Smartphone too slow? There’s a mistake we all make: one click is enough to speed up everything

This small maintenance job is quick, free and can significantly improve the experience of using your device.

When your smartphone starts to visibly slow down and make every action frustrating to complete, many users may think it’s time to change it. In fact, in most cases you don’t need to buy a new device to fix the problem. Smartphone slowness can depend on various factors, many of which can be easily corrected without additional expense. Before investing in a new phone, it’s worth exploring some simple fixes that can bring your device back to optimal performance.

An often overlooked factor that can significantly affect the speed of your smartphone is related to web browsing habits. Many users don’t know that, with a simple click, one of the biggest causes of smartphone malfunctions can be removed.

Bad habits slow down our smartphones

One of the most common mistakes we make is overlooking the importance of browser cache. Cache is a feature designed to improve browsing speed by storing data from websites you frequently visit. However, if not handled properly, it can have the opposite effect, slowing down your device.

Your browser cache stores copies of web pages, images, and other content to make pages load faster the next time you visit them. This feature reduces loading time, as the browser does not have to download all the information from the internet again. However, when the cache becomes too full or contains outdated data, it can significantly slow down browsing.

Over time, cached data can accumulate and cause formatting problems with web pages, significantly slowing them down. Emptying your cache regularly is like spring cleaning your smartphonefreeing up space and allowing the browser to work more efficiently again.

If you use Safari, the default browser on iPhones, you can clear your cache by following a few simple steps. Starting in iOS 11, this will affect all devices connected to your iCloud account. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select Safari from the list of apps.
3. Go to “Clear history and website data”.
4. Confirm by selecting “Clear history and data” in the pop-up window.

If you prefer to use Chrome, Google has made the process of clearing cache very simple. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Chrome app.
2. Tap the three dots at the bottom right to open the options menu.
3. Scroll to “Settings” in the menu bar.
4. Go to “Privacy and Security”.
5. Tap “Clear Browsing Data.” Select the desired time range (for example, “All”).
6. Make sure “Cookies, site data” and “Cached images and files” are checked.
7. Tap “Clear Browsing Data.”

Clearing your browser cache not only speeds up web browsing, but can also fix page loading problems and improve the formatting of websites. Additionally, freeing up cache space can help prevent future slowdowns, keeping your smartphone performing better for longer.