What The Tech with Jamey Tucker: Spring Cleaning
When you hear the words “spring cleaning”, you naturally picture a long weekend of dusting,
window cleaning, decluttering closets, and maybe getting rid of many things taking up room in
the house.
It isn’t just a good time for the traditional ways of cleaning in the spring, but for your tech devices
as well.
Over time, smartphones get cluttered with files, messages, attachments, and apps you no
longer need or even want. If it’s been awhile since you’ve taken inventory of your phone or if
your phone is running slowly, pick it up and do these four simple steps. You don’t even have to
get off the couch.
● Review Large Attachments: Start by opening your phone’s settings and navigating to the
storage section. Take a look at the large attachments, such as videos, photos, and GIFs,
that are taking up valuable space. Delete any files that you no longer need, especially
those sent to you via text messages. Additionally, consider deleting old text messages,
particularly those that are over a year old, to free up even more space.
● Manage App Storage: Next, delve into your app storage to identify which apps are
consuming the most space on your device. On Android devices, this information can
typically be found under “device management” in the settings menu. Pay special
attention to social media and music apps, as they tend to accumulate a significant
amount of data over time. The Amazon Music app is only 250MB but on my phone, it
was holding over 5.5 GB, all songs that had been downloaded or ‘favorited’ by me. If
you find that an app is taking up an excessive amount of space, consider uninstalling
and then reinstalling it to clear out unnecessary files. Just be sure to remember your
login credentials before doing so.
● Delete Unused Apps: Just like clearing out your closet, it’s time to bid farewell to any
apps that you no longer use or need. On iPhones, swipe to the end of the home screen
and tap on “app library” to easily identify and delete unused apps. For Android devices,
head to the “settings” menu and navigate to “App storage” to accomplish the same task.
Free apps, in particular, should be scrutinized, as they may be tracking your activity and
consuming resources even when not in use.
● Restart Your Phone: Once you’ve completed the above steps, give your phone a fresh
start by restarting it. This simple action can help optimize its performance and ensure
that any changes you’ve made take effect properly. Not only will your phone have more
room for new photos and apps, but you’ll also notice a boost in its speed and
responsiveness.
