Why is my Android phone so slow? 10 ways to speed it up
Android phones slow down for a handful of reasons, and most of them can be fixed in a few minutes without buying a new phone.
Find what is slowing it down
- Storage: open Settings › Storage (Samsung: Settings › Device care › Storage). If it is more than 90% full, fix that first.
- Heavy apps: open Settings › Battery and look at which apps use the most battery. The same apps are usually using the most processor time.
- Age: a phone with 3 or 4 GB of memory will struggle with today’s apps no matter what you do.
How to speed up your Android phone
The fix
10 fixes that make a real difference
- 1
Restart the phone.
A restart clears memory and stops apps stuck in the background. Many phones feel faster straight away.
- 2
Free up storage.
Keep at least 10% free. Our guide to a full Android phone shows the fastest ways to clear space.
- 3
Update Android.
Go to Settings › System › Software updates, or on Samsung Settings › Software update.
- 4
Update all apps.
In the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Manage apps & device › Update all.
- 5
Uninstall apps you do not use.
Every app can run background tasks. Remove the ones you have not opened in months.
- 6
Remove home screen widgets you do not need.
Live widgets for news, weather and social apps refresh constantly and slow the launcher down.
- 7
Clear the cache of apps that feel slow.
Go to Settings › Apps, pick the app, tap Storage and then Clear cache. It does not delete your data.
- 8
Use Samsung Device care.
On Samsung, open Settings › Device care and tap Optimize now. It closes background apps and clears unneeded files.
- 9
Reduce animations.
Turn on Developer options by tapping Build number seven times in Settings › About phone › Software information (Pixel: About phone). Then in Developer options set Window, Transition and Animator animation scale to 0.5x.
- 10
Factory reset if nothing else works.
A reset removes years of leftover files and settings. Back up first, because it erases everything.
Frequently asked questions
Do cleaner or task killer apps speed up Android?
Usually not. Android manages memory on its own, and apps that constantly close others can make the phone slower and drain the battery. Use the built-in tools instead.
Does clearing cache make Android faster?
It can help a single app that has become slow or buggy, and it frees space. It will not make the whole phone faster on its own.
Why did my phone get slow after an update?
Right after an update, Android optimizes apps in the background, which can make the phone feel slow for a day or two. If it stays slow, restart it and update all your apps.
What to try next
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