Is your iPhone feeling slow, laggy, or just not as snappy as it used to be? Whether you’ve got an older model or even a newer one that’s gotten bogged down, there are a bunch of simple ways to speed things back up. Here’s how to make your iPhone faster and smoother without needing a new device.
Check Your iPhone’s Storage and Free Up Space
Low storage can seriously drag your iPhone down.
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage to see what’s eating up space.
- Offload unused apps, delete old photos, videos, and clear out big Messages conversations.
- Try to keep at least 1GB free for better performance.
Force Quit Unresponsive Apps
A frozen or buggy app can slow down your whole phone.
- Double-click the Home button (or swipe up on newer iPhones) to view open apps.
- Swipe up on any apps you want to force close.
Turn Off Background App Refresh
Apps constantly refreshing in the background can kill speed.
- Go to Settings → General → Background App Refresh.
- Turn it off completely or selectively for apps you don’t need updating all the time.
Reduce Animations
Those fancy iOS animations look good but can slow things down.
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Motion.
- Toggle Reduce Motion to ON.
Disable Location Services for Unnecessary Apps
Background location tracking uses a lot of power and can cause lag.
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Location Services.
- Turn off location access for apps that don’t need it.
Update Your Apps and iOS
Running outdated software can slow your iPhone.
- Open the App Store and tap Updates to refresh your apps.
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update to install the latest iOS.
Turn Off Automatic Downloads
Downloads happening in the background can hog resources.
- Go to Settings → App Store.
- Turn off Automatic Downloads for apps, music, books, and updates.
Restart Your iPhone
A quick restart can fix temporary slowdowns.
- Press and hold the side button + volume button, or just the power button on older models, until you see the power off slider.
- Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
Reset Network Settings
Network problems can cause lag too.
- Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset.
- Tap Reset Network Settings.
Check for Carrier Settings Update
Carrier settings affect how your phone connects to networks.
- Go to Settings → General → About.
- If there’s a carrier update available, you’ll get a prompt.
Replace an Old Battery
If your battery health is bad, your iPhone might throttle performance.
- Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging.
- If Maximum Capacity is under 80%, it’s time for a replacement.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Heat or cold can affect your iPhone’s speed.
- Try to keep your phone between 32°F and 95°F (0°C to 35°C).
Set a Longer Auto-Lock Time
Constantly waking your phone drains resources.
- Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock.
- Set it to a higher time like 5 minutes or more.
Disable Home Screen Widgets
Widgets look cool but they constantly refresh in the background.
- Long press the home screen.
- Tap Edit Widgets and remove the ones you don’t need.
Use Low Power Mode for a Quick Speed Boost
Low Power Mode temporarily boosts performance by limiting background processes.
- Open Control Center and tap the battery icon to enable it.