Delete these apps to keep your phone fast and safe
It’s a fact: your devices work better when running lean. An excess of useless apps and files consumes storage space and slows everything from opening programs to browsing the web.
When was the last time you gave your computer a good going-over? You probably have stuff on that hard drive you completely forgot about or never use. One of the simplest ways to boost a PC or Mac is by clearing out some space and removing the files you don’t need to store locally. Tap or click here to speed up your computer in three steps.
Your phone is a small computer and carries many of the same problems as your PC or Mac when it comes to bloatware, pre-installed apps and more. We’ll give you tips on finding and trimming the fat from your phone and making it run like new. We’ve also included detailed instructions on deleting or disabling apps.
You don’t need all those pre-installed apps
Your phone comes loaded with apps from the factory with various degrees of necessity. While there are apps you can’t or shouldn’t remove, why keep the ones that do nothing for you? These are known as bloatware and are often included as an extra source of income for manufacturers and distributors. You can’t get a phone without them, but you can do something about it.
Apple used to have heavy restrictions on what you could delete, with many of its apps being off-limits. iOS updates loosened these restrictions, allowing you to delete these stubborn apps from the Home screen. Note that some apps are baked into the phone and OS that you can’t delete.
Android OS has historically given users more power when deleting apps, but as with Apple phones, some can’t be deleted. However, you can disable some unremovable apps on your Android phone.
App audit
Scroll through your apps and note which ones you rarely use or don’t use. Do you have two or three apps that perform the same function? How about the one you downloaded to get a free trial membership years ago?
Aside from picking out apps you don’t use, highlight the ones you use daily. When you wake up, what are the first ones you open? In your head or on paper, make a list of apps you would like to keep and those that can be removed.
Your iPhone can help if you’re not sure where to start. To get a detailed view of your app activity and what you use most, go to Settings > Screen Time and select See All Activity.
To see how much data your apps use, go to Settings > Cellular. To see which apps are seriously mooching off your battery, go to Settings > Battery.
5 apps you should delete off your smartphone right now
Too many apps on your phone can clog up space. Some of the apps taking up your memory may be redundant. Others may be violating your privacy.
Take this Android app, for instance, with more than 500,000 downloads hiding money-stealing malware. It’s not just dangerous apps you need to be aware of. Your phone may be loaded with unnecessary apps that offer features your phone already provides.
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