Tips to refresh an
older device
Solutions for a sluggish device
Tips to refresh an older device
Solutions for a sluggish device
A lagging phone makes it hard to stay productive in work and life.
It’s normal for older devices to get a little sluggish, but maybe your phone seems slower than usual. Here are a few solutions to try:
Delete unused apps
Having too many apps installed can slow down your phone. One quick way to clean up your app list is to delete apps that you never (or rarely) use.
Android devices
On Android phones, Google Play lets you sort your installed apps by “Last Used”.
- Open the Google Play app and swipe open the left menu and tap My apps & games.
- Tap the Installed tab.
- Next to On this device, tap the filter and select Last Used.
iOS devices
Apple’s Offload Unused Apps feature automatically deletes unused apps from your iPhone.
- Go to the Settings app, scroll down, and tap iTunes & App Store.
- Scroll down to Offload Unused Apps and toggle it on.
Delete downloaded files
Downloaded files can take up extra space on your phone. Here’s how to delete the files you no longer need:
Android devices
- Open the My Files app and tap Downloads.
- Press and hold a file, select any additional files you’d like to remove, and then tap Delete (bin icon).
iOS devices
- Open the Files app.
- Press and hold a file, select any additional files you’d like to remove, and then tap Delete (bin icon).
Clear app cache
Cache helps apps open faster, but it can slow down your phone if the data is corrupted or takes up too much space. Clear your app cache frequently:
Note: iOS does not support clearing app cache.
Android devices
- Open Settings and tap Apps or Apps and notifications.
- Tap See all apps if needed, then tap the specific app you wish to clear cache for.
- Tap Storage and Clear cache.
Restart your phone
Restarting can fix minor bugs and get your phone back to running smoothly.
Android devices
- Press and hold the power button and select Restart.
iOS devices
- Press and hold the power button until you see Slide to Power Off.
- Swipe the slider to power off.
- Press and hold the power button again to turn on your device.
