If you are using the same smartphone for a year or more, you probably noticed it runs slower than before. We all have been there. Slow performance is not something that bothers only Android, iPhone, or Windows phone users. It is what all these smartphones have in common. They do lose the speed after a few months of usage. Why smartphones slow down over time? If this is something you want to know more about, keep on reading. We are going to share the most common reasons why phones lose their speed along with some simple tips to improve the phone’s performance.

See also: How To Delete All History On Android

Operating system updates

One of the main reasons why smartphones slow down over time is because of the operating system updates. Out of the box, every phone comes with a certain OS version. Over time, a new version becomes available, and users are advised to download and install it.

New OS versions bring various improvements, bug fixes and new features. The smartphone hardware has drastically improved over the years, and OS versions are built with those improvements in mind. That is why new version requires more power and memory for a hassle-free experience.

Also, carriers may add bloatware apps along with the update. In most cases, people do not even use these apps, but still, they will eat the valuable space on the phone and will run in the background. All that can affect the speed of the phone.

Getting the latest version of OS sounds awesome because of all the improvements and new features, but it may not be a good idea if you have an older device.

Background processes

Out of the box, every phone comes with a certain set of apps. Over time, we install more and more apps. Some of them will start up as soon as you turn your device on. Moreover, they will continue working in the background.

Background processes have a huge impact on the phone’s performance. As a result, your phone will run slower. On Android phones, things like live wallpapers and widgets use a lot of CPU, which makes the phone sluggish. So, if you have many of these, consider getting rid of them especially if you have an old device.

Keep the apps you are using on a daily basis, and uninstall the ones you don’t need any longer or the ones that are too heavy for your device. Also, restart your device every few days.

Apps

Same as OS updates, apps are now larger and are optimized for much better and faster hardware. If you update an app, you may notice it runs slower than before. It is because it requires more RAM and power. So, the apps are definitely heavier today than they were a year or two ago.

While the apps are optimized for a better hardware, the hardware of your phone is still the same. With this said, it is completely logical to notice the apps are running slower.

App updates are important for many reasons. But, if you have an old phone, getting the latest version of the app may slow it down completely. You may consider getting a lite version of the app if possible. For instance, there is Facebook Lite app and Messanger Lite app available for Android devices.

One more thing. No matter if you have an Android, iPhone, or a Windows phone, uninstall the apps you don’t use any more. They are eating up the valuable space on your device, and they may run in the background. So, if you don’t need some apps, delete them.

Full storage

If the storage on your phone is full, the phone will run slower. Every device becomes slower as you add more things, apps, files of any kind, etc.

You can always check the storage space on your phone. If you are using an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Storage and iCloud usage > Manage Storage. There, you will see the list of apps you have on your iPhone and information about how much storage every app uses. To see more about the usage, just tap on the app.

You can also use iTunes to check the storage. Launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer. Select your device in iTunes. You will see the bar that shows how much storage the content uses.

If you have an Android device, head to Settings > Storage. You will see what’s taking the storage space on your phone.

Once you see what’s taking the storage space, it’s time to take some action. Again, get rid of the apps you don’t use, remove files and that sort of thing. As we use cloud storage now, upload your files there to keep them safe and secure, and remove them from your device to free up space.

Is it the time for factory reset?

If you are struggling with a sluggish phone, and nothing seems to work, perhaps it’s the time for a factory reset. A factory reset will delete everything you have on your device, and you will have to set it up from scratch.

It may be a good idea to do so if you are using the same device for years. A clean slate. However, before doing this, don’t forget to backup the data on the device. Once you are done with the backup you can go for a factory reset.

• If you own an Android, go to Settings > Backup & Reset > Factory Data Reset.
• The steps for iPhone are: Settings > General > Reset > Erase all content and settings.
• If you own a Windows phone go to Settings > About > Reset Your Phone.

Let the process complete. When it is all done, you will have to set it up again. Your phone will get a fresh start.

 

These are some of the most common reasons why smartphones slow down over time. You may try some simple tips we have shared or you can go for a factory reset. It will give the phone a fresh start!