Fix your Slow Android Device

hello, been a while, been very busy lately with work and research. i'm back and better though and i have something to talk about. it is actually about a common issue.

Remember when you first got that brand new android device. It was sleek, shiny and most importantly superfast. All that seemed to change all of a sudden as you’ve been using the device. Nothing much has gone wrong but today, I’d share few tips on how to maintain the speed of your device.

Below, I’d explain a few steps to take while solving the snail speed of your device.

Identify the problem

The first thing you want to do is find out what is causing the problems: an app, multiple apps, the system itself?

Did you just install an application and notice that your device has gotten slow ever since.

Did you run multiple apps at a time and notice the sluggishness, could it also be when you open a file in your memory card or when you run video related files. Identifying the various causes of this problem can be tasking but it eases the solution of the problem. Also understand that various devices have different specifications and capabilities. A flagship device from Samsung would handle anything thrown at it but don’t expect a lower shelf device you got for cheap money to have a good run while handling tedious tasks. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t identify when your device can handle normal tasks as efficiently as it should.

Running out of space

All those photos you've taken and all of those apps you’ve installed can take their toll. Your phone needs a little breathing room to run smoothly and if you're running low on space, things can slow down. The android OS like many others require a little space to unpack files that are needed to run effectively. Yes, the RAM handles that but not in all aspects. Suppose you were to upload a 300mb video you recorded to your Dropbox account and you have 260mb free space on the device. The drop box app first copies the video to another location while it uploads it, when this app sees that it can’t effectively store the file, it starts reading simultaneously while uploading thus putting more work on the device RAM and slowing it down. Also understand that the speed at which device s read from their inbuilt memories differs from the rate with which they read from memory cards. So, if you have a defective memory card, don’t be surprised if the transfer speed is slow as well.

 

You can check how much space you have left by heading to the Storage section of Settings. One of the first ways to free up space is to tap Applications can see which apps you can uninstall.

Tap the entry for an app you no longer need and then tap Uninstall. You can repeat this process as many times as necessary for any apps you feel you can live without.

There are other ways you can free up space as well. The files you have downloaded are probably still sitting in storage wasting space and can be removed. In storage, tap Downloads, select the files you want to remove and then tap the Bin button.

Many of the apps you have installed use data caches in an attempt to speed up operations. This is effective up to a point, but if you are running short of space, it can actually be counter-productive. To free up this space, hit the Cached data option and then tap OK to confirm.

More files ripe for deletion can be found in the miscellaneous files section. Tick the boxes next to any types of file you'd like to remove -- backups, files that have been received via Bluetooth, playlist files, and so on -- and then tap the bin button. You can keep an eye on how much space you have freed up by looking at the Available space section.

You can also disable the apps that came pre-loaded on your phone but you really don’t use all that much. If you have rooted your Android, you can get rid of these apps easily. If not, you can simply go to the app properties and disable the app to prevent it from running and using up your phone’s resources.

Cut back widgets

All those widgets you have running on your home screen may be useful, but they also take up their fair share of resources.

If you have any widgets running that you don’t really need, consider disabling them. There's no harm in having some active, but you will notice an element of slow down with too many running at the same time. Just be a little selective. Some people with old phones also install Launchers on their phones. Some may just want to experience the effects of a newer OS on their New Device or want the Famed speed. Please understand that these effects that came with your default launcher were there for a reason, they were placed considering the power of your phone or simply because an update wasnt released. dont get me wrong, your device might actually be able to handle the graphic strain but dont push the limits of your S2 trying to make it look and function like an S6

Animations and extras

Depending on the launcher you are using, you may find that there are various animations and special effects in place. These may look great, but they can also slow things down.

Check in your launcher's settings to see if there is a way to disable any of these unnecessary extras, and you could earn yourself a speed boost.

Close apps and free up RAM

Multi-tasking several apps makes it easy to switch between different tools, but there can also be an impact on performance. You can quickly close down any apps you are no longer using by calling up the running apps list Pressing and hold the home key and then swipe away any apps you want to exit.

While you are at this screen, tap the pie chart button to the lower right of the screen and then move to the RAM section. Tap the Clear memory button and any background processes that are running unnecessarily will be closed down.

Restart your device!

A quick and simple fix for a slow device is to simply restart it. This can clear out cache, stop unnecessary tasks from running, and get things running smoothly again.

Just hold down the power button, select the Restart option, and then tap OK to confirm.

Application bugs

Sometimes, the applications we install and use contain bugs and errors that affect their smooth running on devices, as a result of this, the app designers or creators release updates for their applications. These old apps would continually slow down your device while you use them till you get the updated and bug free version. So, visit the play store and get an updated version of the app and enjoy a better, faster device.

Software Updates

Do you own an android device running an old version of android? That old OS could cause a lot of problems when you try to use incompatible apps on it. This OS could also be bugged and there’s probably an update waiting to be downloaded but you’ve just not gotten it. Run an update check and get that updated, more secure and faster OS     

Do you have any other tip to share concerning the speed of devices? Share them in the comment section and also ask your questions.