To keep your Android device running fast, delete old files and apps that you don't use very often. You can also free up a lot of space and improve device performance by clearing the app cache. When the device is full of pictures, the fastest and safest way is to transfer the pictures to a computer. You can also move it to a drive to free up storage space. As a final step, you can restore the device to factory settings and restore its original performance. This will clear app data and reset device settings. Make sure you have backed up your personal files just in case.
Step
Part 1 of 6: Removing Old Apps
Step 1. Tap the Settings app
Find this app in the app drawer by tapping the grid at the bottom of the Home screen. Settings can also be accessed from the Notification Panel.
Step 2. Tap Apps or Application manager
Step 3. Switch to the All tab
All applications installed on the device will be displayed.
Step 4. Scroll through the list to find unused apps
Unused apps can take up storage space and run in the background which makes the device run slowly. The amount of space used by each app is shown next to the entries in the list.
In some versions of Android, you can tap the button to sort the list by size
Step 5. Tap the app you want to delete
Step 6. Tap the Uninstall button
If the button isn't there, it's possible that the app is a default on the device and can't be completely uninstalled.
Step 7. Tap Disable or Turn Off if you can't uninstall the app
Maybe you should first tap on "Uninstall updates".
Step 8. Repeat the steps for other apps you want to delete
The more apps you delete, the more space available on your phone. This condition will increase the performance of the device.
Part 2 of 6: Deleting Old Files
Step 1. Tap the app list button
This is the grid at the bottom of the Home screen.
Step 2. Tap Downloads
Step 3. Tap the Trash button
The screen layout will vary depending on the device you're using, but there's usually a Trash or Delete button at the top of the screen that you can tap.
Step 4. Tap all the files you want to delete
Each file that you want to delete will have a checkmark next to it.
Step 5. Tap Clear or Delete
Step 6. Check the Delete downloaded files box
Step 7. Tap Clear
Part 3 of 6: Clearing Cache
Step 1. Tap Settings
This app can be found in the list of all device apps.
Step 2. Tap Storage & USB
This option may be named Storage.
Step 3. Tap Cached data
Step 4. Tap OK
All cached data of the app on the device will be deleted. You will have to sign in again to the application the next time you run it.
Part 4 of 6: Moving and Deleting Images (on Windows)
Step 1. Connect Android device to computer
If you are using a Mac computer, look under Moving and Deleting Images (Mac)
Step 2. Swipe down the Android device screen from top to bottom
Step 3. Tap on the USB notification
Step 4. Select File transfer or MTP
Step 5. Open the Computer/This PC window
You can click the folder or Computer button in the Start menu, or press Win+E.
Step 6. Right-click the Android device
Step 7. Click Import pictures and videos
Step 8. Click the More options link
Step 9. Check the Delete files after importing box
Step 10. Click OK
Step 11. Click the Import all items now radio button
Step 12. Give the folder a name
Step 13. Click Import
The photos will begin to be copied to the computer, and then deleted from the device.
Step 14. Unplug the Android device once the photos are done transferring
Step 15. Open the Pictures folder present on the computer to view the photos that have been moved
Part 5 of 6: Moving and Deleting Images (Mac)
Step 1. Connect Android device to Mac computer
Step 2. Swipe down the Android device screen from top to bottom
Step 3. Tap on the USB connection option
Step 4. Tap Photo transfer
Step 5. Click the Go menu present on the Mac computer
Step 6. Click Applications
Step 7. Double click Image Capture
Step 8. Click the Android device in the Devices menu
Step 9. Click the arrow in the lower left corner
Step 10. Click the Delete after import box
Step 11. Click the Import all button
Images on your Android device will be moved to your computer's hard drive, and will automatically be deleted from your Android device's storage.
Part 6 of 6: Factory Reset
Step 1. Back up your contacts
If you sign in using a Google account on your Android device, your contacts will automatically sync with that Google account. You can check your Google contacts at contacts.google.com. If you want to back up your contacts manually, check out how to Back Up Android Contacts to a Google Account.
Step 2. Save any files you still need
All data will be deleted when you restore the device to factory settings. If you have files on your Android device that you want to save, connect them to your computer and move the files to save them. For detailed instructions, see How to Move Data from Phone to Computer.
Step 3. Tap on Settings app on Android device
Once you have safely backed up your data, start the reset process.
Step 4. Tap the Personal tab (if available)
On some Android devices, especially Samsung, you will be prompted to switch to the Personal section in order to access the reset options.
Step 5. Tap Backup & reset
Step 6. Tap Factory data reset
Step 7. Tap Reset phone
Step 8. Wait while the device is reset
Step 9. Begin the process of setting up the device
Step 10. Sign in using your Google account when prompted
Contacts and device settings will be restored, along with app purchases and downloads from the Google Play Store.
Tips
- Don't use apps that claim to speed up your phone's performance. Android devices can still run quickly if you are diligent in cleaning up storage space and removing unnecessary applications.
- Over time, the device will not be able to keep up with the latest app developments, even if the device is in peak condition. If your Android device is more than 3 to 4 years old and you still want to use apps like Snapchat and Facebook, you are likely going to run into a lot of issues related to device performance.
- RAM (random access memory) on the cellphone is in charge of carrying out processing on the device. Therefore, the more gigabytes in the RAM of the phone, the better the performance.
