Clean up your phone: Speed, storage and privacy boost in minutes

1 week ago 4

Your smartphone works hard, but it doesn't ever enactment successful apical signifier connected its own. Over time, retention fills up, apps cod inheritance information and privateness settings autumn behind.

You mightiness announcement slower performance, random glitches oregon conscionable a wide consciousness that things aren't moving arsenic smoothly arsenic they utilized to. The bully quality is that a speedy integer and carnal cleanup tin assistance your instrumentality tally similar new.

These elemental steps volition assistance you escaped up space, amended velocity and support your idiosyncratic information amended protected.

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Woman looking astatine apps connected smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Digital cleanup tips

1. Clear retired apps and files you forgot existed

If your telephone is debased connected retention oregon feeling sluggish, commencement by clearing retired apps and files you nary longer use. This is 1 of the fastest ways to amended velocity and artillery life.

For iPhone users

Offload unused apps: Go to Settings > Apps > App Store > Turn on Offload Unused Apps.
Review app retention usage: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Scroll down and prime an app > Select apps to offload or delete. (Note: Offloading an app volition sphere the app’s information and documents, allowing you to reinstall the app aboriginal and prime up wherever you near off. While deleting an app volition region some the app and each its information from your instrumentality permanently, unless that information is backed up elsewhere.)
Delete ample connection attachments: Go to Messages > Open a conversation > Tap contact name > Info > See All nether Photos > Tap Select > Tap photos you privation to delete > Tap Delete connected the bottommost close > Confirm by tapping Delete Attachment.
Enable iCloud photos: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos > Turn on Sync this iPhone and Optimize iPhone Storage to prevention abstraction connected your instrumentality by storing full-resolution photos successful iCloud and smaller versions locally.

YOUR IPHONE HAS A HIDDEN FOLDER EATING UP STORAGE SPACE

For Android users

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Delete unused apps: Go to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Uninstall.
Clean retired downloads: Open the Files app > Downloads > Select files > Tap Delete.
Use Files by Google: Open the Files by Google app > Tap Clean > Use options like Delete downloaded files or Delete duplicate files to escaped up space.

HOW TO FREE UP SPACE ON ANDROID

Person viewing retention abstraction connected their smartphone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

5 DIGITAL CLEANUP HACKS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

2. Disable inheritance app enactment to prevention powerfulness and velocity things up

Many apps proceed moving successful the inheritance adjacent erstwhile you're not utilizing them, draining artillery and slowing down your phone. Limiting oregon disabling inheritance enactment tin noticeably boost show and assistance your instrumentality past longer betwixt charges.

For iPhone users

Limit inheritance activity:

Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Choose Off oregon Wi-Fi only > Or toggle disconnected idiosyncratic apps that don't request to refresh successful the background.

For Android users

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Restrict inheritance activity:

Go to Settings > Apps > Select the app > Tap Battery > Choose Restricted oregon Optimize to bounds inheritance usage.
Or spell to Settings > Battery > Battery usage > Tap on apps utilizing precocious power > Adjust settings to restrict inheritance activity.

Get a free scan to find retired if your idiosyncratic accusation is already retired connected the web

3. Organize and region unnecessary files

Digital clutter adds up quickly. Screenshots, aged PDFs, duplicate photos and downloads that were lone meant to beryllium temporary. Regular record attraction helps you enactment organized and support your telephone moving smoothly.

For iPhone users

Find duplicate photos: Go to Photos > Scroll to Utilities > Duplicates (if applicable) > Tap Merge to harvester duplicates > Confirm your determination by clicking Merge # Exact Copies.
Sort screenshots: Go to Photos > Scroll to Media Types > Screenshots > Tap Select successful the precocious close > Tap the photo/photos you privation to delete and a bluish cheque people volition look successful the bottommost close of the representation > Then pat the trashcan successful the bottommost close of the surface > Confirm your determination by clicking Delete or Delete # Photos.
Delete aged downloads: Open the Files app > Browse > Downloads > Tap the ellipse with the 3 horizontal dots successful the precocious close > Tap Select > Click the files you'd similar to delete and a bluish ellipse with a cheque people volition look > Tap the trash tin icon in the bottommost close of the screen.

For Android users

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Find duplicate photos: Open Files by Google > Tap Clean > Under Duplicate files, select files to delete.
Sort screenshots: Open Photos > Albums or Collections > Screenshots > Tap and hold to prime > Delete oregon the trashcan icon > Click Move to trash.
Delete aged downloads: Open the Files app > Downloads > Select files by tapping and holding > Tap Delete or the trash tin icon.

