play Store.

Download: Android Accessibility Suite (Free)

Assistive Volume Button

If your Android phone's volume button is not working and you don't want to use your phone's built-in accessibility suite, then there are also apps that can help you to bypass malfunctioning buttons.

The Assistive Volume Button app is for people who want a straightforward alternative to their phone's malfunctioning volume buttons. Assistive Volume Button sticks two floating buttons to the screen's edge for turning the volume up and down.

When you tap on either of them, you get three bars to separately adjust the media, call, and notification volumes. In addition, you have the option to customize the virtual buttons' look, size, and more. With the right app installed on your phone, you won't even miss your side volume buttons if they're not working.

Download: Assistive Volume Button (Free, premium version available)

4. Possibility of Water Damage? Let It Dry

A lot of phones come with an IP rating these days, but that doesn't make them waterproof. Determine what your phone's IP rating means and then follow the right steps to look after a water-resistant phone. In case your phone's buttons have stopped working after a water accident, you shouldn't do anything yet. First, you must ensure your phone's internals are completely dry.

There are various methods to save a phone dropped in water. Turn your device off immediately, let it completely dry out, and then you can start troubleshooting.

5. Get Professional Help

In most scenarios, you should be able to find a solution in at least one of the steps discussed. In particular, in the case of dead volume keys, a virtual replacement should do the trick. Your last resort, of course, is to visit a service center and get professional help. As long as there's no water damage and your phone is under warranty, it hopefully won't cost you anything.

If your device is starting to play up, then before you replace it or take it to a professional, there are dozens of apps that can help you self-diagnose the issue.