iPhone Running Slow? Here Are 6 Expert-Approved Fixes To Speed It Up

If your iPhone is running slower than it usually does, there are a few steps you can take to speed things up. You may not find one quick fix that takes care of all problems, but with regular maintenance (which should really just be a few minutes each week), you can keep on top of your device’s storage space, updates, and other issues that drag your phone’s performance down. You needn’t settle for a slow phone — take six fixes can help speed things along.

Update Your Software

Put simply: a phone that is never updated is a phone that is going to crawl and not run in terms of performance. It’s crucial to regularly update your iOS software. Not only do new software updates contain fixes for things like bugs, but they keep your phone in working order. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for new updates.

Free Up Storage Space

If your phone is overloaded with files and data and you never delete anything, there’s a very good chance that your phone is suffering from a lack of storage space. So, what can you do? Take some of these steps to free up storage space, which can boost your phone’s speed.

First, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to find out what, exactly, is taking up so much space. If you find apps that you never use, delete them. Make sure you clear cached data by deleting old messages, photos, and videos from your phone (if you want to keep them, save them to iCloud). Since Photos takes up so much space, focus your attention there by going to Settings > Photos > Optimize iPhone Storage to make small changes that can help you retain more space.

Reduce Background Activity

Background App Refresh is a convenient service that updates your apps when you aren’t using them so that you have access to the freshest content once you open that app. But this setting isn’t needed, and it takes up a lot of battery power and drags down your phone’s speed. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable the setting.

Limit Location Services

When you keep Location Services on at all times, this wears down your battery and slows down your phone. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and change the setting so that it is only on when you’re using specific apps that require it, such as those with GPS.

Close Apps You Don’t Need

Force closing the apps that aren’t using can help speed things up a bit. Double-click the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom of your screen) and swipe on the apps that are open and you aren’t using.

Restart Your Phone

As always, the fastest way to try and change most issues on your phone is to restart your device. You’d be surprised at how many issues can be resolved by simply restarting your device. Give it a try — it may be the fastest, simplest way to speed things along.