Phone Slowing Down; Causes And Ways To Fix It
In This Article, We Have Examined The Reasons For Slowing Down The Speed Of Smartphones On Android And iOS Platforms And Have Provided Comprehensive Solutions For Users.
The mobility of many of us humans decreases with age. We are like machines; like them, we work less efficiently over time. However, is this trend also true for digital gadgets, especially smartphones? Users expect these products to work forever and at the same initial speed.
In the real world, this is not the case, and eventually, the performance of smartphones will decrease.
Consider the experience of people who have worked with different types of these types of products for years. After a few years of each smartphone’s life, signs of wear and tear are visible, such as the image remaining static and loading slowly, applications not loading, and text messages not being sent. These problems are not unique to Android phones; old iPads or iPhones also suffer.
Signs of smartphone slowdown
First, let’s get acquainted with the signs indicating that your smartphone is probably slowing down. Most of these signs are the same on iPhone and Android phones.
Slowing down the running time of applications
Small data bits are stored in the cache when you use a web browser or app. Sometimes these saved files cause problems with the phone’s performance over time.
Slow device startup time
Some programs run automatically when the device starts up. If you have many apps installed, this process can put a lot of pressure on your phone’s CPU.
Delay in order execution
Generally, users expect the device to execute the commands when they click an option or scroll through the pages. But sometimes, the smartphone slows down, and we see lag in performance.
There is a problem with running the program.
Sometimes your phone may not have enough memory and processing power to run the app without problems. Resource-intensive apps (Spotify, Google Maps, and most 3D games) are prone to crashes, especially on older phones.
The device heats up during use.
It’s normal for smartphones to get a little warm, especially when they’ve been used continuously for a long time. However, one of the main causes of overheating the phone is using certain applications.
Shorter battery life
This issue is also related to the previous option. Lithium-ion batteries are susceptible to heat when your phone overheats, drastically reducing battery life.
Lack of storage memory
Android devices require at least 500 MB to 1 GB of free internal space to function properly. For this reason, if there is not enough memory, the phone works slower.
The main reasons for slow Android phones
In this section, we will talk about the main reasons for slowing down Android smartphones. Issues that make your device not work as before and perform slower.
Background processes
Most of the time, when using a smartphone, users gradually install more active applications, some of which run in the background when the phone is turned on. If you have installed countless applications that run in the background, this software may slow down your device by consuming CPU resources and filling up RAM.
Likewise, if you use live wallpaper or add many widgets to your smartphone’s home screen, your memory and CPU resources are likely running out. Consume graphics. If you modify them on the smartphone’s main screen, the device’s performance will improve, possibly increasing battery life.
The presence of a virus
One of the software factors that we should always check is the absence of viruses on the phone. If your device is infected with a virus, various things will happen to it, one of the most important of which is slowing down.
Use the best Android antivirus on your phone to prevent virus infection.
Memory overflow
To run applications faster, some developers make them so that by copying certain parts in the RAM, they increase the processing speed. These sections contain content that the user may want to revisit. For example, the web browser may copy the contents of all tabs even if only one account is visible at a time.
This ” caching ” feature” makes applications and tasks run faster if the device’s memory is not full. Some developers are not doing their job properly, and their apps are getting slower and slower, disrupting the entire system.
Avoid installing third-party software to stop tasks and apps from running in the background.
Memory gets slower as it fills up; As a result, data storage on the file system is slower when it is full. Such an issue causes the Android operating system and applications to run slower.
The storage page in the settings menu shows how much of the memory is filled with what content. If the cache files (cache memory) are not checked and deleted, they increase continuously and consume a small part of the memory. Therefore, clearing cache files can free up disk space and improve file system performance until these cache files inevitably fill memory again.
Installing unnecessary programs
In general, you should keep your device’s memory organized so it doesn’t fill up too much and cause it to slow down. One of the things that causes the memory to fill up is installing many applications. As a result, you should remove unnecessary programs to have a faster smartphone.
No software updates
The longer your Android phone is used, the more likely you will encounter slowness and slowdowns. One of the reasons that may cause this problem is the lack of software updates.
If you don’t update your phone, you will face many problems that cause the device to be slow. Generally, the new operating system versions are more optimized, compatible with the device’s hardware, and perform better. So always try to keep your phone updated.
Internet outage
Internet outages can also slow down the phone. If your phone’s Internet is disconnected, some apps that use the Internet will slow down, slowing the overall speed. To fix this problem, you can reconnect to the Internet or use applications that do not require the Internet.
Old hardware
If your phone has old hardware, it may slow down due to a lack of compatibility with new apps. In these cases, upgrading your phone to better-performing hardware is better.
It should be noted that if the slowness of your smartphone is due to its old hardware, there is not much you can do.
