Are you tired of irrelevant notifications, random lags, and a cluttered home screen? It’s a common problem for many smartphone users. Downloading new apps takes only a few clicks but uses limited storage space and resources.

This can make your phone unbearably slow and waste your time looking for the specific file you urgently need. There are many ways to increase smartphone performance, but this article focuses on useful tips on how to declutter it.

1. Remove Unused Apps

This one comes as no surprise, but many users forget to delete that app they downloaded just for one occasion and never used again. Even unused apps may eat your phone RAM, and all of them take up precious space you can use.

You can easily check which apps you practically do not use. On your iPhone, you can go to your battery information and check app usage in the settings section. Most Androids come with a native file manager, but you can also use Files by Google, which might be more comfortable.

Once you’ve identified the apps you rarely (or never!) turn on, delete them from your phone for good.

2. Organize App Credentials

You’ll probably agree that typing in long passwords is not something anyone enjoys. Moreover, people use a few dozen apps that require a password, and inputting it every time is infuriating. You might be tempted to reuse the same simple password, but you will compromise your security.

Instead, you should use a password manager. They provide a password autofill feature that will automatically fill in the required password with a single click. Alongside decluttering, it will enhance your smartphone experience.

3. Sort Time-Wasting Apps

It’s no secret that social media can be addicting, and it’s best to stay away from it when you have urgent tasks at hand. The same applies to content streaming apps and mobile games.

You can limit distractions by creating separate folders for specific apps. For example, create Entertainment and Social Media folders and put all apps accordingly. This way, you will not be tempted to turn them on every time you use your phone for more serious tasks. It’s also an excellent way to organize your home screen.

4. Disable Pre-Installed Apps

Smartphones come with a setup of available Apps called bloatware, but you often don’t need them all. Moreover, sometimes they collect user data and pose a risk to your privacy. Usually, pre-installed Apps cannot be removed, but you can disable them.

If you download a better alternative (which you probably will), the bloatware will still use your phone resources. On most Androids, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps, and click the Disable button. The path may vary per Android model.

iPhone users may want to skip this step because Apple is very careful with what they put on their phones.

5. Use Cloud Storage

Smartphones have limited storage space which quickly fills in. Moreover, higher quality videos and pictures use much more of it, and modern cameras allow saving them in an extraordinary definition. The same applies to mobile games, which have also drastically expanded.

Instead of saving pictures and videos on your devices, you can use Cloud storage services. You will store your files online and can access them whenever you have an Internet connection. Obviously, you cannot do the same for mobile games because they need to be installed on your system. But hey, now you have more space to get more games!

Conclusion

There is little that smartphones cannot do, and there are exciting applications for most activities. However, if you don’t tidy up your device, you will soon find it frustrating to use. Decluttering your phone takes little time, and it’s best done every few months to ensure your phone lasts longer.