ARTICLE

How To Clean Your Smartphone: Top Tips And Tricks

February 15, 2024 – 3 min read

Is your smartphone camera roll out of control? Your contacts list in complete chaos? Join the club! Don’t even get us started on all those games the kids once downloaded and the apps we don’t use anymore (like the one we were all obsessed with 10 years ago that pretended to be a lighter!).

We’re all guilty of poor mobile management at times. But all this unused baggage takes up valuable storage space, and could be slowing down your phone’s functionality. The good news is that there are easy ways to keep phone clutter at bay, so you never run out of storage. Here are some top tips on how to delete apps, contacts and photos from iPhone and Android.

How To Clear Your Camera Roll

While there are some apps out there that claim to help you find duplicate photos and delete them for you, there are also cautionary tales about these apps accidentally deleting precious memories once and for all.

“If you’re considering using a clean-up app, the most important thing to do before deleting anything as important as photos is to make sure you have a backup of everything somewhere in case something goes wrong,” says award-winning technology journalist Alice Clarke.

“It’s a big job, especially if your camera roll is laden with 14 years’ worth of photos like mine is, but the easiest way to do it is systematically. Sit down with a glass of wine, clear your diary and take a trip down memory lane. While you enjoy photos from the past, delete any unwanted pics to free up space for your next adventure.”

“If you’re considering using a clean-up app, the most important thing to do before deleting anything as important as photos is to make sure you have a backup of everything.” Alice Clarke, Technology Journalist

Shop Mobile Phones With The Best Cameras

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

How To Declutter Your Phone Contacts

Going through and deleting all those duplicate contacts, ex-colleagues or out-of-date numbers in your address book individually can be a laborious task (even if it is the safest way to make sure you don’t accidentally ‘cancel’ someone important!). But there are tricks to delete multiple entries at once if you want to Marie Kondo your contacts.

Have an iPhone? Make sure you’re signed into an iCloud account and then head to the iCloud website on a computer. Once signed in, access the Contacts tab, hold Command on Mac or Ctrl on PC as you click multiple contacts to select them. Then, once you’ve selected the ones you’re sure you want to delete, press Delete.

On Android, it’s a bit easier: Tap and hold one contact you want to delete, which will show it’s been selected, then tap on the other ones you want to zap, then press Delete.

Having a streamlined contacts list undoubtedly makes for a far more satisfying user experience, says Alice Clarke, though a full-scale contacts clear-out doesn’t need to be a top priority. “While it’s important to delete incorrect contacts, or an ex you don’t want to call accidentally, contacts don’t actually take up that much space on your phone.”

Shop Phones With Mega Storage

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB Natural Titanium

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 1TB

How To Boost Phone Functionality

There are lots of little things you can do to speed up your phone and stop unnecessary processes from draining your battery.

If you’re low on storage, delete any photos and apps you no longer need. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven’t opened an app in 12 months, you probably don’t need it. If it turns out you do, simply download it again.

If you live in an area that doesn’t have 5G coverage, you can turn off 5G in connection/mobile settings so your device isn’t constantly searching for a tower that doesn’t exist. Same goes for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if you don’t currently use it.

Check to see which apps you’ve allowed for Background App Refresh. If you’re okay with having Facebook load anew when you open it, rather than keep itself fresh in the background, that could claw back some speed and battery life.

Still sluggish? It could also just be that your phone has lived a good life and is ready for retirement.

How Much Phone Storage Is Best?

It can be really hard to gauge how much storage you need in a new phone when you haven’t yet experienced a device with, say, a better camera or more responsive screen.

Alice Clarke’s tip, however, makes it simple: “Go to Settings on your phone and check how much storage you’re actually using now, and then double that number. That’s your minimum storage requirement. Like clothes for kids, you need to allow some growing room.

“But, if you do run out of space, or the phone you want doesn’t have the storage you need, don’t forget there are plenty of cloud services that can help you out,” says Alice.

The Good Guys know mobile phones and mobile phone plans. Come see us in store or online for expert advice, the biggest range and the best prices.