Just like your car, your Android device also needs proper maintenance so that you can identify and fix problems to prevent future problems.
First, you should thoroughly clean the outside of your phone , since you probably hold it near your face on a daily basis. Dust, dirt and grime can quickly build up on charging ports and speakers, which is not only bad for your hygiene but can also shorten the lifespan of your phone.
However, the most important maintenance takes place under the hood and involves changing phone settings that you may have never touched before.
An investment of just a few minutes can transform your Android phone into something new, at least until you can update it. Read on for five easy tips to clean, reorganize, and personalize your Android phone to keep it in top condition.
And if you're looking to get a new device, check out the best Android phones for this year .
15 Years of Android: Comparing the Latest Android Phone to the First
View all photos Delete all your forgotten apps
Take a few minutes to check your home screen or app drawer and delete any apps you no longer use. In addition to taking up valuable storage space, these apps may also have access to personal information or permissions that you approved when you first launched the app.
How to remove an app can vary depending on your device manufacturer, but I've covered all the basics in this article . Read it if you don't see an uninstall option after long pressing the app icon.
You can also uninstall apps via the Play Store.
Delete old files to free up disk space
After removing all old apps, free up more storage space by browsing saved files on your Android phone. It's all too easy to forget all those random files you download, like the take-out menu from the new restaurant around the corner or a GIF sent by a friend. And those files add up. The quickest and easiest way to manage your phone storage is to use the pre-installed Files app.
In fact, some phones use a variant of the same application. For example, on Samsung it is called "My Files". In the pixel area there are only files. On the OnePlus 10 Pro, it's the file manager - you get the idea.
I recommend opening your phone's app drawer and searching for "Files." This will most likely reveal what your phone manufacturer calls the app.
First, check your Downloads folder. There you can delete files you no longer need or move them to a location like Google Drive .
Most file apps also display large files stored on your device. For example, the File Manager app on the OnePlus 10 Pro has a section for files that take up a lot of space.
Left: Files app on a Pixel 3. Right: My Files on a Galaxy S10 Plus.
Adjust your home screen settings to give it a new look
One of the best aspects of Android is the ability to customize the entire look of your phone. From installing app icon packs to completely replacing the launcher your phone uses, there are plenty of options to personalize your phone.
While you can start setting up launchers and installing app icons, first explore the home screen settings your phone already offers. I do this from time to time and it's amazing how subtle changes to things like app design can make it feel like a completely new phone.
Press and hold on an empty area of your Home screen, then select "Home Settings" (or a variation thereof). This will open the Home Screen Options where you can adjust various settings.
Settings such as the app's grid size. Going from a 4x5 to a 5x5 app grid may seem like a small change, but that extra column can make a big difference (the same goes for making the grid smaller).
Here you'll also find settings for things like swiping down on the home screen to view notifications instead of having to swipe up from the top of the screen.
Check your phone's specific settings and experiment with your home screen setup.
Your options for designing your home screen are endless.
Optimize your device settings
Speaking of settings, this is a good time to review and change any settings that have been bothering you. I've got a rundown of the settings you should tweak and adjust on any Android phone to get the most out of it.
For example, activating dark mode not only improves the appearance of the app but also saves battery life. And yes, I'll even show you how to stop app icons from automatically appearing on your home screen.
Device settings are easily overlooked, but are important to making your device perfect.
Customize your privacy options
Before you take a break, do yourself and your Android phone one last favor: check your privacy settings.
Open the Settings app, then tap Privacy > Permissions Manager . Browse each category to see which apps currently have access to your personal data. Are you looking for an app that you don't want to have access to your location? Turn it off. The same applies to contacts, calendar or camera.
It doesn't take long to go through each section, and even if it does, it's worth it.
Use permission manager to control which apps have access to your data.
