If you want to speed up an Android phone that has become slow, start with the three things that account for most of it: internal storage is nearly full, too many apps are running in the background, and the software is out of date. Free up space, restart the phone, and install pending updates. That covers most cases in about fifteen minutes, and none of it requires rooting.
A phone that was fine last year and stutters now usually isn’t broken. Android has been quietly working harder: caches grew, twenty more apps got installed, and a system update added background services. The fixes below are in order, cheapest and least risky first. I’ll mark which ones genuinely make the phone faster and which ones only make it feel faster, because those are not the same thing.
Updated for October 2026. Menu paths follow stock Android, Samsung One UI, and Xiaomi, with a comparison further down.
Table of Contents›
- What You Need
- Step-by-Step: How to Speed Up an Android Phone That Has Become Slow
- Step 1: Restart Your Phone and Check for a Software Update
- Step 2: Remove Low-Space Storage Problems
- Step 3: Limit Apps Running in the Background
- Step 4: Adjust Battery and Performance Settings
- Step 5: Update or Remove Problem Apps
- Step 6: Check for Storage or Sync Delays
- Step 7: Reset Settings or Factory Reset as a Last Resort
- Where These Settings Live on Samsung, Pixel, and Xiaomi
- What Each Fix Is Worth
- Common Mistakes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is my Android phone suddenly running slowly?
- What is the fastest way to make an Android phone faster?
- Is it safe to use an Android phone cleaner app?
- How much free storage should an Android phone have?
- Should I disable background apps to improve performance?
- When is a slow Android phone no longer worth fixing?
- Conclusion
What You Need
Nothing exotic. You need the phone charged above 50 percent, your PIN, and about fifteen uninterrupted minutes. A coffee helps more than any tool.
Also useful, but optional: a computer with a USB cable or a cloud account, in case you decide to back up before a reset later. That is the only step in this guide where losing data becomes possible, and it is a step worth taking ten minutes for.
What you do not need is a rooting app, a cleaning utility, or a “phone booster.” I’ve covered why in the mistakes section below, and it saves you from installing the very thing making the phone slow.
Step-by-Step: How to Speed Up an Android Phone That Has Become Slow
Work down the list. Stop when scrolling feels normal again, because later steps carry more risk than earlier ones and there is no reason to factory reset a phone that already feels right.
Step 1: Restart Your Phone and Check for a Software Update
Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds until the menu appears, then tap Restart. This is stronger than swiping down and tapping the swipe-to-reboot option, because it forces the operating system to fully shut down and clear temporary memory instead of going through a partial restart.
Then check for updates. Go to Settings, then System update on Samsung, or About phone, then Software update or System update on stock Android and Pixel. Install any pending security patch, and let the phone restart on its own when it asks.
How to tell it worked: the first app you open after restarting should load noticeably faster, and that is not a placebo. Cleared memory and a completed update are the two cheapest real speedups available.
Step 2: Remove Low-Space Storage Problems
Open Settings, then Storage, and look at the free space figure at the bottom. Aim to keep at least 20 percent of internal storage free. Below roughly 10 percent, Android spends real effort moving and defragmenting data instead of running your apps, and everything feels sticky.
Clear the easy junk first. In the Storage screen, tap Other files or Files by Google, where duplicate images and large video files are usually waiting. Downloads and the trash folder hold surprisingly large amounts. Then clear app caches: tap the three-dot menu next to each large app, choose Clear storage, and pick Clear cache rather than Clear all data, which signs you out and removes your offline content.
Delete apps you have not opened in months. The worst offenders are forgotten utilities, trial versions of games, and duplicate photo or browser apps that quietly sync large libraries. On a phone that has become slow, freeing several gigabytes usually produces the most noticeable improvement, more than any setting you can toggle.
Step 3: Limit Apps Running in the Background
Go to Settings, then Apps, and sort by most used or open the Battery tab to see which apps consumed the most. On stock Android, the path is Settings, Apps, then the three-dot menu and Show system apps, because several of the heaviest background consumers are not apps you installed.
For anything you rarely use, open it and tap Force stop, then restrict background activity. On stock Android that is under Battery, then Unrestricted, and you can move apps to Optimized or Restricted. On Samsung, it is Device care, then Battery, then Background usage limits, where apps can be put to Deep sleep. Deep sleep blocks notifications until you open the app, so save it for the ones you do not need alerts from.
Users on 3GB and 4GB phones report that restricting background data alone is what stopped their freezing. On larger phones this step matters far less, because there is enough memory to go around.
Step 4: Adjust Battery and Performance Settings
Turn on the battery saver. It lives in Settings, then Battery, then Battery saver, and adaptive or Adaptive battery on most Android phones learns which apps you rarely open and restricts them. This helps more with drain than with speed, but a phone that stops overheating stops thermally throttling, and throttling is a real speed loss.
