How to Stop Your Phone From Slowing Down: Easy Fixes You Didn't Know

Apps take forever to load, switching between tabs feels like a workout, and don’t even get me started on typing something, only for the words to appear five seconds later. Frustrating, right? 

But before you look for a new phone or start blaming village people, sometimes, your phone’s just tired. With a little TLC (Tender Loving Care) like these simple fixes, some that people never think about, you can speed up your phone and bring it back to life without spending a dime.

READ ALSO: Switching from Android to iPhone? Here's How to Transfer Your Data Without Losing a Thing

1. Restart That Phone

When was the last time you turned off your phone? I've found that most of us just charge, use, and repeat the cycle for weeks. But, like you, your phone gets overwhelmed. Restarting it clears temporary files, stops background apps, and resets things so it can breathe. Try restarting your phone once every few days. It’s like a power nap.

2. Clear Your Cache

Imagine your phone storing bits and pieces of everything you do online: Instagram, Twitter, websites, and that food blog you visited at 2 AM. Over time, this “cache” builds up and weighs your phone down.

Here’s how to clear the cache: 

Android:

• Go to Settings > Storage > Cached data, then tap to clear.

On iPhone:

• iPhones don’t let you clear cache system-wide, but you can do it per app (like Safari).
  Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.

Do this regularly. Your phone will thank you.

3. Uninstall Apps You Don't Use

We all have those apps we downloaded and forgot. Candy Crush from 2016, and that random QR scanner? Too many apps take up most of your phone’s memory and run silently in the background.

Do a quick clean-up:

• Settings > Apps (Android)

• Settings > iPhone Storage (iPhone)

You probably don’t need an app if you haven’t used it in the last month.

READ ALSO: How To Clean Up Your Smartphone Storage Without Losing Data

4. Disable Auto-Updates and Background Sync

Some apps are busybodies. They update themselves, sync in the background, and send notifications every 5 seconds. It’s like having noisy roommates on your phone.

Turn off background data for non-essential apps:

• Android: Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Data usage > Turn off “Background data”

• iPhone: Settings > General > Background App Refresh

You’ll see a major speed boost.

5. Free Up Space

If your phone’s storage is almost full, it will slow down. Clean up your phone’s storage by clearing out:

• Old screenshots

• Duplicate photos and videos

• Downloaded WhatsApp media (yes, those memes from 5 months ago)

Bonus Tip: Back up media using Google Photos or iCloud, and then delete it from your device.

6. Update Your Phone (Even If You Don’t Feel Like It)

You know those smooth transitions and effects when you open apps? They look pretty, but they slow things down, especially on older phones.

Android:

• Enable Developer Options: Settings > About Phone > tap “Build Number” 7 times

• Then go to Developer Options > Turn off or reduce:

  • Window animation scale

  • Transition animation scale

  • Animator duration scale

iPhone:

• Settings > Accessibility > Motion > Reduce Motion

Your phone will feel snappier instantly.

8. Use Lite Versions of Apps

Apps like Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram are heavy. They drain RAM and battery like vampires. Consider switching to Facebook Lite or Instagram Lite or web versions. They’re faster and use way less data, too.

9. Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If your phone still acts like a slug after all these tips, you might need a fresh start.

Warning: This erases everything. Back up your files first.

• Android: Settings > System > Reset > Factory Data Reset

• iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings

Once it restarts, you’ll feel like you’re using a brand-new device.

READ ALSO: The best GPS Tools To Keep Your Loved Ones Safe 

Suggested Apps To Stop Your Phone From Slowing Down

For Android Users

1. Files by Google

Available on Play Store And App Store

It helps clean junk files, remove duplicate photos, free up storage, and easily manage offline files. It’s light, fast, and useful.

2. CCleaner

Available on Play Store

It comes from the same folks who make the PC version. It cleans the cache and temporary files and even shows you what’s using the most memory. Be cautious with permissions, though.

3. Greenify

Available on Play Store

It is great for putting background apps to sleep without fully disabling them. It helps conserve RAM and battery, which makes your phone faster overall.

4. SD Maid

Available on: Play Store and App Store

A deep-cleaning app for Android and iPhone. It finds hidden junk files and leftover data from uninstalled apps. You’d be surprised how much storage you can recover.

5. Nox Cleaner

Available on: Play Store
It helps boost speed, remove junk files, and cool down your phone when it gets hot. It also has built-in antivirus protection.

For iPhone Users

Apple is more locked down than Android, so you don’t get as many cleaning tools. But still:

1. Smart Cleaner

Available on: App Store

It helps you find and delete duplicate photos, screenshots, and videos clogging your storage. It also has contact-cleaning features.

2.  Cleaner for iPhone

Available on: App Store

Great for organizing your gallery, removing similar selfies (you know, the ones), and clearing up space quickly.

A few simple changes can bring your phone back to life. Before you start planning a new phone purchase, try these tips.

If this helped you, feel free to share it with that friend complaining about their “slow phone” daily.