TechTipADay

By task · 2 tips

How to speed up a slow phone

A phone that feels slow usually isn't broken. Storage that is nearly full drags everything down, and on Android the animations between screens add a wait you can cut in half. Both fixes are built in and take a few minutes.

  1. How to speed up animations on Android

    Turn on Developer options by tapping Build number seven times in Settings > About phone. Then open Settings > System > Developer options and set Window animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale to 0.5x. Every animation plays twice as fast.

    Use it when: Use it when your Android feels a beat slow every time you open an app or go back, even though nothing is actually lagging.

    Android · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

  2. How to free up storage on iPhone

    Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and tap Enable next to Offload Unused Apps. The iPhone removes apps you haven't opened in a while but keeps their documents and data. Tap an offloaded app's icon later and it downloads again.

    Use it when: Use it when the Storage Full warning pops up and you're about to start deleting photos to make room.

    iPhone · Easy · 2 min · Full steps

Questions people ask

Is it safe to turn on Developer options?

Yes, as long as you only touch the animation settings. Turning the menu on changes nothing by itself. Leave the other switches alone unless you know what they do.

What's the difference between Offload App and Delete App?

Offload removes the app and keeps its documents and data. Delete removes both. If there's any chance you'll use the app again, offload it.

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