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Fellow Android users, we\u2019ve all been there. After a few years of trusty companionship, your phone starts to get slower. Menus start to stutter just a bit, and the number of apps and files on your phone feel like they\u2019re physically weighing it down. While Android phones have made significant strides in reliability, issues with longevity still remain \u2013 particularly for those in the entry and mid-range segments. If you\u2019re trying to ward off the temptation of getting a new device by sprucing up your current one, we\u2019ve come up with a list of ways to help you out. While some steps are simple and don\u2019t take much effort \u2014 some you can even do them right now \u2014 others will require a bit of time and money invested. Without further ado, here are some ways you can breathe new life into your phone.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nJump to<\/p>\n
<\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n\n1. Delete unused or unwanted apps<\/li>\n 2. Delete duplicate or unused files<\/li>\n 3. Cleaning up your home screen<\/li>\n 4. Changing your wallpapers and colour theming<\/li>\n 5. Using widgets<\/li>\n 6. Backing up to a cloud or external drive<\/li>\n 7. Battery replacement<\/li>\n 8. Factory reset<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n1. Delete unused or unwanted apps<\/h2>\n\nIf you have a phone with Android 13 or later, you can usually find a list of unused and rarely used apps in your Settings\u2019 App menu.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Getting rid of apps that you don\u2019t use is one of the easiest ways to make your phone perform better. It reduces indexing load and also frees up space for apps that you actually do use. <\/p>\n
Luckily, Android 13 and newer keeps track of which apps are unused or rarely used. If you have a Pixel phone, you can head to Settings, and go to Apps > Unused Apps<\/b>. It\u2019ll show you apps that you haven\u2019t used in the past 30 days or longer, and you can choose which to keep and which to toss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just a note: being Android, the specific location for the Unused Apps menu may differ based on your phone\u2019s manufacturer and Android skin. For instance, on Samsung phones, you can find it via Device Care > Storage > Unused apps<\/b>. Generally speaking, go to Settings and look for the storage sub-menu.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, you can also take this opportunity to delete apps that you might be better off without. TikTok, I\u2019m looking at you.<\/p>\n
2. Delete duplicate or unused files<\/h2>\n\nFiles by Google keeps tracking of duplicate files, and can help delete them in bulk.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Like unwanted apps, you should also get rid of unwanted files. These can come in the form of duplicate files and photos, or even that email attachment that you accidentally downloaded multiple times. Understandably, poring over your entire storage will take forever, but there are tools which can help you out.<\/p>\n
Default file managers like Files by Google<\/b> or Samsung\u2019s My Files<\/b> app have built-in tools that highlight duplicate files for easy deletion. If it\u2019s specifically photos and videos you want to clear, check if the photo gallery app you\u2019re using has a similar tool, too. Speaking of photo gallery apps, Google Photos can delete photos that are already backed up to the cloud. In Google Photos, tap on your Google account icon <\/b>on the top right, and you\u2019ll see a button called \u201cFree up space on this device\u201d<\/b>. This will delete photos on your phone that have already been backed up. <\/p>\n3. Cleaning up your home screen<\/h2>\n\nA quick way to make your phone feel like new is to customise your Home screen.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
This won\u2019t make your phone measurably perform better, but a fresh look always helps by making your phone feel new. It is quite literally decluttering your phone, and it\u2019s the most visual way to do it. Once you\u2019ve figured out your most essential apps and\/or widgets that you\u2019d like to have on hand, you can leave the rest in the app drawer. Or drop them into folders. You can clear apps from your home screen by doing a long press on an app <\/b>and dragging it to the \u2018Remove\u2019 <\/b>tab.\u00a0<\/p>\n4. Changing your wallpapers and colour theming<\/h2>\n\nChanging wallpapers is another way to make your phone look and feel new.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Another way to spruce up your Home screen is to change the wallpaper. For most phones, there are two ways to do it. You can either long-press the Home screen <\/b>to see Wallpaper and style<\/b>, or you can do it via the Settings app. Certain Android launchers will also have theming options, which is another way to change up your usual Home screen setup. Of course, Pixel has adjustable app icon colours since Material You was implemented a few years ago, but again, customisability will depend on your launcher. Skins from manufacturers, like Samsung and OPPO, allow you to get custom icon packs, too.<\/p>\n\nSome widgets also act as shortcuts. For instance, Google Docs allows you create a new document straight from a single button on your home screen.<\/p>\n
Photo: HWZ.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
One way you can optimise your phone is by using widgets on your Home screen. The idea is simple: rather than opening individuals apps, you can shave off a few seconds by placing a widget on your Home screen to see information at a quick glance.\u00a0Some widgets will even allow you to access certain in-app functions directly. An example is Google Doc, which lets you create a new document quickly within the widget (as seen above).<\/p>\n
Like changing your wallpaper, you can long press the Home screen and tap \u201cwidgets\u201d<\/b> to see a list of widgets from all apps on your phone. If you know what apps you want to turn into widgets on your Home screen, you can long press the app icon itself and tap \u201cwidgets\u201d too. <\/p>\n