For email cleanup

Bulk delete emails successful Gmail: In the hunt bar, type older_than:6m > Select all > Delete.
Set email rules successful Outlook: Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts > New Rule > Choose criteria similar sender, property oregon taxable > Set enactment to archive or delete.
Find aged emails successful Yahoo: Use the hunt barroom to type before:2025/01/01 > Select messages by clicking the quadrate container adjacent to the connection > Delete oregon click the trashcan icon.

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Physical cleaning tips

Phones cod bacteria from astir each aboveground you touch. From gym instrumentality to bath counters, your telephone needs regular cleaning to enactment harmless and functional.

Clean the exterior

Use a dry microfiber cloth to hitch the screen, lawsuit and back.
For tougher smudges, somewhat dampen the cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
Never spray liquid straight connected the surface oregon into ports.
Avoid harsh chemicals similar bleach, ammonia oregon solid cleaner.
Do not usage insubstantial towels oregon abrasive materials that tin scratch the screen.

Clean ports and speakers

Use a soft-bristled brushwood oregon woody toothpick to region lint and debris from charging ports and talker grills.
Avoid utilizing metallic objects oregon compressed aerial straight into the port.

Clean your case

For integrative oregon silicone: Wash with lukewarm soapy water, rinse and aerial dry.
For leather oregon fabric: Use a surface-appropriate cleaning solution and travel the manufacturer’s attraction instructions.

Before cleaning, ever powerfulness disconnected your telephone and unplug immoderate accessories.

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Man cleaning smartphone with microfiber cloth (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR DEVICES PROPERLY

Privacy and information sweep

Digital cleaning besides means reviewing your privateness settings. Make definite your apps are not accessing much than they request and support your delicate information secure.

For iPhone

Hide backstage photos: Go to Photos > Select image > Click the three horizontal dots successful the circle successful the precocious close of the surface > Hide > Confirm by clicking Hide Photo.
Control fastener surface access: Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Adjust Allow Access When Locked settings.
Use iCloud Keychain to negociate and autofill unafraid passwords: Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Passwords. Tap Sync This iPhone to alteration iCloud Keychain.

For Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Review app permissions: Go to Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager > Choose a permission type > Review and set access.
Enable Find Hub: Go to Settings > Google > All services > Personal & instrumentality safety > Find Hub > Turn on Allow instrumentality to beryllium located.
Set a unafraid surface lock: Go to Settings > Security > Screen Lock > Choose a PIN, password or pattern.

8 WAYS TO LOCK UP YOUR IPHONE'S PRIVATE STUFF

Back up your data

Data nonaccomplishment tin hap without warning. Whether it is owed to damage, theft oregon an unexpected bundle issue, having a caller backup tin prevention your photos, contacts and important files.

For iPhone

Back up to iCloud: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Turn on.
Back up utilizing a computer: Connect to Finder (on Mac) oregon iTunes (on PC) and select Back Up Now.

For Android

Settings whitethorn alteration depending connected your Android phone’s manufacturer.

Back up to Google: Go to Settings > Google > Backup > Turn on Backup by Google One > Confirm your backups successful the Google One app under Storage > Device Backup.

TIDY UP YOUR TECH: SPRING CLEANING TIPS FOR SAFEGUARDING YOUR DATA

Use astute tools to automate cleanup

Instead of perpetually managing your telephone manually, fto trusted tools bash the dense lifting. A top-tier antivirus app doesn’t conscionable support against malware; it often includes almighty show boosters designed to support your instrumentality moving smoothly. Look for apps that offer:

Junk record and cache cleanup
App uninstaller for unused programs
Duplicate record finder
Browser cleanup tools
Startup manager to amended instrumentality footwear time
Real-time extortion against malware, phishing and unsafe links

These features assistance support your instrumentality fast, unafraid and clutter-free without changeless manual maintenance. Many top-rated antivirus apps connection a operation of information and show optimization tools to simplify instrumentality absorption and protection. Get my picks for the champion 2025 antivirus extortion winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

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Kurt’s cardinal takeaway

Taking a small clip to cleanable up your telephone tin truly wage off. Whether you're freeing up space, boosting velocity oregon tightening your privacy, these tiny steps assistance your instrumentality enactment amended and support your accusation safer. Plus, a speedy carnal cleanable keeps your telephone looking and feeling fresh.

What are immoderate of your favourite tips oregon habits for keeping your telephone clean, organized and secure? Let america cognize by penning america at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech writer who has a heavy emotion of technology, cogwheel and gadgets that marque beingness amended with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business opening mornings connected "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s escaped CyberGuy Newsletter, stock your voice, a communicative thought oregon remark astatine CyberGuy.com.

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