"8 misuses" that slow down the response of Android smartphones and how to deal with them

New Android smartphones usually react lightly and quickly. However, as I use it, I feel that the reaction has gradually slowed down.

There are many possible reasons for slow movement. It can't be helped if it has been used for a long time, but it may be because the parts have deteriorated.

Or you may be unknowingly degrading your phone's performance. This is especially true when the device isn't old but is sluggish.

Here are some misuses that can slow down your Android device and what to do about it.

1. Many apps are installed

Having a lot of apps on your Android phone is one of the most common causes of poor performance.

You need memory and storage to run the app. Therefore, the more apps you have, the more limited resources you consume.

The more apps you have, the more processes that run in the background, which slows down your device's performance. If you have a lot of apps, it can cause the battery to run out quickly.

2 Tips to reduce the number of apps

1. Delete apps that you rarely use.
2. Delete all apps for services that you can access from your browser without any problems.

Among the many apps, social media apps like Facebook and apps from your favorite news sites will be the case.

2. You are using a heavy app

Each app is different. Some apps require huge resources, while others are lighter and can be run on cheaper devices with less resources.

Game apps are often cited as the cause of resource usage (especially role-playing and battle royale games).

However, even apps that you use on a daily basis, such as Facebook, can interfere with the performance of your Android smartphone. In particular, "Facebook" and "Snapchat" are often mentioned as causes, and they are always on the list of commonly used apps that slow down Android.

The solution is to use a lightweight app instead. Lightweight apps usually have "Lite" in their name.

For example, "Facebook Lite" is a lightweight version of "Facebook" with a capacity of only 1.6MB. It's much smaller than the 63MB main app.

And for those who spend the most time on Instagram, there's Instagram Lite.

However, not many developers are responding to the move to reduce weight. You can easily tell if your app has a lightweight version by following the steps below.

1. Open the Google Play store and search for the app.
2. After selecting an app, make sure that "Similar apps are available" is displayed under the "Install" button.
3. If you have a similar app, tap View to go to the Lite app and press Install to download and install it. You can uninstall full-size apps that you no longer need.

3. I haven't updated my app or OS regularly

Software updates are essential for your device to function properly and efficiently. It also fixes existing bugs that may slow down your device.

It also closes security loopholes that make your device vulnerable.

So both the OS and apps should always be installed as soon as updates are available. However, we also find that keeping track of app updates can be a hassle.

In that case, it's a good idea to enable automatic updates.

To enable automatic updates for your app, please follow the steps below.

1. In the Google Play Store, tap the icon for your account in the upper right corner.
2. Select "Settings"> "Network Settings"> "Auto Update App".
3. Select "Via Wi-Fi only" or "No network specified" and press "Finish".

If the settings are correct and the Google Play Store does not automatically update the app, try this. In the case of the OS, the device will automatically notify you if there is an update.

4. There is no free storage space

The device storage should always have free space. This is very important.

This is because storage is required for apps and operating systems to run, and SSDs (Solid State Drives) slow down reading and writing when there is almost no free storage space.

In short, less storage capacity slows down your system and slows performance.

To see what is using your storage, select Settings> About Device> Storage. The detailed procedure differs depending on the smartphone model.

If you can't find it, search for "storage" in the search bar of the "Settings" app. If you have a small amount of free storage, you can use the Optimizer app to free up space without any hassle.

5. The home screen is full

There isn't much to tie the home screen to poor performance, but the home screen is one of the causes.

If you have a lot of widgets on your home screen, it will consume more memory and your Android phone will quickly slow down. Keeping your home screen clean and simple frees up resources.

The performance improvement is small, but better than not doing it.

6. Not restarted regularly

Do you remember when you last turned off your phone? If you don't remember, it's time to turn off the power and restart it.

You don't have to leave it off for a long time, just restart your device and you're done. This action may also fix existing bugs.

7. I'm using Task Killer

Task Killer apps are known for the claim of freeing memory.

The idea behind these apps is that reducing the number of processes running in the background to free up memory will improve performance.

But, of course, this is not true. In fact, the background process doesn't have to end. Android will do it for you.

Instead of improving performance, Task Killer does the opposite.

Some tasks are needed to get the system working, so terminating those tasks does not stop them from working. On the contrary, it reboots as soon as it finishes, which hinders device performance.

So it's wise not to use a nasty task killer.

8. Manually closing the app

Manually terminating the task killer and the app has a similar impact on performance. Obviously, it's easier to return to an app while it's open than to restart it from scratch.

If you force the app to finish and then launch it again, extra work will be required to start over. Android keeps some apps running in the background so you can quickly get back when you need them.

Moreover, Android also manages memory automatically. So you don't have to worry.

▼ Check out this related article

You shouldn't close the app on Android every time

The right way to speed up your Android smartphone

You can speed up your Android phone by stopping all the wrong methods mentioned here. These are very basic ways to improve device performance at no cost.

If you want to maximize the performance of your device, please see the advanced version.

Original Article: 8 Common Mistakes Slowing Down Your Android Phone (And What to Do Instead) by MakeUseOf