How to speed up a slow phone (Android)

Even when you’re not using particular applications, many of them are running in the background, and as a result, your mobile device is slow. Sometimes it is useful to have applications running in the background, especially when you synchronize your email mailbox with your mobile device or refresh RSS feeds, but other times it’s just a drainage of resources.

To speed up your device, use an application like Greenify to freeze certain applications and processes until you actually need them.

Greenify helps you identify and put the misbehaving apps into hibernation when you are not using them, to stop them from lagging your device and leeching the battery, in a unique way.

You can download Greenify via Google Play(store), install it and let it speed up your device.

Maybe the temp files and the cache are slowing down your mobile device. Temp files are created on a daily basis and a few of them don't pose a threat. But, too much temp files can definitely slow it down.

To learn how to clear the cache and delete temp files, check out the don't know how to clear my cache solutions.

Multi-tasking does make it easy to switch between different tools, but as a result, the device's performance is decreased, due to lack of free RAM. To fix this (and to free up RAM), consider closing all the applications you don't use.

To learn how to close unnecessary applications and improve the device's performance, check out the don't know how to close (quit) programs/applications solutions.

Every application installed in your mobile device runs in the background and slows it down, no matter whether you use the application or not. The best way to prevent applications from slowing down your mobile device is to delete them permanently.

To learn how to remove applications, check out the don't know how to uninstall an application solutions.

Restarting your device ends all the processes that might have become unresponsive and slowed down your device. Sometimes it is the right thing you need to do in order to fix your device.

To learn how to restart your mobile device, check out the don't know how to restart my device solutions.

Processes that run in the background (such as Facebook, Messenger, Viber etc.) can slow down your mobile device. If you don't need the background processes, you can stop ("kill") them.

To stop automatic background processes:

Go to Settings -> Data Usage (under Wireless and Networks) -> tap Options (the three vertically-aligned dots) -> Restrict background data -> Ok

The operating system requires a certain amount of free space (at least 1 GB) in order to function properly. If it lacks free space, the device becomes slow. A large number of personal data files such as photos, videos, music, applications, etc. can significantly slow down your mobile device.

To learn how to free up disk space and speed up your device, check out the running out of disk space / no space left solutions.

You must have noticed the transitional effects every time you return to the home screen or navigate through the menu. However, even though they look nice, they can also slow down your mobile device.

To disable the animations:

1. Go to Settings -> About Phone
   
   
2. Tap on Build number several times until you get a message saying that Developer Mode is turned on -> Developer Options
   
   
3. While in Developer Options:
   
   
   • tap on Window animation scale -> select Animation is off
     
   • tap on Transition animation scale -> select Animation is off
   • tap on Animation duration scale -> select Animation is off

Maybe an outdated application slows down your mobile device. To prevent this in future, check for updates and update your device's applications frequently.

To learn how to check for and install updates, check out the don't know how to update programs/applications solutions.

Maybe your device is slow because of a virus, which you have picked up while browsing the net or by installing insecure, modified applications, downloaded from third-party websites other than Google Play(store) or App Store.

To learn how to scan for and remove viruses, check out the viruses / spywares / malware solutions.

System updates can improve the performance of your mobile device. That is why it is very important to check for updates frequently. Usually, your mobile device checks for updates automatically; however, it would be better for you to check for updates manually.

To learn how to update your device's operating system, check out the don't know how to update my operating system solutions.

Custom Android launchers are a great way to optimize your device for performance and make it faster. They let you control the device's applications, allowing you to turn them off completely, thus making your device faster.

You can also try various degrees of animation speeds. In addition to that, you can also define new gestures, giving your Android device many new options.

Famous cuctom launchers include Nova Launcher Prime, Action Launcher, Google Now Launcher, Aviate, Apex Launcher etc.

Select one of them, download it via Google Play(store), install it and select your preferences.

The GPS feature can also slow down your device because it performs constant scans to update your location. If you don't need it, you can disable it to improve the performance (and the battery life) of your mobile device.

To learn how to disable the GPS feature check out the don't know how to disable the GPS guide.