Given the rising cost of new phones, making your existing smartphone last longer can only be a good thing.
You don’t even need to be a tech expert to benefit from these phone longevity tips. They’re all fairly simple to implement, and you can begin changing your habits today to extend the life of your phone.
Whether you’ve recently upgraded your phone or are considering doing so, we’ll show you how to keep it in pristine condition with a few simple tricks.
Don’t neglect app updates. They are significant.
To keep your old or new phone running as quickly and smoothly as possible, it’s critical to keep the operating system and third-party apps up to date. These updates are quick, and the benefits can be enormous: From bug fixes and security updates to changes that add new features and improve overall performance, your device will run more smoothly and quickly.
Both Android and iOS provide automatic app updates, which should be enabled by default. On an Android phone, open the Play Store, slide out the menu from the left side of the screen, tap Settings, and make sure the Auto-update apps option is enabled. If you have an iPhone, go to Settings > App Store and toggle the App Updates option to On. This feature, however, will not function in Low Power Mode.
On an Android phone, you can check for system updates by opening the Settings app and searching for Software Update. You can also wait for your phone to notify you that an update is available and then follow the prompts. Google releases Android security updates around the first part of each month, so checking for updates in the middle of the month isn’t a bad habit to develop.
For iPhone users, you can set your phone to automatically install new updates. Don’t worry, your phone will not download and install updates minutes after they are released. Instead, your phone will download the update a day or two after it becomes available and then install it the next time it charges overnight. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to install an update or enable automatic updates. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it. If not, tap on Automatic Updates to enable or disable them.
Deleting apps can help a slow phone come back to life.
Because phones have limited storage and memory, it’s critical to keep the number of unused apps to a minimum. Only keep the apps you use, playing casually some casino games and understanding slot machines doesn’t require 15 different apps. Delete apps from your phone that you don’t use on a regular basis to save storage space and prevent apps from running in the background, consuming precious resources and making your phone feel slower and closer to the end of its life than it is.
Go through your app drawer or home screen and uninstall any apps that you installed for whatever reason but never used. On an iPhone, deleting apps is simple: long-press until the app is selected. The app icon will display a dropdown menu. Simply select Remove App. You will then be able to remove the app from your phone or simply remove it from the Home screen.
Android users have a few more options, but the process is similar: Long-press, then select the I that appears for App Info, followed by Uninstall.
Set a monthly calendar entry for “Delete unused apps” to remind yourself to do this on a regular basis.
Keep your phone battery from overheating.
There are several myths about your phone’s battery and how to keep it healthy.
Fast charging, for example, will not harm the battery in any way, but allowing your phone to drain to zero on a regular basis may.
Your phone will also last longer if you avoid putting it in situations where the battery could overheat, such as sitting outside in direct sunlight on a hot day. It will shut down if it becomes too hot, but this stresses the battery and may contribute to a shorter overall life span.
Begin caring for your phone’s battery the day you receive it, and you’ll see the benefits when your battery still holds a charge a year or two later.
Bonus tip: Make regular backups of your phone.
Having a backup of your phone’s data will not extend the life of your phone, but it will mean that when the time comes to say goodbye to your phone, all of your contacts, photos, videos, and custom settings will be ready to make the transition, saving you from having to start over from scratch.
Do you own an iPhone? Open the Settings app and double-check that iCloud backup is enabled. Next, go to iCloud > iCloud Backup and make sure the switch is turned on.
The procedure for Android users varies depending on who makes your device, but in general, you can open the Settings app and then navigate to Google > Backup. Some device manufacturers, such as Samsung, provide their own backup service in addition to Google’s. To find your device’s automatic cloud backup service, open the Settings app and type “backup” into the search box at the top.
Now that you know how to keep your phone running for a long time, spend a few minutes learning about hidden Android features or, if you use iOS, hidden iPhone features. And here’s how to get the most money for your phone.
