Tech Tips to Speed Up Your Smartphone

Smartphones have become essential tools in our daily lives. From managing work and communication to entertainment and navigation, we rely on them constantly. But over time, even the best smartphones can slow down, drain battery quickly, or overheat. The good news? A few smart adjustments can make a big difference.

In this guide from Google Keith, we’ll walk you through practical tech tips to optimize your smartphone’s settings, manage background apps, and extend battery health. Whether you’re using Android or iOS, these how-to guides are designed to help you get the most out of your device.

Optimize System Settings for Performance

Adjust Display Settings

Your screen is one of the biggest power consumers on your phone. Reducing brightness and screen timeout can significantly improve battery life.

Lower brightness manually or enable adaptive brightness to let your phone adjust it automatically.
Set your screen timeout to 30 seconds or 1 minute to prevent unnecessary battery drain when the phone is idle.

Disable Unnecessary Animations

Animations may look nice, but they can slow down your phone and use extra resources.

On Android, go to Developer Options and reduce or turn off window and transition animations.
On iOS, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and enable Reduce Motion.

Turn Off Unused Features

Features like Bluetooth, NFC, and location services are useful but don’t need to be on all the time.

Turn them off when not in use to save battery and reduce background activity.
Use Airplane Mode in low-signal areas to prevent your phone from constantly searching for a connection.

Manage Background Apps

Understand Background App Activity

Many apps continue to run in the background, checking for updates or sending notifications. This can slow down your phone and drain the battery.

Check which apps are using the most resources:

Settings > Battery (iOS)
Settings > Battery Usage (Android).

Limit Background Processes

On Android, go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Battery and select Restricted or Optimized.
On iOS, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and turn it off for apps that don’t need to run in the background.

Use Built-in Device Maintenance Tools

Both Android and iOS offer tools to help you manage performance:

Android: Use Device Care or Battery Optimization to clean up memory and restrict background activity.
iOS: Use Battery Health & Charging to monitor battery usage and enable Low Power Mode when needed.

Improve Battery Health and Longevity

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Batteries degrade faster when exposed to heat or cold.

Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight or in a cold car.
Remove the case while charging if your phone gets hot.

Charge Smartly

Try to keep your battery between 20% and 80% for optimal health.
Avoid letting your phone fully discharge or stay at 100% for long periods.
Use the original charger or a certified alternative to prevent damage.

Enable Battery Saver Modes

Battery saver modes reduce background activity and visual effects to extend battery life.

On Android, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Saver.
On iOS, enable Low Power Mode under Settings > Battery.

Keep Your Software Updated

Software updates often include performance improvements, bug fixes, and security patches.

Enable automatic updates for both your operating system and apps.
Regular updates ensure your phone runs smoothly and securely.

To check for updates:

Android: Settings > System > Software Update
iOS: Settings > General > Software Update

Clean Up Storage Regularly

A cluttered phone can slow down performance and reduce battery efficiency.

Delete unused apps, old photos, and large files.
Use cloud storage (like OneDrive, Google Drive or iCloud) to back up important data.
On Android, use Files by Google to clean up junk files.
On iOS, go to Settings > iPhone Storage to review and manage space.

Use Trusted Apps Only

Not all apps are created equal. Some are poorly optimized and can drain your battery or slow down your phone.

Download apps only from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Check reviews and permissions before installing.
Uninstall apps you don’t use regularly.

Smartphone optimization doesn’t require technical expertise – just a few smart habits and regular maintenance. By following these how-to guides from Google Keith, you can extend your phone’s lifespan, improve performance, and enjoy a smoother mobile experience.

For more tech tips and expert advice, explore the full knowledge base at Google Keith. Whether you’re troubleshooting issues or learning new tools, we’re here to help you stay ahead in the digital world.