How to enter Safe Mode on your Android phone - and why it's critical to do so

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Safe mode helps diagnose app problems on Android phones.
• It disables third-party apps to isolate crashes or slowdowns.
• If issues disappear, a newly installed or updated app is likely the cause.

If your Android phone starts crashing, freezing, or acting strangely, it could be for several reasons, but one common culprit is third-party apps. 

Any app installed from the Google Play Store can cause problems due to bugs, compatibility issues, or poorly optimized updates. Thankfully, Android has a troubleshooting tool called "safe mode" that can help you figure out if that's indeed the issue.

Also: How to turn on repair mode on your Android phone

Safe mode temporarily disables all third-party apps and runs only the core Android system and preinstalled software. That creates a clean environment so you can see ...