How to Tell What’s Slowing Down Your Phone
Why Is My Phone So Slow — and How Can I Fix It?
If your phone feels slower than it used to — apps take longer to open, typing lags, or everything just seems a little sluggish — you’re not alone. Phones slow down over time, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. In many cases, you can make your phone noticeably faster by fixing a few common issues that build up quietly in the background.
You don’t have to be a tech expert to get things running smoothly again. Whether you’ve had your phone for six months or six years, these easy tips can help speed things up and improve your day-to-day experience. And if you get stuck, TechPals is always here to walk you through it — just visit techpals.org for personalized help.
Let’s dig into the reasons your phone might be slowing down — and what to do about each one.
1. Too Many Apps Running in the Background
One of the most common reasons a phone feels slow is that it’s doing too much at once. Even if you’re not actively using certain apps, they might still be running in the background — checking for updates, using your location, sending notifications, or syncing data. All of this can slow things down.
How to Close Background Apps:
On iPhone:
Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the home button on older models)
Swipe up on each app to close it
On Android:
Tap the square or “Recent Apps” button (varies by phone)
Swipe away or tap “Close All” to stop background apps
It’s a good idea to get in the habit of doing this every so often — especially after using apps that involve video, maps, or social media.
Some apps, like GPS, music players, or health trackers, are especially demanding. If your phone suddenly gets hot or your battery drains quickly, background apps are often the culprit. Not sure which ones are safe to close? TechPals.org can help you figure that out.
2. Low Storage Space
Your phone needs a little breathing room to function properly. When your storage is nearly full, it doesn’t just stop saving new photos — it can also slow everything down. That’s because your phone uses a small portion of storage space as temporary working memory. If it can’t find any, things get sluggish.
How to Check Your Storage:
iPhone:
Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage
Android:
Go to Settings → Storage
You’ll see a breakdown of what’s taking up space — apps, photos, videos, system files, and more.
Tips to Free Up Space:
Delete unused apps (see our app cleanup guide)
Clear out old text message threads
Remove duplicate or blurry photos
Back up large videos and media to cloud storage (like Google Photos or iCloud)
Clear your browser cache
If you don’t want to lose anything but need to make space, TechPals can help you safely back up your data — visit us here.
3. Software Updates You Haven’t Installed
It’s easy to ignore those “update available” notifications. But skipping updates can slow your phone down — and even make it less secure.
Updates often contain:
Performance improvements
Battery optimizations
Security patches
Bug fixes
Even if your phone feels “fine,” installing updates can help it feel smoother and more responsive.
How to Update:
iPhone:
Settings → General → Software Update
Android:
Settings → System → System Update
Make sure your phone is charged and connected to Wi-Fi before starting an update. If your phone hasn’t been updated in a while, it might take longer — but it’s worth it.
Want help checking if your phone is fully up to date? TechPals.org can walk you through it step-by-step.
4. Apps That Need Updating
Just like your phone’s system software, the individual apps on your phone also need regular updates. Outdated apps may not work properly with the latest version of your operating system. They can crash more often, run slowly, or use more resources than they should.
How to Check for App Updates:
On iPhone:
Open the App Store
Tap your profile picture in the top right
Scroll to see a list of available updates
Tap “Update All” or update apps individually
On Android:
Open the Google Play Store
Tap your profile icon → Manage apps & device
Tap “Updates available”
Tap “Update all” or review updates individually
Updating apps only takes a few minutes and can make a big difference in performance. Don’t be afraid to remove apps you haven’t used in a long time — especially if they haven’t been updated in months.
If you’re not sure which app is causing trouble, TechPals can help identify the issue — just ask us here.
5. Too Many Photos and Videos
Photos and videos are some of the biggest space-hogs on your phone. You might not realize how much they’re slowing things down until you try to take a new photo and get an error — or until everything just feels sluggish.
Try deleting duplicates, screenshots, blurry shots, or anything you’ve already backed up. Better yet, use a cloud storage service to offload older media. TechPals can help you choose and set up one that fits your needs.
Popular options include:
Google Photos (free up to a certain amount, works well across devices)
Apple iCloud (built into iPhones, integrates with Photos app)
Amazon Photos (free with a Prime membership)
Backing up your photos can give you peace of mind and a faster phone. Let TechPals show you how.
6. Too Many Widgets or Live Wallpapers
Widgets — like the clock, weather, calendar, or news preview on your home screen — are helpful, but they also use system resources. Live wallpapers (animated or interactive backgrounds) can be particularly demanding.
Try removing widgets you don’t use and switching to a simple wallpaper. You might be surprised by how much faster your phone feels.
To remove a widget:
Tap and hold the widget
Select “Remove” or drag it to the “X” or “Trash” icon
To change your wallpaper:
iPhone: Settings → Wallpaper
Android: Tap and hold your home screen → Wallpaper
Simplifying your phone’s visuals can boost both speed and battery life. If you want help customizing your setup, TechPals is happy to assist — book a session here.
7. Battery Health and Aging Hardware
Sometimes, a slow phone is a sign that the battery or hardware is wearing out — especially if it’s more than 3 years old. Batteries degrade over time, and older hardware may struggle to keep up with newer apps and updates.
Check battery health:
iPhone: Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging
Android: Use a third-party app like AccuBattery (if your phone doesn’t show this info directly)
If your battery health is below 80%, or your phone shuts off unexpectedly, it might be time for a replacement battery — or a new phone.
Not sure what the best move is? TechPals can help you weigh your options — whether it’s replacing the battery, switching to a more affordable model, or simply squeezing more life out of your current phone.
8. Your Browser Has Too Many Tabs or Cached Data
If your web browser feels laggy, try these steps:
Close extra browser tabs
Clear your browsing history and cache
On Safari (iPhone):
Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data
On Chrome (Android or iPhone):
Open Chrome
Tap the three dots (menu) → History → Clear browsing data
This can make web browsing feel much faster. Not sure what’s safe to delete? TechPals.org can help you decide.
9. You Haven’t Restarted in a While
This one sounds simple, but it works. Restarting your phone clears temporary files and resets your phone’s memory, giving everything a fresh start.
To restart:
iPhone: Press and hold the side button + volume button until “slide to power off” appears
Android: Press and hold the power button and select “Restart” or “Power off”
Try restarting your phone once a week to keep things running smoothly.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Live with a Slow Phone
It’s frustrating when your phone doesn’t keep up — especially when you rely on it for everyday tasks. But a slow phone doesn’t mean it’s broken or outdated. Often, it just needs a little maintenance.
The best part? You don’t have to do it alone. TechPals is here to help with everything from deleting apps to backing up photos, installing updates, and figuring out which setting is causing the lag. We’ll even walk you through it on the phone or over video, step-by-step.
Whether you’re looking to speed things up, stay organized, or just understand what’s happening behind the scenes, visit techpals.org. Let’s get your phone running the way it should — fast, simple, and stress-free.
