Is your iPhone running slowly? There are several reasons why it might be sluggish, such as limited memory, excessive background processes, outdated software, and more. Let’s troubleshoot together and explore effective tips to boost your iPhone’s speed and restore its optimal performance.
#1 Update iPhone
Entities provide updates for devices, apps, or features solely to enhance them. Updates eliminate potential security risks, fix bugs, and optimize efficiency. iOS updates for your iPhone follow the same principle.
To update your iPhone, simply navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. If a new iOS version is available, you will see options to Download and Install or Install Now.
#2 Close unnecessary apps
If you run multiple resource-intensive apps like photo/video editors or games on your iPhone, it might experience lag or slow down. This becomes more noticeable on older devices with limited memory. To speed up your iPhone, try force-closing apps that are not in use actively.
#3 Easy, fast, and smart cleaning via app
Did you know that you can clean up similar photos and videos automatically? In conditions where it is impossible to increase iPhone storage, such cleaning can give many gigabytes of free space without deleting important data. You can also find and remove duplicate contacts. To use smart cleaning, you need to download a clean up app and run a scan. If you want to clean up more memory on your device, simply uninstall applications through the utility interface (it additionally removes temporary files). Another built-in tool for boosting your phone is the compress video feature.
#4 Clear cache
You may have come across the term “cache” without fully grasping its meaning. Let’s simplify it for you. When you use apps like Safari, your iPhone stores small bits of data based on your frequently performed actions. These data snippets enable your device and apps to execute these actions faster, improving efficiency and reducing processing time.
While this concept is beneficial in theory and practice, accumulated data packs over time can lead to an unwanted cache buildup. Hence, regularly clearing your cache is a wise decision. However, it’s important to note that there isn’t a one-step process to clear all cache at once. Instead, you’ll need to clear the cache individually for each app.
#5 Enable Reduce Motion
Apple incorporates a range of animations and effects on iPhones to enhance visual appeal. However, these can potentially affect your device’s performance. While this tip is more specific compared to other general troubleshooting solutions, many users have found it to be effective. To enable Reduce Motion, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and tap on Accessibility.
- Under the Visual section, select Motion.
- Turn on the toggle for Reduce Motion.
#6 Reset network settings
If you are experiencing persistent network issues, try resetting your network settings as a final troubleshooting step. Resetting network settings does have one downside, though, as noted by Vitalii Budnyk, Setapp’s Staff Software Engineer: you will need to re-enter your Wi-Fi password and configure carrier network settings if they were configured manually (which is rare these days). Here’s how you can do it:
- Open Settings on your iPhone and navigate to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap on Reset.
- Select Reset Network Settings and enter your iPhone Passcode.
- Confirm the reset by tapping Reset Network Settings.

#7 Reset to factory settings
If you’re still struggling to boost your iPhone’s speed, consider resetting it to its factory default settings. Keep in mind that this action will erase all your data and restore your iPhone to its original state. Therefore, it is crucial to back up your iPhone before proceeding.
To begin the process, go to Settings, then tap on General. Look for the Reset option and select “Erase All Content and Settings.” You will need to confirm the action by entering your Apple ID and password.
Once the reset is complete, your iPhone will be wiped clean, and you’ll be taken back to the initial setup screen. From there, you can restore your iPhone from a backup if desired.
#8 Disable Background App Refresh
Your iPhone has a feature called Background App Refresh that updates app content even if you’re not using it. If you wish to stay informed all the time, you may not want to disable this feature. However, disabling it can improve performance by saving system resources and power. To disable Background App Refresh, follow these steps:
- Open Settings and go to General.
- Tap on Background App Refresh.
- Turn off the toggle for the apps you want to disable. You can also select Background App Refresh at the top and choose to enable it only on Wi-Fi or Mobile Data.
Conclusion
There are various reasons why your iPhone might experience slowdowns, but typically, you can enhance its speed by following the aforementioned tips. If none of the aforementioned suggestions work, feel free to reach out to Apple Support for additional assistance. Leave a comment below if you’re looking for additional iPhone advice.