Is your iPhone running slower than usual? With regular use, iPhones can accumulate junk files, have memory issues, or get bogged down by iOS updates.
There is a rumor that says that Apple intentionally makes the older models slower after releasing a new one. Well, the rumor can’t possibly be true. There are other factors that make your phone slow, so you might want to know How to speed up your iPhone.
The good news is there are many ways to give your iPhone a speed boost. Follow this comprehensive guide to learn expert tips, tricks, and steps to improve iPhone performance in 2023.
Why Has My iPhone Slowed Down?
There are several common culprits behind iPhone slowdowns:
Too Many Apps and Junk Files: The more apps and files you have, the more your iPhone has to load and process. Over time, unused apps, large photos/videos and system junk can congest storage and RAM, slowing things down.
Old Software: iOS updates aim to fix bugs and add new features, but they can also introduce new issues. Using an outdated OS is a major cause of lagging.
Low Storage Space: Your iPhone needs free space to manage memory and perform system tasks efficiently. With less than 500MB free, it will start slowing down.
Battery Issues: As iPhone batteries chemically age, they become less capable of providing peak power. This forces the iPhone to underclock the CPU to match the available juice, reducing speed.
Malware and Bugs: While rare, some apps or files may be corrupted and cause conflicts that hurt performance. Certain adware or malicious scripts can infect your iPhone and eat up resources in the background.
By identifying and addressing these common problems, you can get your iPhone’s speed back up again.
You may be interested to read 16 Coolest iPhone Tips and Tricks What Does TFW Mean on iPhone?
14 Tips to Speed Up Your iPhone
Follow these expert tips to quickly boost your iPhone’s performance:
1. Close Unused Apps
Double-click the home button and swipe up on apps to force close them. This frees up RAM which helps speed and stability, which makes new room for apps to run.
2. Disable Background App Refresh
This feature lets apps update content in the background. Turn it off in Settings > General > Background App Refresh to improve performance.
3. Reduce Animations
Fancy iOS animations require processing power. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Reduce Motion and toggle it on to minimize animations.
4. Turn Off Widgets
Widgets constantly update and use resources. To optimize iPhone speed, edit your widgets in the Today View and remove any nonessential ones.
5. Enable Low Power Mode
Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activity and some visual effects to preserve battery life and speed. Enable it in Settings > Battery.
6. Update iOS Software
Run the latest iOS version. Apple’s updates patch bugs and optimize the system. Install updates in Settings > General > Software Update.
7. Free Up Storage Space
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to manage and delete apps, photos, videos and music to open up storage. Aim for at least 500MB free.
8. Turn Off Location Services
Location access can drain battery and slow things down. Review location settings under Privacy and turn off access for any unnecessary apps.
9. Stop Automatic Downloads
Disable automatic downloads for music, apps and books in Settings > iTunes & App Store and Settings > Books. It will reduce background Internet usage.
10.Restart Your iPhone
A simple restart can clear memory, end problematic processes and give your iPhone a fresh start, often restoring normal speed.
11. Update Apps
Ensure all apps are updated to their latest versions. Outdated apps may suffer from performance issues or bugs that are fixed in updates.
12. Reset Network Settings
If your iPhone seems laggy browsing the web or using apps, reset network settings under General > Reset to troubleshoot connectivity issues.
13. Check iPhone Storage Health
Using a Mac computer, connect your iPhone and open the summary tab in iTunes. Click “Check iPhone Storage Health” to scan for issues.
14. Restore or Update iPhone Software
For major speed improvements, you can perform a restore in iTunes to completely wipe your iPhone, or do an Over The Air (OTA) update to freshly install the iOS version.
How To Fix A Slow IPhone
If your iPhone is still slow after trying the tips above, these are the 5 most effective troubleshooting steps:
1. Close All Apps and Restart – Shut down all apps, power off your iPhone and restart it for a fresh slate. Be sure to keep apps closed that you aren’t actively using.
2. Check for iOS Updates – Install the latest iOS software update, as Apple’s updates include lots of speed optimizations.
3. Turn Off Background App Refresh – Disable this feature in Settings to prevent nonessential apps from running and updating in the background.
4. Delete or Offload Unused Apps – Remove apps you never or rarely use. The less apps running and updating, the better the performance.
5. Factory Reset iPhone – For major speed gains, a factory reset will completely wipe your iPhone and restore it to like-new condition. Be sure your data is backed up first!
How to Factory Reset an iPhone – A Step-By-Step Guide
If your iPhone is still prohibitively slow after trying all other troubleshooting tips, a factory reset should get it back up to speed. Here is how to safely reset your iPhone:
Back-Up iPhone Data – To avoid losing photos, notes or other important data, back up your iPhone before resetting it. You can use iCloud backups or local iTunes backups.
Open Settings App – Go to Settings > General > Reset
Tap “Erase All Content and Settings” – This will initiate a full factory restore process.
Enter Passcode if Prompted – You may need to enter your passcode or Apple ID password to confirm the reset.
Wait for iPhone to Wipe – It will take several minutes for the reset process to fully complete. The iPhone will automatically reboot itself once finished.
Set Up iPhone as New – Follow the startup assistant prompts to set up your iPhone from scratch again. Skip restoring from backup during setup for best results.
Reinstall Apps and Data – Once your iPhone is reset up, you can selectively restore apps you want from the App Store and import data from your backup.
Be patient during and after the reset, it can take some time for performance to fully normalize again. But a fresh install should significantly improve any iPhone speed issues.
Frequently Asked Questions About Speeding Up iPhones
Here are answers to some common questions about improving slow iPhone performance:
How can I quickly speed up my iPhone?
Ans: Restarting your iPhone and closing unused apps in the app switcher provides an instant speed boost. Disabling animations and background app refresh will also offer quick gains.
What is the best setting to change to speed up an iPhone?
Ans: Turning off Background App Refresh in Settings is one of the most effective speed optimizations for iPhones. Stopping this background activity provides immediate performance gains.
Is low power mode good for iPhone speed?
Ans: Yes, enabling Low Power Mode will disable some visual effects and background tasks to improve system performance by conserving resources. It’s great for a quick speed boost.
Should I disable Siri suggestions to speed up iPhone?
Ans: Yes, turning off Siri Suggestions in Settings > Siri & Search conserves processing power otherwise used generating recommendation widgets. This can help overall iPhone speed.
How much storage space do you need to speed up your iPhone?
Ans: Aim for at least 500 MB of free space for the best iPhone performance. The more available storage the better—having gigabytes free will ensure your iPhone runs at peak speed.
Conclusion
There are many effective ways to speed up a slow iPhone and improve performance.
Start with simpler steps like closing apps, reducing animations, and disabling Background App Refresh.
For major speed gains, update your software, delete files and apps to free up storage, or do a full factory reset to get iPhone performance back to like-new condition. Use this guide to optimize your iPhone and keep it running fast for years to come.
Please note: This article is based on my personal experience and research. It’s always a good idea to consult with a professional if you’re having serious issues with your device.
