How to Make Your Old Phone Faster Like New (2026 Complete Guide)

Is your old phone slow, lagging, or freezing again and again? Does it take too much time to open apps or switch between screens? If yes, then you are not alone.

Many people think they need to buy a new phone, but in reality, there is usually no need for a new one.

By reading this article, you will learn how to make your old phone feel like new again using methods that actually work, applicable to both iPhones and Android phones.

If you follow these tips, you can save yourself from wasting money on a new phone.

Why Do Phones Become Slow Over Time?

Before fixing the problem, let’s understand why phones become slow after some time:

Too many apps installed
Storage almost full
Too many background apps are running.
Cache and junk files
Old software and outdated apps
Weak battery or heating problem
Heavy animations and effects

The good news is: you can fix most of these problems yourself.

1. Restart Your Phone (Simple But Very Powerful)

Restarting your phone clears:

RAM memory
Background apps
Small bugs and glitches

What you should do:

Restart your phone at least once every 3–4 days.

This simple habit alone can improve your phone’s speed.

2. Uninstall Apps You Don’t Use

Some people download many apps but never use them.

Unused apps:

Run in the background.
Use RAM and battery
Slow down your phone.
Fill storage

What to do:

Go to Settings > Apps.
Find apps you don’t use
Tap Uninstall

Keep only the apps you really need.

3. Clear Cache and Junk Files to Speed Up Your Phone

Cache files also take up a lot of space on your phone, which makes your phone even slower.

On Android:

Go to Settings > Storage.
Tap Clean or Junk files.
Or open each app and tap Clear Cache.

Do NOT tap “Clear Data”, only Clear Cache.

4. Keep At Least 25% Storage Free

If your phone storage is almost full, your phone will:

Become slow
Hang a lot
Lag while opening apps.

Delete:

Old photos and videos
WhatsApp media
Screen recordings
Big useless files

Tip:

Use Google Photos or Google Drive for backup.

5. Update Your Phone Software

Software updates:

Fix bugs
Improve performance
Improve security
Make the phone more stable.

What to do:

Go to Settings > Software Update and install the latest update if available.

6. Update All Apps from Play Store/App Store

Old apps are often:

Slow
Buggy
Not optimized

What to do:

Open Play Store/App Store
Tap Profile > Manage apps.
Update all apps

7. Turn Off Animations to Make Your Phone Faster

This is one of the best tricks for old Android phones.

Steps:

Go to Settings > About Phone
Tap Build Number 7 times (to enable Developer Options)
Open Developer Options
Find:

Window animation scale
Transition animation scale
Animator duration scale

Set all to 0.5x or Off.

Your phone will feel much faster instantly.

8. Use Lite Versions of Apps

Heavy apps like:

Facebook
Messenger
YouTube

Use a lot of RAM and battery.

Use:

Facebook Lite
Messenger Lite
YouTube Lite or browser version

Your phone will:

Run smoother
Use less RAM
Save battery

9. Remove Live Wallpapers and Extra Widgets

Live wallpapers and too many widgets:

Use RAM
Use battery
Slow down the phone

Use:

Simple static wallpaper
Only important widgets

10. Check Which Apps Are Using Too Much Battery

Some apps run in the background all the time and slow down your phone.

What to do:

Go to Settings > Battery.
See which apps use the most power.
If not important → Uninstall or restrict

11. Disable Unwanted System Apps (Bloatware)

Bloatware = Pre-installed apps you never use.

They:

Run in the background.
Use RAM
Slow down phone

What to do:

Go to Settings > Apps.
Select the unwanted app.
Tap Disable

12. Use a Lightweight Launcher

Some launchers are heavy and slow.

Try:

Nova Launcher
Smart Launcher
Lightweight launchers

A good launcher can:

Improve speed
Improve smoothness
Improve the phone's look.

13. Scan Your Phone for a Virus or Malware

Sometimes phones become slow because of:

Bad apps
Hidden malware
Adware

What to do:

Install a trusted antivirus from the Play Store.
Scan your phone
Remove harmful apps

14. Reduce Background Processes

Steps:

Go to Developer Options
Find the Background process limit.
Set it to at most 2 or 3 processes.

15. Factory Reset (Last Option)

Only do this if your phone is very slow.

Factory reset:

Deletes everything
Makes the phone like new
Removes all junk and bugs

Before reset:

Backup your data

Then:

Go to Settings > Reset > Factory Reset.

How Much Faster Will Your Phone Become?

After using these tips, you will notice:

Faster app opening
Less lag
Better battery life
Smoother scrolling

Your phone can feel 60–80% faster.

Bonus Tips to Keep Your Phone Fast Forever

Restart phone weekly
Don’t install useless apps.
Keep storage clean
Update apps regularly

Final Conclusion

A slow phone does NOT mean you need a new phone.

By using these methods, you can make your old phone even better and save money.

Try these steps before buying a new phone.