Boost your phone’s speed and optimise its battery life

In today’s digital world, our smartphones are an essential part of our daily lives. Whether it’s for work, entertainment, or staying connected, a slow or unresponsive phone can be incredibly frustrating. Not to mention, when your battery is draining too fast, it can feel like a never-ending struggle.

But don’t worry—there are ways to boost your phone’s speed and optimise its battery life. From clearing unnecessary files to managing background data, these expert tips will help you enhance performance and charge your phone faster.

Let’s dive into the best strategies to keep your smartphone running at its best!

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How to Speed Up Your Phone and Improve Performance

1. Close Unused Apps Running in the Background

Every time you open an app, it stays active in the background unless you close it completely. Over time, too many open apps slow down your phone by consuming RAM and processing power. To improve performance:

• Manually close apps you’re not using.
• Restart your phone occasionally to clear up memory.
• Use the built-in device optimiser to free up resources.

2. Keep Your Firmware Updated

Phone manufacturers regularly release firmware updates to enhance security, fix bugs, and optimise system performance. If you’re experiencing slow speeds, check for updates in your settings. Newer software versions can significantly improve your phone’s responsiveness.

3. Disable Live Wallpapers, Widgets, and Animations

While live wallpapers and animations look great, they consume battery and slow down your device. Instead:

• Switch to static wallpapers.
• Remove unnecessary widgets from your home screen.
• Turn off animations in developer settings for smoother performance.

4. Update Your Apps Regularly

Outdated apps can be a major reason behind slow performance and glitches. Updating them ensures:

• Fewer bugs and improved functionality.
• Faster loading times.
• Better compatibility with the latest firmware.

If you have apps you rarely use, consider deleting them to free up storage and improve speed.

5. Restart Your Phone Periodically

Rebooting your device clears temporary files and stops unnecessary background processes. Think of it as giving your phone a fresh start. Restarting at least once a week can help maintain smooth performance.

6. Clear Cache and Unnecessary Files

Over time, apps store temporary data (cache) to load faster, but too much of it can clog up storage and slow down your phone.

• Go to settings and clear cache for apps you use frequently.
• Use cleaning apps or built-in optimisation tools to remove junk files.

7. Manage Background Data Usage

Certain apps, like weather and social media, constantly refresh in the background, draining both battery and data. To control this:

• On Android, enable Restrict Background Data.
• On iPhone, go to Settings > Background App Refresh and turn off unnecessary apps.

8. Remove Unused Apps and Old Messages

Unused apps not only take up storage but can also run background processes that slow down your phone. Similarly, old messages, especially those with media attachments, can occupy significant space. Regularly:

• Uninstall apps you no longer need.
• Delete SMS and chats that are no longer relevant.
• Enable auto-delete for messages older than 30 days.

9. Troubleshoot Slow or Faulty Apps

A single problematic app can cause system-wide slowdowns. If you notice an app crashing or lagging:

• Clear its cache and data.
• Uninstall and reinstall the app.
• Check for available updates that may fix the issue.

10. Control Device Temperature

Phones perform poorly in extreme heat or cold. If your phone gets too hot:

• Avoid using it while charging.
• Remove the case if it’s overheating.
• Close power-intensive apps like games or video editing tools.
• If issues persist, check for battery or hardware problems.

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How to Charge Your Phone Faster

1. Use the Right Charger

Many modern smartphones come with fast-charging technology, but to take advantage of it, you need the original charger or a high-quality replacement. Using a low-wattage charger will slow down the charging speed.

2. Turn on Airplane Mode While Charging

Switching to Airplane Mode reduces network activity and background processes, allowing your phone to charge faster. This method is especially useful when you’re in a hurry.

3. Avoid Using Your Phone While Charging

Using your phone while charging generates heat and slows down the charging process. To get the fastest charge:

• Let your phone charge undisturbed.
• Close all apps running in the background.
• Turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS if not needed.

4. Try a Laptop Charger (With Caution)

Some higher-wattage laptop chargers can charge phones faster. However, before trying this:

• Check your phone’s charging capacity.
• Ensure the laptop charger is compatible to avoid battery damage.

5. Move Large Files to Cloud Storage

If your phone’s internal storage is nearly full, it slows down overall performance, including charging speed. Consider moving photos, videos, and large files to cloud storage for a faster and more efficient device.

6. Enable Battery Saver Mode Most phones have a Battery Saver or Low Power Mode that reduces background activity and boosts charging speed. Enabling it while charging can help your phone reach full power more quickly.