How to Free Up Space When Your Android Slows Down

For many of us, an Android smartphone holds all of the crucial details of our lives. You use your Android as a photo album, document folder, work vault, storage of countless memories, social connections, and more. When your phone breaks or slows down, you may feel the void immediately.

It’s easy to panic when your Android begins to slow down and its functionality is no longer seamless. Smartphones are expensive, and they may hold your most vital information — life can get chaotic when they don’t work well.

Let’s take a look at the reasons your phone might begin to slog and how to free up space if and when your Android slows down.      

Reasons your Android might slow down

If you’ve had your Android model for a while, you may begin to see a slow down in connectivity and other functions. Perhaps your apps have started to take longer to open, or your Android’s 5G capabilities seem inconsistent.

There could be a wide variety of reasons for slower speeds and decreased functionality. Here are some examples:    

• Limited storage space
• Limited memory
• Full app caches
• Drained or old phone battery
• Bloatware apps
• Water damage
• Damage to USB port
• Outdated software
• Change in service provider’s coverage area

Troubleshooting your slow Android

When your Android becomes clunky, you’ll notice right away. You may find that your apps suddenly won’t open or you frequently lose your Internet connection. Before you run to your nearest Android retailer for help, you may be able to troubleshoot the problem on your own.

Some tips to increase the speed of your Android include:

• Battery power saving: Under Settings, click on Battery. Slide the “Power Saving” feature on. This will help protect your battery life and may erase your issues with slow functionality.
• Battery protection: Under Settings, find Battery. Slide “Protect battery” on. This feature keeps your battery from charging beyond 85% and can extend battery life. 
• Close unused apps: Your Android is a handheld computer. Thus, just as you should close multiple open tabs on your computer to optimize its performance, you should close any unused apps on your phone. If you’ve opened a plethora of apps in succession, click on the three vertical lines in the lower left corner of your homescreen. Your screen will then display your recently used, still-opened apps. Hit “close all” to ensure your phone won’t slow down. 
• Device optimization: Under Settings, go to Device Care. Ensure that “Auto Optimization” is enabled. Under “Processing speed,” check “Optimized.” This allows your Android to automatically enhance its performance. 
• Dark mode: Under Settings, go to Display. Place your screen on dark mode to increase battery life and help reduce eye strain.
• Install software updates: If you don’t have your Android set to automatically install new open source or commercial software, you should check for monthly updates. A phone with extremely outdated software will struggle with performance, and could present a risk to your cybersecurity. Install any suggested software updates to ensure your Android has the latest patches, protection, and performance enhancements. 

A step-by-step guide to free up space on your Android

If the aforementioned troubleshooting steps don’t solve your Android’s speed issues, you may need to free up space on your phone. Alas, it may be time to say goodbye to the 5,000 screenshot library of your curated memes.

The good news is, nothing you’ve saved on your Android needs to be irrevocably deleted. Your phone should automatically give you the option of uploading your saved files to cloud storage so you can still access that delusional text your ex sent you three years ago.

Freeing up space on your Android is a simple process, and can help to increase your phone’s lifespan. Once an Android hits less than 1GB of free storage and memory space, it may not work properly.

Here are the ways you can free up space and speed up your phone.

Delete bloatware

Most Android manufacturers pre-install apps that can mess with your phone’s performance. Although some of these apps, such as YouTube, Google Chrome, and Instagram may be beneficial, many manufacturer apps are unnecessary and take up too much space.

In order to delete bloatware, go to your settings and click on Apps. A list of every installed app will appear. If you spot an app that you’ve never used, ensure that it’s not necessary for your Android’s functionality. Androids give you the option to either uninstall or disable these apps, thereby freeing up RAM space on your phone. 

Delete old files

Unnecessary documents and video clips may be taking up a massive amount of storage space on your Android. You should periodically check “My Files” and your gallery on your phone and delete the files you no longer need.

You can also discover which files are taking up the largest amount of storage by clicking on “storage” under your battery settings. Audio and video files frequently crowd your available storage and memory.

Clear your cache

A cache represents temporary storage space on your Android. This is where your frequently visited websites, app files, and website data live. If your cache fills up, it could slow down your connectivity and the functionality of your most used apps.

Although many Androids include auto cache clearing, if you frequently use social media apps or are a daily Spotify user, the app cache can fill up quickly. You can visit your apps list under settings to clear the cache of specific apps. Click on the app you want to clear, and then click on storage, followed by “clear cache.”

Use the Android free up space tool

Your Android comes with a handy, built-in “free up space” tool that can immediately help when your phone slows down and your storage space is limited. Under your “Storage” settings, click on “free up space.” This will take you to the Google Files tool, which will give you suggestions on what files are ripe for deletion.

Cybersecurity risks of an Android without free space

When you begin to run out of free storage and memory space on your Android, the risks to your cybersecurity protection can increase. Here’s how your full and slow Android may jeopardize your cybersecurity:

• Inability to install security and software updates 
• Limited memory space can expose vulnerabilities and leave you open to cyberattacks
• Limited ability for security features to run can make your Android an easy target for villainous hackers
• Inability to update your weak online passwords due to your phone’s full memory space may leave you exposed to bad Internet actors 

When your Android slows down, don’t panic. Follow the aforementioned steps to free space and protect yourself against malware and other cyber threats.

You can visit What Is My IP Address for additional cybersecurity tools, and be sure to check out our blog for the latest insights and tips to protect yourself online.