Let’s be honest, iPhones are fantastic devices. However, even the sleekest and most powerful iPhone can eventually slow down. Apps take ages to load, and scrolling feels sluggish. Before long, simple tasks become frustrating ordeals.
If your iPhone has transformed from a speedy sidekick to a sluggish snail, don’t worry! We’re sharing some easy tips to get your iPhone back in top-notch condition.
Give it a Restart: The Digital Power Nap
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised! When was the last time you turned off your device? Just like us, iPhones need the occasional reboot. Restart your phone to clear temporary files, close lingering apps, and free up memory. It’s a quick and easy way to give your iPhone a much-needed refresh.
Clean Out the Digital Clutter
Our iPhones can become digital hoarders, storing photos, videos, and apps we no longer use. Do you really need all those selfies? This clutter can slow things down. Take some time to declutter your digital life.
Photos and Videos
Review your photo and video library. Delete blurry pictures, duplicates, and anything you don’t need anymore. Consider using cloud storage services like iCloud Photos or OneDrive. These store precious memories without clogging up your device’s storage space and often include an automated upload feature for new pictures.
Unused Apps
Be honest, how many apps do you use daily? Identify apps you haven’t touched in months and delete them. This frees up phone storage space and can also reduce background activity, improving battery life.
Offload Unused Apps & Keep Data (iOS 11 and later)
This handy feature allows you to free up storage space by keeping an app’s data while deleting the app itself. When you need the app again, you can simply download it without losing any saved data.
Remove Unneeded Podcasts
Many podcasts download to your device without you realising it, allowing you to listen without a direct connection. However, they can fill up your device quickly! If you listen to several podcasts, they can take up valuable space. Review your iPhone’s storage and remove unnecessary podcast downloads.
Tame Background App Refresh
Background App Refresh allows apps to fetch new content even when you’re not actively using them. While it can be helpful for staying up-to-date, it can also drain your battery and slow down your phone. Review your Background App Refresh settings and turn it off for apps that don’t need constant refreshing in the background.
Not Every App Needs to Know Where You Are
Many apps constantly track your location, even when you’re not using them. This location tracking can drain your battery and impact performance. Review your Location Services settings and restrict access for apps that don’t need constant location awareness.
Reduce Motion Effects
Apple’s fancy motion effects include things like app parallax and zoom animations. While they can be beautiful, they can also be resource-intensive. Turn off iPhone motion effects to free up processing power and make your iPhone feel snappier.
Update Your Apps and iOS
App and iOS updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes. Make sure you’re running the latest versions of your apps and iOS to ensure optimal performance and security.
Disable Automatic Downloads
Automatic app and iOS updates are convenient, but they can sometimes occur at inconvenient times, slowing down your phone. Consider disabling automatic downloads and updating apps and iOS manually when you have time and a good Wi-Fi connection. Make this a recurring task on your calendar. These updates are important for security, so you don’t want to forget them.
Nuclear Option: Reset Your iPhone
If all else fails, a factory reset might be necessary. This wipes your iPhone clean and restores it to its original settings. It can be the most effective way to clear out bugs that might be causing slowdowns.
However, be cautious with this nuclear option. Before doing a factory reset, back up your iPhone and sign out of iCloud to avoid losing important data.
Check Your Battery Health
A degraded battery can also contribute to slowdowns. Head to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to see your iPhone’s maximum battery capacity. If it’s below 80%, your phone might be throttling performance to conserve battery life. In this case, consider replacing your battery for optimal performance.
Follow these simple tips to diagnose the cause of your iPhone’s sluggishness and get it running smoothly again. A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your iPhone happy and fast!
