Why iPhone slows down and how you can speed it up

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Find the cause, fix it and enjoy the fast operation of the device.

It's easy to realize that your iPhone is slowing down. Animations of turning desktops slow down, applications and games open for a long time, and in general the smartphone slows down. The reasons for this are also simple.

Why iPhone is slow and how to fix it

1. You just installed a new version of iOS

Don't rush to scold your iPhone for being slow right after the update. The system needs some time to index all files, delete the cache, and optimize its work and applications. The smartphone will slow down a little, heat up and discharge faster than usual - this is normal.

Actually, there is nothing to fix here. You just have to wait. It is ideal to update in the evening and leave the iPhone on charge overnight so that iOS can calmly complete all its affairs.

2. The disk is almost full

Filling the built-in storage to its limit can also cause your iPhone to slow down. No matter how powerful a smartphone is, the system will inevitably slow down if there are several free megabytes on the disk.

Fixing this problem is as easy as shelling pears. It is enough to enable the function of unloading unused applications, delete unnecessary ones, transfer photos and videos to your computer or save in the cloud. Starting with iOS 11, it is convenient to clear free space right on your smartphone from the "iPhone Storage" menu, which is located in the "General" section of the settings.

3. You upgraded, not installed iOS from scratch

Another reason for the brakes can be accumulated garbage and bugs from previous versions of iOS. This usually happens if you update your device for several years in a row, instead of performing a clean install.

To prevent this from happening, it's best to alternate between an update and a clean install, and sometimes flash the iPhone through iTunes or Finder without restoring from a backup. The very same backup, just in case, is better to save - at least in iCloud.

4. On the old device, visual effects are enabled

Modern iOS has a lot more visuals and animations than earlier versions. On newer devices, they do not affect performance in any way, but on older devices, they can cause the same slowdown.

The problem is solved by disabling effects, transparency and animations. To do this, open “Settings” → “General” → “Universal access” and in the “Motion” item activate the “Reduce motion” toggle switch.

In the same place, in the “Accessibility” menu, you need to find the item “Display and text size” and turn on the “Reduce transparency” and “Increase contrast” toggle switches.

5. Content update included

The usability-enhancing background content refresh feature can also cause slowdowns by loading the processor with tasks even when the iPhone screen is locked. By disabling it, you can slightly improve performance.

To do this, open Settings → General → Content Update and turn off the toggle switches of all applications that are not very important. It's simple.

6. You are using the minimum required device for the current iOS

Apple has been supporting its devices for a very long time, releasing software updates even for those gadgets that are already several years old. To keep older iPhones from slowing down, developers are optimizing iOS, but sometimes this is not enough.

Therefore, if your iPhone is the minimum required to update to a new version of iOS, the best solution would be to stay on the current one. For example, for iOS 14, such a device is the iPhone 6s.

7. The battery is worn out and has lost capacity

Like any other battery, a smartphone's battery wears out over time and its capacity decreases. This leads to the fact that it is not able to provide sufficient performance for the iPhone: applications launch slower, freezes appear when scrolling. In such cases, the system lowers the processor frequency to reduce the load and prevent sudden shutdown.

Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Status. Note the battery capacity as a percentage and the peak performance mark. If the battery capacity drops below 80% and the system warns that the performance management function is enabled, consider replacing the battery. This will fix slowdown issues as well as improve battery life.

8. It just seems to you

As paradoxical as it may sound, iPhone performance degradation can often be just a psychological effect. Knowing that there is a new, faster iPhone, we start to think that our old and still good smartphone is slower than before.

This is just self-hypnosis.

How to speed up your iPhone even more

To get started, you can simply restart your smartphone. This does not require any complicated manipulations and will only take a few seconds. Follow the instructions depending on your device model.

If none of the above has worked, it makes sense to reset your iPhone to factory settings. The easiest way is to go in order: first reset the network settings, then all the settings, and then completely erase the data from the device.

Before that, of course, you need to back up your data to iTunes or via iCloud.

If this does not help, the last method remains: a clean installation of iOS through iTunes or Finder and set up the iPhone as a new device without restoring from a backup.