Reduce the refresh rate next. Phones set to 120Hz burn through the battery, which produces heat, which produces lag. On many Samsung models it is under Display, then Motion smoothness, where Adaptive or 60Hz uses less power.
Then the setting readers ask about most. Open Settings, then About phone, then tap Build number seven times to unlock Developer Options. Go back to Settings, then Developer options, then Drawing, and set Window animation scale, Transition animation scale, and Animator duration scale to 0.5x. Nothing is more discussed in Android forums, and you will feel the difference within seconds.
Be honest about what you just did. Animation scales change how fast the phone appears to respond, not how fast it computes anything. It is the single most recommended setting change in the forums and it is worth doing anyway, but it does not fix a phone that is out of storage.
Step 5: Update or Remove Problem Apps
Open the Play Store, tap your profile icon, then Manage apps and updates, then Update all. Single misbehaving app is more often the cause of a laggy phone than a system-wide fault, and updating fixes plenty of them.
If one app is specifically slow, clear its storage from Settings, then Apps, then the app, then Storage. Clearing data, which signs you out and resets the app, is a reasonable next move for games and social apps, but do not do it to your authenticator, banking, or password manager without being ready to restore access.
Check permissions while you are in there. Location and contacts permissions let apps wake constantly in the background. Revoking location from apps that do not need it is a quiet, permanent speedup.
Uninstall what you have finished with rather than leaving it disabled. A disabled app still receives updates and, on some brands, still runs notifications.
Step 6: Check for Storage or Sync Delays
When the gallery, messages, or downloads are slow but everything else feels fine, the phone is probably waiting on storage or a sync queue. Opening Storage and checking the media section for a large library is the quickest test.
Cloud backup can also be the cause. If Google Photos is uploading a newly restored library, the phone will be busy for hours. Open Google Photos, tap your profile icon, then Backups, and pause it until the upload finishes.
On phones with a microSD card, try the phone without it for a day. A failing or cheap card produces exactly this pattern: slow galleries, slow app installs, and stutters that come and go. Most entry-level cards are considerably slower than internal storage.
Step 7: Reset Settings or Factory Reset as a Last Resort
Before erasing anything, try resetting settings. On stock Android it is Settings, then System, then Reset options, then Reset Wi-Fi, mobile and Bluetooth, followed separately by Reset app preferences. On Samsung One UI, it is General management, then Reset, then Reset network settings and Reset app settings. Nothing is deleted, but Wi-Fi passwords, paired devices, and some app preferences return to factory defaults, so you will reconnect to your networks afterward.
A factory reset is the nuclear option. Settings, System, Reset options, Erase all data and reset on stock Android; General management, Reset, Factory data reset on One UI. Every photo, message, and account on the device goes with it.
Back up before you do this, properly. Google backup covers contacts, messages, call history, and app data if it is switched on under Settings, then Accounts, then Google, then Manage backup. Photos and videos need Google Photos or a computer copy. Check your authenticator app, because moving to a new phone or wiping this one can lock you out of everything tied to it. Wipe your Google account sign-in during the reset when handing a phone on, so the next owner cannot reach your data.
Resets are worth it when a phone has been slow for months, storage and app counts are already under control, and a restart followed by a storage check changes nothing. On an ageing phone with a failing battery, a reset buys a few months at best.
Where These Settings Live on Samsung, Pixel, and Xiaomi
Generic instructions send Samsung and Xiaomi owners hunting through menus that do not match their phone, which is the number one complaint in Android support threads. The functions are the same on all three; the labels are not.
| Task | Samsung (One UI) | Stock Android and Pixel | Xiaomi and Redmi (HyperOS, MIUI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | Settings, then Storage | Settings, then Storage | Settings, then Additional settings, then Storage |
| Force stop an app | Settings, then Apps, tap app, Force stop | Settings, then Apps, tap app, Force stop | Settings, then Apps, tap app, then Force stop |
| Restrict background use | Battery and device care, then Battery, Background usage limits | Battery, then Unrestricted | Settings, then Apps, App battery saver, then Restrict background activity |
| Developer Options | Settings, then About phone, Software information, tap Build number seven times | Settings, then About phone, tap Build number seven times | Settings, then About phone, tap Build number seven times |
| Factory reset | General management, then Reset, Factory data reset | System, then Reset options, Erase all data and reset | Settings, then General settings, then Reset, Erase all data |
| Software update | Settings, then Software update | Settings, then System update | Settings, then About phone, System update |
Manufacturer skins change names every year or two, so if a path is missing, search Settings for the setting name rather than the folder it used to live in. The search box in Settings finds it immediately.
