Few things are as frustrating as waiting for apps and files to download. You may remember when you first got your phone, it seemed to take no time flat for it to call up websites or download important files. And now? You find yourself giving your phone a command, emptying the dishwasher, and returning to find it barely finished.
What changed, you may be wondering?
There could be a few culprits at hand that are causing your phone to slow down. To truly analyze your issue, it’s important to take a good, hard look at the resource-intensive apps and settings that you rely on most often. But, generally speaking, there are a few settings that tech experts like Damein Jaywalter, co-founder at DirectUnlocks, say can make your phone run much slower. Change them ASAP to get your phone up to speed.
Background App Refresh
Background app refresh allows apps to refresh their content when on Wi-Fi or cellular in the background, which can be a real drain on your device’s processing power and battery life, Jaywalter admits.
“Think of it like having too many tabs open on your computer — it can really slow things down,” he says.
Thankfully the solution is simple: “A quick fix is to go into your settings, tap on ‘General’, then ‘Background App Refresh’, and turn it off.”
Push Email
Another culprit is the 'Push Email' setting. “This feature automatically pulls in new email as soon as it arrives on the server,” Jaywalter says. “It's like your phone constantly checking for new mail — it can be a big drain on your device's resources.”
To combat this, Jaywalter says to go to 'Settings', then 'Passwords & Accounts.’ “Here, you can adjust your 'Fetch New Data' settings, and choose to have your emails fetched manually, or at longer intervals,” he adds.
Location Services
When location services are turned on, this feature allows apps to access your location, which can consume significant battery life and processing power, according to Jaywalter. “Imagine your phone being a detective constantly trying to figure out where you are — it’s exhausting,” he says. “You can optimize this by going to 'Settings', then 'Privacy', then 'Location Services', and adjust your preferences accordingly.”
Automatic Downloads
And one more setting for you to adjust for good measure: Automatic Downloads, which Jaywalter says can also have a slowing effect on your iPhone. “This feature automatically downloads app updates when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi,” he says. “It's like your phone trying to juggle several tasks at once, which can slow it down. To fix this, head to 'Settings', then 'App Store', and toggle off 'Automatic Downloads.”
Don’t suffer a slow phone. Make these quick adjustments to four settings that are slowing things down and instantly speed up your device.
