Your Galaxy S25 Ultra is designed to wake up instantly when you tap the screen, press the Side key, or lift it. But if it stays black and unresponsive, it can be worrying. This usually happens because of software glitches, screen timeouts, or hardware-related issues that prevent the phone from waking up properly.
Here’s how you can bring your Galaxy S25 Ultra back to life when it refuses to wake up.
Why Your Galaxy S25 Ultra Might Not Wake Up From Sleep
- Temporary software glitches or frozen processes.
- Display timeout or accidental screen setting changes.
- Always On Display turned off, making the screen look inactive.
- Battery completely drained or power-saving restrictions.
- Faulty apps or corrupted system cache.
Perform a Forced Restart.
If your Galaxy S25 Ultra appears off or frozen, a forced restart can quickly refresh the system. It closes all running apps and clears temporary errors that may prevent the phone from waking.
- Press and hold the Side key and Volume Down key at the same time.
- Keep holding both keys for about 15 seconds until the Samsung logo appears.
Once the phone restarts, try waking it normally by pressing the Side key or tapping the screen.
Check for Display or Power Response.
Sometimes, the phone is on but the screen is not responding. Checking for haptic feedback or notification sounds can help confirm that.
Try calling your number from another phone. If it rings or vibrates, the screen is likely stuck or frozen. In this case, performing a forced restart should bring the display back to normal.
Charge Your Device.
A completely drained battery can make your Galaxy S25 Ultra look dead. Plugging it in for a few minutes can help determine if it’s just out of power.
- Connect the charger to your phone and wall outlet.
- Wait at least 10 minutes before trying to wake or restart the device.
If no charging symbol appears, try a different cable, adapter, or outlet to rule out charging issues.
Disable Power Saving Mode.
When Power Saving Mode is on, it can delay background processes or reduce responsiveness, especially after long standby periods. Turning it off ensures your phone wakes up smoothly.
- Open Settings, and then tap Battery and device care.
- Tap Battery, and then toggle off Power saving.
After disabling it, press the Side key or tap the screen to check if the device wakes normally.
Update Software.
Software bugs can sometimes interfere with how your phone responds when locked. Updating the firmware often fixes system-level wake or display issues.
- Open Settings, and then tap Software update.
- Tap Download and install, and follow the on-screen instructions.
After the update, restart your phone to apply the changes.
Reset All Settings.
If none of the methods work, some custom settings might be conflicting with system behavior. Resetting all settings restores defaults without deleting your data.
- Open Settings, and then tap General management.
- Tap Reset, and then tap Reset all settings.
Your phone will reboot with the default system configurations, which should resolve the issue.
If your Galaxy S25 Ultra still doesn’t wake up after trying all these steps, it might be a hardware problem. In that case, visiting a Samsung Service Center is your best option.
Once the issue is fixed, your phone will respond instantly again, just the way it should.
FAQs
Why does my Galaxy S25 Ultra screen stay black even though it’s on?
It could be a frozen display or a software crash. A forced restart usually fixes this issue.
Can Always On Display affect waking behavior?
Yes. If Always On Display is turned off, it might look like the screen is dead. Turning it on helps you see if the device is responsive.
Will resetting all settings erase my data?
No. It only resets system preferences like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display settings, leaving your photos, apps, and files intact.
