Help GS4 - safe mode?

[speedlever]

I just learned that I can enable safe mode on my GS4:
How to boot your Galaxy S4 into Safe Mode | fixedByVonnie
How to Boot into SAFE Mode for Samsung Galaxy S4 - YouTube

However, I've been unable to get into safe mode (just curious how the phone operates between the way I have it loaded and safe mode).

I am unrooted but run Nova Prime. Does that prevent me being able to boot into safe mode?

I tried tapping the menu soft key while I restarted the phone and also after a shutdown and restart. No change... and no safe mode.

Did the phone save me from having to do a FDR?

 

[speedlever]

No one knows about this?

 

[ironass]

Did the phone save me from having to do a FDR?

That depends.

Safe Mode in Android is well known to Rooters and Flashers and acts in the same way as a PC Safe Mode in that it disables all third party apps and settings on the device.

Therefore, if you have an issue with your phone prior to engaging Safe Mode but no issues after it, then it would indicate a user third party app or setting is at fault. Quite how you rectify that fault in your user apps and settings is up to you as you will need to track down which app/s or setting/s are causing the problem. You can do this by going through each app, in reverse date order of installation, and wiping the cache and data and uninstalling and re-installing the app. Alternatively, you can do a Factory Data Reset. Most rooters and flashers do not use Safe Mode, preferring instead, to go straight for a cache partition wipe in Recovery and if this does not solve the problem, an FDR as this will tell you if the firmware is corrupt and then, if not, go straight to re-sync'ing their apps and restoring their data and re-doing their settings.

Use Android's 'Safe Mode' to Disable Apps and Troubleshoot Problems

How To Use Android's Safe Mode to Save a Phone from Boot Loops

 

[speedlever]

Thanks. I'm not having any issues, but was just playing around trying to get it into safe mode... which I assume is like Windows safe mode... a basic interface to the device... and does just what you mentioned above.

But I was puzzled why I couldn't get it into safe mode.

Looks like I have some more playing to do with the GS4 to figure it out. And it doesn't sound dangerous at all... as it appears to operate similar to Windows safe mode.


Edit: I was unable to enter safe mode via the long press of the shutdown button. But was finally able to enter safe mode after a restart and repeated tapping of the menu softkey.