What Each Fix Is Worth
Not every fix deserves the same effort, and some carry a real risk of losing data. This is the honest ranking.
| Fix | Time | Real or perceived speed | Risk of data loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restart | 30 seconds | Real, temporary | None |
| Set animation scales to 0.5x | 2 minutes | Perceived only | None |
| Install pending updates | 10 minutes | Real, often permanent | None |
| Free up internal storage | 20 minutes | Real, on full phones | Low, if you check deletions |
| Restrict background activity | 10 minutes | Real on 3GB and 4GB phones | Missed notifications |
| Remove unused apps | 15 minutes | Real | App data goes with the uninstall |
| Reset network and app settings | 10 minutes | Uncertain | Wi-Fi passwords and preferences |
| Factory reset | 1 hour with backup | Real, on a genuinely software-fouled phone | Everything, if backup fails |
Common Mistakes
Installing a cleaner or booster app. These are the most common cause of the slowdown they promise to remove. They add a background service that scans storage, and many also bundle ads and notification ads that wake the phone regularly. Uninstall the one you installed trying to fix this.
Clearing every app’s cache on a schedule. Cache exists so apps open faster. Clearing all of it makes the first launch of every app slower and usually changes nothing measurable. Clear cache for one app only when that app is misbehaving, and leave the rest alone.
Deleting system files to free space. Anything in a folder named System, System UI, or Android, and any app that came preloaded, can break features you rely on. Uninstalling the carrier app from the Settings, then Apps, then app menu is safe on most Android phones, and moving an app to Disabled, which stops updates and data use, is the cautious option.
Disabling services you do not understand. Turning off background data wholesale, or killing Google Play Services, breaks push notifications, app updates, and sign-in. Restrict individual apps instead of switching off the system.
Skipping the backup before a reset. This is the one that costs people their photo library and their authenticator codes. Back up first, confirm the backup completed, then wipe.
Treating a full storage bar as the only cause. A nearly full phone explains a lot, but not a phone that is fast until you open one app. Check Battery usage and the app list, because a single runaway app or a background sync does the same damage and gets missed.
Believing dialer codes. The code *#9900# appears in videos that show a menu of secret diagnostics. On modern Android it usually does nothing at all, and codes circulated online for “phoning home” or revealing hidden RAM are either fake or harmful. Ignore them.
Following old advice about Lite apps. Several competitors still recommend Google Lite apps as a way to lighten a phone. Google discontinued its own Lite app line, and installing a stripped-down unofficial version to replace a real app creates security risk. Skip that route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Android phone suddenly running slowly?
The usual causes are full internal storage, too many apps running in the background, and out-of-date software. A large pending update, cloud backup, or photo sync can also tie up the phone for hours. Check Settings, then Storage and Settings, then Apps, then the battery usage list before changing anything. If the slowdown started the day an update installed, give the phone two or three days of normal use before deciding it is permanent.
What is the fastest way to make an Android phone faster?
Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds and choose Restart. That clears held memory and takes under a minute, and it is the only fix that helps instantly on every phone. The next biggest gains come from freeing internal storage and restricting background apps, both of which take about fifteen minutes. Animation scale changes make the phone feel faster without making it compute faster.
Is it safe to use an Android phone cleaner app?
Generally, no. Cleaner and booster apps add a background service that scans storage constantly, which is extra work on a phone you already describe as slow, and many display ads and notifications. They rarely free space your manual cleanup misses. Uninstall the one you installed for this problem and clear the Downloads and trash folders yourself, which is faster and safer.
How much free storage should an Android phone have?
Keep at least 20 percent of your internal storage free, and treat anything under 10 percent as a problem worth fixing today. On a 128GB phone that means roughly 25GB spare. Below that threshold Android spends effort relocating and cleaning data instead of running apps, and installing new apps, camera captures and system updates all start to fail or crawl.
Should I disable background apps to improve performance?
Yes on a phone with 3GB or 4GB of RAM, less so on 6GB or more. Restricting background activity through Settings, then Apps, then Battery, then Unrestricted frees memory that apps were holding open, and that is where freezing usually comes from. On newer phones the effect is small. Put apps you do not need alerts from into Deep sleep or Restricted rather than force stopping them daily.
When is a slow Android phone no longer worth fixing?
When it no longer receives security updates, or when a reset and a full cleanup change nothing. Manufacturers support devices for a set number of years, and once that window closes you stop getting fixes for new security problems. Check your model in the manufacturer’s support list. At that point, and with a battery that no longer holds a full day, a new phone is usually cheaper than a battery and screen repair.
Conclusion
If you only do three things, restart the phone, clear internal storage down to at least 20 percent free, and install the pending system update. That order costs about fifteen minutes and resolves the majority of the cases where a phone has become slow.
After that, restrict background apps on anything with 4GB of RAM or less, uninstall what you have not opened in months, and set the three animation scales to 0.5x so the phone stops feeling sluggish. Back up before any reset, and check whether your model still receives security updates before deciding to put effort into a phone that is no longer supported.
