Nothing is more frustrating than waiting five seconds for an app icon to open after clicking on it. Attempting to snap a quick photo but failing to capture it due to the shutter delay is equally frustrating. If your smartphone is slow, you probably feel like spending hundreds of euros on a new one.
Troubleshoot before buying a new one. Software buildup over months of use often causes slow performance, not a hardware failure. A few simple tweaks and cleanups can restore your device’s speed. This guide will help you quickly identify the problem and improve your phone’s performance.
Understanding Why Your Phone is Slow
Identifying the bottleneck is the first step to solving the problem. Smartphones are pocket-sized computers that require CPU, RAM, and storage space to function. Downloading apps, saving photos, and browsing the web all consume these resources. Background apps can use RAM, or insufficient disk space can prevent the operating system from writing new data. A combination of minor issues often causes slowdowns.
Free up Storage Space on Your Phone
Insufficient storage space is a common cause of slow performance. Smartphones require a certain amount of memory to run smoothly. When storage is running low, the operating system has difficulty managing temporary files, which can lead to crashes and loading delays. Check your settings to see what’s taking up the most space. High-resolution videos, photos, and downloaded music often take up a lot of space. To free up space, back up this content to Google Photos or iCloud, move it to your computer, and then delete it from your device.
Clear App Caches and Data
Every app stores a cache to load faster next time. While caches are designed to improve performance, these files can become corrupted or grow too large, causing the opposite effect. Clearing the cache of apps that are crashing or running slowly can resolve the issue without impacting your account. You’ll usually find this option under “Apps” or “Storage” in your phone’s settings. For a more thorough cleanup, you can clear “Storage” or “Data,” but keep in mind that you’ll need to close the app and restore its settings.
Remove Apps you Rarely Use
We’ve all downloaded an app, used it once, and then forgotten about it. These “zombie apps” run in the background, monitor your location, and send notifications that drain your battery and processor. Be sure to remove them when you’re checking your installed apps. If you haven’t used an app in three months, uninstall it. If your phone came pre-installed with unnecessary software that you can’t remove, see if there’s an option to disable it. Disabling this software prevents it from running in the background and frees up system resources for other apps.
Update your Phone’s Operating System
When you’re busy, it’s easy to miss software update notifications. However, postponing system updates can impact your phone’s performance. Apple and Samsung are constantly updating their phones to fix issues, optimize codes, and introduce new features. These patches often address security and stability issues that can slow your phone down. For the best software experience, connect to Wi-Fi, plug in a charger, and let your phone install the latest iOS or Android version.
Manage Background App Activity
Your phone may have many apps running quietly in the background. Multiple apps constantly update your feed by refreshing content in the background. This constant background activity slows down the processor, despite its convenience. Adjust your settings to manage background activity. On iPhones, enable “Background App Refresh”; on Android devices, you can enable “Data Usage” or “Battery” to limit background activity. Disable this feature for games and social media, and enable it for email and text messages.
Reset Your Phone to Factory Settings
If your phone is still running slow after deleting apps and clearing the cache, consider a full factory reset. A factory reset erases contacts, photos, apps, and settings, restoring the software to its original state. This can resolve persistent app incompatibility issues and data corruption issues that conventional troubleshooting methods can’t fix. Before doing this, back up your data to the cloud or an external hard drive. Your phone should be quicker and more responsive after the reset.
Consult a Professional if Necessary
Sometimes software repairs have limited effectiveness. If you’ve already reset your phone and optimized the storage, but the slowdown persists, it could be a hardware issue. As the battery chemistry deteriorates, it can no longer deliver maximum power to the processor, slowing down the phone to prevent it from shutting down. If your phone is years old, has been dropped, or has suffered water damage, internal components may be damaged. Take your phone to a professional repair shop to see if replacing or repairing the battery can extend its lifespan.
Improve Your User Experience
A slow phone doesn’t necessarily mean it’s broken. By managing storage space, updating software, and monitoring apps running in the background, you can often improve your device’s performance and extend its lifespan. Digitally cleaning your phone every few months will keep it running smoothly for years to come.
FAQs
1. Why does my phone become hot and slow?
Overheating usually indicates a faulty battery or processor. To dissipate heat and prevent damage, phones slow down when they overheat. This often happens during prolonged gaming or when using the phone in direct sunlight.
2. Will a factory reset delete my photos?
A factory reset deletes all data, including photos, videos, text messages, and contacts. Back up your data to iCloud, Google Drive, or your computer before performing the reset.
3. Will my phone be faster if I close all apps?
Surprisingly, force-closing apps can actually slow down your phone and shorten battery life. Modern smartphones manage RAM efficiently and can pause frequently used apps. Launching an app from scratch uses more power than launching it from a paused state.
4. How often should I restart my phone?
Restarting your phone weekly can improve performance. It can clear the memory, fix memory leaks caused by poorly written software code, and reboot the operating system to fix minor bugs, thus improving phone performance.
5. Will viruses slow down my phone?
Malware and viruses can steal data or mine Bitcoin in the background, and mining consumes many resources. It’s recommended to use reliable mobile security software to scan your phone for sudden slowdowns, unusual pop-ups, or excessive data usage.
Abdur Rahman is dedicated to helping individuals and small businesses protect their digital lives and get the most out of their devices. He writes clear and concise manuals and review reports, always prioritizing user security, privacy, and ease of use. He writes articles on ways to make users’ online behavior more secure and conducts research on privacy technologies.