How to Speed up Android Phone

Android phones are a favorite for many owing to their affordability and customization freedom. Nonetheless, the phones can also be frustrating when the performance worsens. Restarting the phone could be all it takes to regain the speed. Restarting sometimes does not work, and you may need more tricks to improve the speed. 

If your Android phone is running slower than usual, here are 11 performance tips that can help restore the speed. 

1.    Regular app updates

Ensuring you routinely update your Android phone’s app can help improve speed and overall performance. Developers regularly release updates that usually come with performance improvements and bug fixes. Updating the app is a simple process. You only need to ensure the phone has an internet connection and follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Play Store app
2. Tap the profile icon (It is on the top right corner)
3. Select the Manage apps & device
4. If there are apps with updates, they will show here
5. Select Update all
6. Done.

2.    Clear cache

Cache helps your apps launch much faster. Cache stores some details, meaning your phone will not have to download them when you open an app. However, the cache can accumulate over time and take up considerable space. A great place to start is on an app that is running slower. Here is how to clear the cache on an Android phone:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on Apps & notifications
3. Select the app to clear the cache
4. Tap on Storage from the app’s menu
5. Tap on Clear cache.

Repeat this for the apps you want to clear the cache, and you will free more space that can help restore the phone’s speed. 

3.  Uninstall bloatware

Bloatware is the unwanted pre-installed apps. Go to Settings> Apps & notifications, tap on See All, and browse the listed apps to determine which apps you do not need. Tap the app you do not want, and select Uninstall.

Some do not have the uninstall option. In that case, tap Disable. Uninstalling/disabling bloatware helps free up resources your Android phone needs to work faster.

4.  Remove rarely used apps

You have found amazing apps over time, installed, and used them. However, some no longer add much value since you hardly use them, yet they still consume resources. A quick way to eliminate rarely used apps is as follows:

1. Go to the Play Store, select the Profile icon
2. Tap on Manage apps & device
3. Select Manage
4. Use the filter to sort the apps, and select Least used
5. Select all the apps you no longer need
6. On the top right corner, tap the delete icon, and they will be uninstalled.

5.  Free up storage space

Android phone’s operating system temporarily stores files and cache data. This means the apps can take longer to load and run sluggishly when the storage is used up. Freeing up storage space can restore speed, which could be as easy as deleting those old large files like videos you hardly watch.

You can free up more storage space by going to Settings and selecting Storage. Select free up space here, which can give you options including:

1. Clean junk
2. Remove large files
3. Delete backed-up files, or
4. Uninstall unused ones.

6.  Fewer widgets

Widgets are useful, but crowding the home screen with them can affect your Android phone’s performance. You can easily remove the widget by pressing and holding the widget, then tap remove.

7.  Use static wallpaper

Live wallpapers are fun and add a personality to your phone. Nonetheless, the live wallpapers tend to be resource-intensive and could be the main reason for dwindling speed. Static images can make fun and playful Android wallpapers.  Switching from live to static wallpapers could be all you need to free up resources and speed up your phone.

8.  Light launcher

Third-party launchers can be irresistible, especially considering the extent of the customization you can manage. However, some are heavy. They take up resources that impact your phone’s responsiveness. Choosing a lighter launcher can help lighten the load, improve responsiveness, and make your phone faster.

9.  Limit background processes

Apps running in the background can consume notable resources. While background processes like sync can help improve how you interact with apps, they can take more resources and could be the reason for dropping speed. Here is how you can see the running apps.

1. Go to Settings
2. Select System
3. Select Developer options. (If you can’t find developer options, tap on About phone, look for Builder number, and tap it a few times; usually seven. Go back to System, and now you will find the Developer options).
4. Tap the Developer options and select Running services
5. Here, select the desired or all apps and tap Stop.

This will free up more resources and could be all your Android phone needs to regain speed.

10.              Malware scan

If none of the above measures resolve the speed issues, your phone might have malware. A quick way to check this is by using the Play Protect feature.

1. Go to the Google Play store and tap on the profile icon
2. Tap on the Play Protect
3. Select Scan.

All harmful apps will appear here with the option to remove them. The malware could be sneaky and not detected on apps. For instance, you may have picked the malware from certain websites or emails. If you suspect your phone is infected, you can use an anti-spy app for Android like Clario to catch and eliminate the malware.

11.              Factory reset

If all have failed, you still have one option left. Factory reset deletes everything and resets the phone to its original state. It is the last resort; before you do it, you should ensure all the valuable data is backed up. To factory reset your Android phone:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select System
3. Tap on Reset options
4. Select the Factory data reset option.

Conclusion

A slow phone can be infuriating, especially when rushing to manage vital activities in today’s fast-paced world. You do not have to let the phone ruin your day. The above pointers are straightforward to accomplish. The tips could be all you need to restore your phone’s speed and do not require any technical skills.