Causes of slow iPhone phones
iPhone users also face the problem of slow speed like Android devices. Some reasons for slowing down performance are the same in both operating systems; in some cases, we see differences.
In the following, we will examine some of the main reasons for the slowness of iPhone phones.
Problems in the old version
When installing a beta version or a new version of iOS, some problems can be fixed by installing more recent versions. For example, with the release of iOS 13, users reported bugs resolved with the release of version 13.1. Updates include security patches and sometimes workarounds for known issues. Also, upgrading the operating system may be an effective solution if your phone is slow in normal mode.
Sometimes, instead of a lack of memory, background programs, etc., the phone manufacturer is responsible for the problems.
Occupying RAM with useless programs
The first common advice to speed up your iPhone is to close unused apps. To do this, double-press the Home button on iPhone SE 2 and iPhone 8 and older models, and swipe up from the bottom of the screen on iPhone X and newer models or iPad Pro 2018. In this mode, active applications are displayed. The application in question will be closed by dragging each of them upwards. However, for a long time, Apple has rejected the said strategy and says that this solution does not affect the performance of the iPhone. The alternative solution is to restart the iPhone completely.
Background processes
Like Android products, in phones based on the iOS operating system, applications running in the background may slow down the phone. In the new versions of the mentioned operating system, stopping some active applications in the environment is possible. Disabling these not only saves data but also increases the iPhone’s speed.
Performance degradation due to the application of graphic effects
iPhones are full of amazing visual effects. Some of these features on older iPhones may be beyond the processing power and slow down the smartphone. Sometimes, the bugs and reduced iPhone performance in the said mode are annoying; As a result, changing the settings will help you enjoy your iPhone more.
Slow running of the operating system with full memory
As mentioned earlier, data storage on the file system is slower when it is full. It doesn’t take long for iPhone and iPad cache files to fill in. From the iOS browser, i.e., Safari, to various applications, they all have a cache. Although clearing the cache in Safari is quick and easy and can be done in one step, the process differs in each third-party application.
Hardware problems
Like Android phones, Apple products can also face hardware problems that users cannot fix.
Also, falls, collisions or similar smartphone incidents are common and avoidable. Such events cause damage or loosening of parts inside the product. When there is a problem with the mentioned parts, the smartphone may stop working or slow down. The best solution in this situation is to disassemble the parts and repair them with the help of a repairman.
The main tricks to solve the slow phone problem
Sometimes the phone’s price has nothing to do with its slow or fast performance. Only problems have arisen for it, and we will probably see an improvement in speed by fixing them.
As we mentioned above, there are many reasons for a slow phone. Below are some of the best tricks to fix the problem of slowness of the device, which you can do to increase the speed of your mobile.
Do the following methods to increase the speed of Android and iOS phones.
Keep your system up to date.
The latest software updates do not necessarily increase the speed of the device, but in most cases, the released updates optimize and adjust the performance of smartphones.
Also, security patches in the updates generally make your smartphone more secure by installing them. As a result, do not neglect to keep your device updated.
Limit background processes
On Android, some settings allow you to choose which processes run in the background. Find it and select “Up to 3 processes” to free up your phone’s CPU and RAM resources.
Restart the phone
If your phone suddenly slows down, a reboot should be your first troubleshooting step. This simple method can improve your device’s performance, especially if annoying background processes are causing the slowdown.
Check the RAM of the device.
To have a device that doesn’t slow down, you should only run apps you’re sure your phone’s RAM can run.
Remove new live wallpapers and widgets.
Fantasy live wallpapers look beautiful, but they put much pressure on the phone’s CPU. Try to use simple and static background images. New widgets should also be deleted.
Free up internal storage space
Delete unused apps and old photos and videos (storing them in the cloud is a good option). Fortunately, Android has its built-in tool to help you increase your phone’s usable storage space. Go to your phone’s settings, select “Storage,” and tap the “Free up space” button.
The pictures and videos you recorded with the camera are the biggest reason for the lack of space; As a result, it is better to delete them from the phone now and then after making a backup copy. You can even back up manually using the Google Photos service.
If the problem is not solved, uninstall unused apps, delete unnecessary files, and clear the app cache to free up storage space. Also, by resetting the factory settings and installing only the necessary applications, you can make your smartphone look like a new phone.
Check for faulty hardware and damaged parts.
If you’ve tried all the tips above and your phone is still slow, do a factory reset. If you’re still experiencing slow speeds after resetting everything, it might be a hardware issue (such as a faulty CPU or RAM).
final word
If none of the solutions worked, reset the factory settings, clear data, and install only useful applications. A factory reset does not remove useless apps installed on the phone, But like reinstalling Windows, which is a solution for computers with slow performance, it will increase the speed of the phone. If a factory reset doesn’t help, getting rid of your old device and getting a new smartphone is better.
