This article from foxnews.com (Kurt Knutsson, May 30, 2025) shares several practical tips on how to clean your phone; digitally and physically. Keep reading to find out how you can optimize your phone usage!
The following tips will help both iPhone and Android users free up space, improve speed, and keep personal data secure on their mobile devices.
Clear out apps and files you forgot existed
iPhone users:
-
- Offload unused apps by going to your app store and turn on “offload unused apps.” Offloading an app preserves the app’s data and documents, allowing you to reinstall the app later and pick up where you left off.
- Review the app storage usage by going to messages > open a conversation > tap contact name > info > see all under photos > tap select > tap photos you want to delete > tap delete on the bottom right > confirm by tapping delete attachment.
- Enable iCloud photos by going to settings > [your name] > iCloud > photos > turn on sync this iPhone and optimize iPhone storage to save space on your device by storing full-resolution photos in iCloud and smaller versions locally.
Android users:
-
- Delete unused apps by going to settings> apps > [app name] > downloads > select files > tab delete.
- Clean out downloads by opening the files. Go to your app > downloads > select files > tap delete.
- Use files by Google by opening the files by Google app > tap clean > use options like delete downloaded files or delete duplicate files to free up space.
Disable background app activity to save power and speed things up
iPhone users:
-
- Limit background activity by going to settings > general > background app refresh > choose off or Wi-Fi only > OR toggle off individual apps that don’t need to refresh in the background.
Android users:
-
- Limit background activity by going to settings > apps > select the app > tap battery > choose restricted or optimize to limit background usage
- OR go to settings > battery > battery usage > tap on apps using high power > adjust settings to restrict background activity.
Organize and remove unnecessary files
iPhone
-
- Find duplicate photos by going to photos > find utilities > duplicates (if applicable) > tap merge to combine duplicates > confirm your decision by clicking Merge # Exact Copies.
- Sort screenshots by going to photos > scroll to media types > screenshots > tap select in the upper right > tap the photo/photos you want to delete and a blue check mark will appear in the bottom right of the image > tap the trashcan in the bottom right of the screen > confirm your decision by clicking delete or delete # photos.
- Delete old downloads by opening the files app > browse > downloads > tap the circle with the three horizontal dots in the upper right > tap select > click the files you’d like to delete and a blue circle with a check mark will appear > tap the trashcan icon in the bottom right of the screen.
Android
-
- Find duplicate photos by opening Files by Google > Tap clean > under duplicate files, select files to delete.
- Sort screenshots by opening photos > albums or collections > screenshots > tap and hold to select > delete or click the trashcan icon > click move to trash.
- Delete old downloads by opening the files app > downloads > select files by tapping and holding > tap delete or the trashcan icon.
Email cleanup
-
- To bulk delete emails in Gmail, go to the search and type older_than:6m > select all > delete.
- Set email rules in Outlook by going to file > manage rules & alerts > new rule > choose criteria like sender, age, or subject > set action to archive or delete.
- Find old emails in Yahoo by using the search bar and typing before:2025/01/01 > select messages by clicking the square box next to the message > delete or click the trashcan icon.
Physical cleaning tips
-
- Clean the exterior of your device
- Clean ports and speakers
- Clean your case
Privacy and security sweep
iPhone
-
- To hide private photos, go to photos > select image > click the three horizontal dots in the circle in the upper right of the screen > hide > confirm by clicking hide photo.
- Control lock screen access by going to settings > face ID & passcode > adjust allow access when locked settings.
- Use iCloud keychain to manage and autofill secure passwords by going to settings > [your name] > iCloud > passwords. Tap syn this iPhone to enable iCloud keychain.
Android
-
- Review app permissions by going to settings > privacy > permission manager > choose a permission type > review and adjust access.
- Enable find hub by going to settings > Google > all services > personal & device safety > find hub > turn on allow device to be located.
- Set a secure screen lock by going to settings > security > screen lock > choose a PIN, password, or pattern.
Backup your data
iPhone
-
- Back up to iCloud by going to settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud backup > turn on.
Android
-
- Back up to Google by going to settings > Google > backup > turn on backup by Google One > confirm your backups in the Google One app under storage > device backup.
Use smart tools to automate cleanup
-
- Junk file and cache cleanup
- App uninstaller for unused programs
- Duplicate file finder
- Browser cleanup tools
- Startup manager to improve device boot time
- Real-time protection against malware, phishing, and unsafe links
Posted in: Campus Today, The Daily Buzz