How to Make Your Android Phone Faster

Has your Android phone recently become slower or less responsive?  Do you want to be able to navigate it more quickly? How about speeding it up a little?

Unfortunately, it’s completely normal that after some time of use our Android devices become slower. It’s a bit like with desktop computers. After some time, they become slower. Don’t worry, though.

In today’s tutorial I will show you how to make your Android phone faster in a few simple  and effective ways.  You will really feel and see the difference as soon as you apply these methods. Let’s begin!

Make sure your Android phone is up to date.

One of the most important suggestions (and security measures in the world of technology) is to always keep all your devices up to date.

Updates regularly fix any software bugs which can slow Android phone down and make it less secure. What’s more, updates very often have different software improvements which will speed up your Android phone.

All you need to do is make sure that automatic updates of both apps and Android OS are enabled in your phone.

Here is how you set automatic  systems updates in Android (on the example of my Sony Xperia Z5 Compact):

  • Go to Settings > About phone > Software update.
  • Click on the three dots in the right top corner and choose Settings. Make sure that automatic updates are enabled (either via Wi-Fi or at any time if you have unlimited data plan).

The process may differ a bit depending on the phone and version of Android you are running.

Here is what you need to do to enable automatic app updates:

  • Open Google Play and go to Settings.
  • Click on Auto-update apps and make sure that automatic update of apps either via Wi-Fi or mobile data is turned on.

Uninstall or disable apps you don’t use.

The rule of thumb here is very simple! Get rid of anything that you don’t use because it consumes your phone’s resources and slows it down.

This especially applies to some built-in apps (also called bloatware). Here is what you need to do:

  • Download and install app Easy Uninstaller which quickly and easily lets you uninstall multiple apps. Look at the apps and uninstall any app you don’t use.
  • Disable built-in apps you don’t use. There are also some built-in apps which you cannot uninstall without rooting your phone. Fortunately, you can disable them and the effect will almost be the same.

Install and run some cleaner app.

There are a lot of cleaner apps which let you clean app cache and temporary files.

Most cleaner apps will also let you keep you device tuned and will clean it on a regular basis.  I suggest using one of the following apps:

Download and install each of these apps and simply choose the one that suits your needs the most!

Try turning off animations.

Very few people know about this trick and make use of it. In older phones (which are 3-4 years old) it can perform miracles.

Here is how you turn off or reduce animations in your Android device:

  • Turn on Developer options if you haven’t already done it by clicking seven times on Build number (under Settings > About phone).
  • Enter Developer options and scroll down until you see Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale.
  • Make sure Animation off is selected in all three fields.

Remember that you can always return to the previous settings if you want to have animations back on your device.

Free up some space.

If you are running out of internal space on your phone, it’s a good idea to free some of it up. This is one of the most often reasons why Android phones slow down.

Either uninstall apps you don’t use or simply move what you can move to the SD card (if you have an SD card slot in your phone, of course).

Here is what you need to do to transfer stuff to SD:

  • Download and install AppMgr III.
  • When you open the app for the first time, it will automatically calculate free space and tell you which apps you can safely move to the SD card. All you need to do is choose Move all apps.

Of course, you can also individually move one or two apps by simply clicking on it and choosing Move app. App info will be displayed and all you need to do is click MOVE TO SD.

Simply restart it.

You won’t believe how much a simple restart may help sometimes. This is always the first thing I recommend whenever any problem with Android devices appear.

All you need to do is hold the power button for a few seconds and when a menu pops up choose Restart.

Do a factory reset.

If nothing helps, you can always do a factory reset. This almost always helps and I suggest doing it regularly (once every six months, for example). To do a factory reset:

  • Go to Settings > Backup & reset and choose Factory data reset.
  • Confirm your choice by clicking RESET PHONE. Remember about backing app your data before you do a factory reset.

Install a custom ROM.

If you decide to root your phone, you will get access to tons of different ways of modifying and adjusting it to your needs.  This step, however, is for more advanced users as it really offers tons of possibilities.

Once you root your phone, you will be able to install a custom ROM. In the case of older phones, you will be able to install a newer version of Android and get rid of bloatware which also makes phone slower.

Remember that rooting your phone usually voids warranty.

Did You Make Your Android Phone Faster?

Of course, this list of ways to make your Android phone faster is neither final nor complete. If you have come up with a different method, feel free to share it with me.

If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to use the comment box below.


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