Optimize my phone: Tips to make your Android run faster

As the winter chill sets in and holiday preparations begin, it’s the perfect time to make sure your Android is at its best. Just like your car needs regular oil changes to keep running smoothly, your Android device can benefit from a little tune-up now and then to maintain peak performance. Especially when we load them up with all the fancy schmancy functionalities and apps. Just check out our super easy optimization guide and find out how to keep your Android running at full speed.

Why is my Android so slow?

While there can be a ton of reasons for why your Android is running slow, these are the most common causes:

Your Android storage is full

Ever tried cramming one more textbook into an already overstuffed locker? This is what happens to your phone when it’s bogged down with too many texts, screenshots and those irresistible dog videos. When storage fills up, performance trips up.

Your apps may be using too much data

Some apps have a bigger appetite for data than others. When they overindulge, your phone can feel the strain.

Too many apps

We all have those apps we downloaded for a specific purpose – maybe a parking meter app for a quick trip or a one-time event. Add in the pre-installed apps that often go unused, and you’ll find your phone carrying more weight than necessary. They might run background updates or consume system resources, slowing down your Android.

Outdated software

Being a few OS updates behind is like jogging with old running shoes. They still work, but there’s noticeable wear and tear preventing you from achieving peak performance.

How to speed up an Android phone

Now that we know what could be slowing down your Android, let’s make some changes to speed things up.

Free up storage on Android

1. Go to Settings
2. Choose Storage
3. Here you can see how much space apps, pictures, etc. are taking up on your phone and delete files or data as needed

Use lite apps whenever possible

Lite apps are Android-specific, streamlined versions of popular applications like Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, or Twitter Lite. They are designed to use less data by reducing image and video quality, limiting background processes, and often omitting some heavier features. Not only do they consume less data, but they also occupy less space on your device. Opting for these can give your Android a noticeable performance boost.

Turn off Android background app refresh

1. Go to Settings and select Apps & Notifications
2. Select See All Apps
3. Tap the app you want to disable background app refresh for, then select Mobile Data & Wi-Fi
4. Turn the Background Data slider to Off

Want even more deets? Check out our full guide on background app refresh.

Uninstall unused apps

1. Head to Settings
2. Tap Storage
3. Select Other Apps and delete away

Update Android software to the latest version

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap System and then System update
3. Here, you’ll see your update status, then just follow any steps on the screen

Periodic restarts

Sometimes, a simple restart of your Android phone can help iron out minor glitches.

Factory reset (aka the last resort)

If you’ve tried everything and your Android still feels sluggish, a factory reset is going to be your last resort option.

1. Go to your Settings
2. Tap Backup and reset

Want to optimize your Android even further? Bring it to Mint

Now that your Android’s revving up again, why not dive deeper into our Android hacks or learn how to master its mobile data usage? And while you’re at it, why not check if your phone’s compatible with Mint and get access to the nation’s largest 5G network—all starting at just $15/mo.*

*New activation & upfront payment for 3-month plan req’d. Taxes & fees extra. Addt’l restrictions apply. See mintmobile.com for full terms.