Is your phone slow? This can be unpleasant, especially if your phone is an extension of you, which is normal nowadays.
There can be many reasons, such as malware, background apps, full storage, battery and RAM issues, and outdated operating systems.
In this article, we’ll explore the primary reasons behind your phone’s sluggish performance.
Background applications
One of the foremost catalysts behind this issue is a host of running background applications that can slow your phone’s performance.
These applications perform various tasks, such as updating, refreshing data, and more, even if you’re not actively using them. This way, they consume valuable resources like RAM and CPU.
More RAM consumption means more lag in your device. To rectify this, check and close all the running apps on your device.
One more thing you can do is uninstall all the apps you have not used in a while or those that you think look dubious.
The phone’s full storage
Your phone’s storage plays a significant role in the performance. Usually, your phone’s storage contains a mix of files such as images, apps, videos, and cached data, which slows down your device.
Delete all the unimportant files and folders on your mobile phone to fix this. Delete the files individually or use any third-party applications designed especially for this purpose.
Cache is also one of the important aspects of your phone’s storage. These are small files that are designed to provide a seamless experience to the users. But there’s a catch: these files accumulate in your phone’s storage. So, clear all the cache files of apps and browsers.
Here is an article to clear the cache in Google Chrome. This will give you an idea of how to do this in other browsers.
Here’s an article on how to clear the cache on Instagram to give you an idea of how to clear the cache in apps.
Also read: Where is the trash can on my Android?Â
Battery issues
If you have battery issues with your phone, you will notice a significant lag in your phone’s performance.
What happens is that over time, the electrodes build up a layer on them, which in turn increases the resistance. This resistance will not only slow your phone but will also warm up your phone.
The phone’s CPU is temperature-sensitive and will slow down your processor.
Another way that an unstable battery affects your phone’s performance is by not providing stable current or voltage, thereby inducing more reduction in the processor speed.
If you notice a slight bulge in your phone’s battery, immediately change the battery. Nowadays, however, phones come with an unremovable battery, so you might have to change your phone.
RAM issues
If you have been using your phone for quite a while, you will notice that your phone’s RAM has slowed.
This is because the oxide layer on your RAM gradually withers away, exposing the underlying layers and causing multiple issues.
If your phone has RAM issues, you have no choice but to change your phone.
Also read: Is Android System Webview a spy app?
Outdated software
Have you not updated your phone’s OS in a while? Or are you one of those mobile phone users who generally disregard OS updates? If you do so, you are slowing down your phone without even knowing it.
You should regularly update your phone’s operating system to keep your phone in optimal condition and fix any minor bugs and security issues.
To update your Android OS, follow the instructions given below:
- Head to Settings > System.
- Then tap on Check for updates. If you have any pending updates, it will show here.
To update iOS, follow these steps:
- Go to General > Software Update.
- Then tap on Download and Install.
Easy right? It takes only a few clicks to download and a few minutes to install the updates. Invest a few minutes to secure your phone.
Presence of malware
Malware are malicious applications that can harm your device in various ways. The malware can spy on your phone and send your location and other details to the threat actor or cause minor irritations like slowing down your phone.
To fix this, install any third-party antivirus software on your mobile phone and scan it. If you find any dubious files or folders, immediately delete them.
Avoid downloading files from unauthorised sources, and be cautious while tapping on any link you receive on WhatsApp or Telegram.
Some other methods to improve your phone’s performance
The reasons we have mentioned above are the primary reasons your phone is slow. However, there are many other secondary steps that you can take, such as:
- Restarting your phone: When you restart your phone, it flushes any corrupt data from your RAM and starts afresh. This can also clear any minor bugs or glitches in your phone’s system.
- Location services: If you have turned on your location services, it may slow down your phone. So, always set the location services to ‘Allow while using the app’ to turn it off when the app has been used automatically.
- Internet connection: If you are facing problems with certain apps, then the problem may lie in your internet connection and not your phone. You should check your internet connection and WiFi.
In conclusion, a slow phone causes frustration and hampers your productivity. Fortunately, the ways we have mentioned here have been proven repeatedly to fix the problem.
Also read: Why is my Chromebook so slow?
