Top 5 Ways to Make Your Android Device Faster 2013

You may have a Samsung Galaxy S III with a lightning-fast, quad-core processor, or a Motorola RAZR i with its 2GHz Intel chip, either of which will likely run so fast that you won’t be able to keep up. On the other hand, you might have one of the many older or mid-range Android devices that were impressive upon release but now have a bit of trouble handling that recent Jelly Bean update.

So how do you make sure your handset is best prepared for running the latest apps without lag or crashes? Here, we take a look at five of the best ways to boost the performance of your Android device.

1. Defragment and clear the cache

Just like your desktop computer, an Android handset can benefit from having its internal memory defragmented and its cache cleared.  This will get rid of unwanted temporary files that could be clogging up your handset’s storage and fix any data leaks from apps that have crashed.

There are several third party apps that will help to do this including 1Tap Cleaner and Total Defrag HD. Depending on the app used there could be several options to select exactly what will be cleaned out and how much data will be removed, but doing a thorough clean-up could bring about a marked improvement in how the handset handles its functions.

2. Check what’s running in the background

How many apps do you actually have open at any one time? Large apps can sap your smartphone’s ability to perform tasks quickly, reducing the level of performance it offers.

Most Android handsets allow you to bring up a list of apps that are running with a simple tap on one of the keys below the display, or via the device’s settings menu. Have a look at what’s running, work out what you’re using right now and shut down a few of the rest.

3. Remove widgets and homescreens

Whilst elaborate user interfaces like HTC’s Sense can bring a handset to life and add extra functionality, they can sometimes be a drain on processing power. If your homescreens are littered with widgets it could be a good idea to look through them all and work out which ones you really need and which you can live without.

Also, if you own a handset that allows you to choose the number of homescreens displayed, think about how many you actually use and see if your apps and widgets can be arranged into a smaller space. Removing a couple of homescreens can be a simple way to increase performance.

4. Check for updates

Updating apps to their most recent versions can bring about a raft of improvements to the way a device works, wiping out any nasty glitches that may have been bugging you for some time.

Alongside bringing new features and functionality, app updates can include performance improvements which reduce the amount of RAM the app uses whilst running or the space that it takes up in a device’s internal memory. Check Google Play for updates to the apps that are already installed on your smartphone.

5. Free up internal memory

Did you know that you can make your phone run faster by having less data stored on it? Having more free space on a handset’s internal memory will decrease the amount of time it takes to write new data to the disk, reducing the time apps take to complete tasks.

You may have a handset full of large apps that you rarely use or older ones that have been surpassed by better creations; clearing these out can give a boost to way your handset handles data and improve its overall performance.