To ensure your Android phones operate to their full potential, there are several things you should stop doing on your phone.
These things limit the functioning or negatively influence the user experience. By staying away from these blunders and using best practices, you can improve performance and possibly extend the life of your Android device.
This article will discuss 11 things you must stop doing on your Android phone to ensure you use your device to the max.
We will also give you detailed instructions on how to fix these problems when appropriate.
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Things You Should Stop Doing On Your Android Phone
The following are things you must stop doing on your Android phone as it may hinder the proper usage of the phone:
1. Ignoring Software Updates
A software update for your Android OS will occasionally be made available. These are developed to include new features, boost performance, address security holes, and resolve any lingering flaws.
Your Android phone will often notify you when a software update is available, but you must start the process yourself. Sadly, a lot of users disregard this request.
It makes sense that many users choose not to update their Android phones because the process might be time-consuming.
Users might need to agree to new terms and conditions after the phone reboots. If you’re busy or going about your daily tasks, it’s not exactly a joyful process.
That said, it is extremely important, and even though your Android phone is now operational, it may still have underlying problems that need to be resolved.
You may check the current status and Android version within your Settings app if you’re unclear whether your phone requires an update.
Here is how to upgrade the Android operating system:
- Launch the Settings app.
- When you reach the bottom, choose System and then hit System Update.
- Tap the Install button if an update is available.
- Keep performing the actions shown on the screen.
- Alternatively, tap the notification if you get one for an Android update and proceed as usual.
2. Allowing Excessive Background Processes
One of the things you must stop doing with your Android phone is allowing many background apps to run simultaneously.
While Android devices may run numerous apps simultaneously, running too many background processes might diminish battery life and memory availability, compromising system performance.
Therefore, you should know which applications constantly operate in the background and how to stop them.
You can then close the apps that are using up system resources and decreasing battery life while giving priority to the necessary ones.
Even an app you haven’t used in months could be hiding in the background, which would surprise you!
Here’s how to check which apps are using battery life and which ones are operating in the background:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Tap Battery Usage after selecting Battery.
- The quantity of battery life used throughout a specified period should be listed.
- You might want to close some background-running apps now that you know their existence.
- Open the Settings app, choose Apps, and Force Stop the desired app to accomplish this.
- Restarting your phone may cause the app to relaunch.
- Uninstall the app from your device to entirely get rid of it.
3. Overloading the Home Screen With Widgets
The tiny interactive elements that can be found on the home screen of your Android phone are known as widgets.
They are practical for constantly moving users since they offer pertinent information and rapid access to software features.
Unfortunately, having too many widgets can result in a cluttered interface and make it difficult to navigate the home screen. More widgets aren’t necessarily better in this situation.
The smartphone will also generate more home screens as you add widgets. Rapid access is no longer functional because you must now navigate through many windows to reach the information you need, which requires essentially the same amount of work as conventionally opening an app.
Another factor is the effect widgets have on your Android phone’s CPU and battery life. They’ll use up valuable system resources because they use background processing power to give real-time information.
To increase performance, it is therefore advised to delete any unneeded widgets.
How to delete widgets from your home screen is as follows:
- Go to the home screen with the widgets you wish to eliminate.
- When a little pop-up menu appears, tap and hold the appropriate widget.
- In the menu, select Remove by tapping.
- Alternatively, when the pop-up menu displays, you might need to drag the widget into a Remove Bin.
It should be noted that removing a widget from your home screen does not eliminate it from your phone; you can continue to use the app and add a new widget later.
4. Running Out of Storage Space
Google claims that when an Android phone has less than 10% of its storage space left, most users will start experiencing performance concerns.
The performance of your gadget may have decreased generally before this incident, too. UI menus may become slow, and apps may have problems responding or opening.
It could be time to clear some space if you’ve verified your current storage utilization, which applies to you.
Delete unneeded programs, pointless media, and downloaded files that have lost relevance.
Consider online services or external storage choices like MicroSD cards if you want to save some files but free up device capacity.
Google, OneDrive, and Amazon Prime are a few examples of dependable cloud services. Cloud services may be your only choice if your Android phone does not support MicroSD because not all Android phones do.
Use these steps to determine how much storage space your Android now has used:
- Open the Settings app.
- By scrolling down, you can find Device Care or About Device.
- Tap storage Settings.
- The used and free space should now be visible.
5. Installing Apps From Unknown Sources
Users who want to download apps for their Android phone can do so confidently through the Google Play Store and stop going through unknown sources.
The digital distribution service examines each app before it is available for download to ensure it is secure and free of dangerous malware.
Therefore, any other source for downloading apps should be regarded as unknown and potentially dangerous for your Android device.
This possibly fraudulent software from unreliable sources has not always been examined for security flaws.
They might contain malicious software that exposes users to phishing and other cybercrime threats.
The rogue app may track Android behavior, steal confidential data, or compile personal information. Users may also encounter problems with the stability of their phones.
Poorly optimized apps may also crash or cause conflict among themselves. If you’ve ever loaded apps from unknown sources, remove any potentially infected apps from your device.
Following are instructions on how to delete an app from your Android device:
- Select Apps by clicking Settings first.
- Simply tap on the app and select Uninstall to remove it.
- The confirmation may need you to tap OK.
6. Allowing Your App’s Cache to Accumulate
Apps can store temporary data via caching, which speeds up loading. This might be scripts, thumbnails from videos, or frequently used images.
Sadly, as these files build over time, they can start to become corrupt, which could lead to programs acting strangely or crashing.
Fortunately, most programs already have a system for automatically addressing cache buildup. They proactively delete possibly harmful files while internally checking data.
However, not all programs are made equally; some may lack this capability, causing the cache to build up. Therefore, you should be able to resolve this problem manually.
To remove the cache on your Android phone, follow these steps:
- Select Storage in the Settings app.
- Depending on the Android model you are using, tap Apps or Other Apps.
- The program whose cache you want to remove should be chosen.
- Click Clear Cache on the apps’ information page to continue.
Keep in mind that deleting the cache won’t permanently free up space. In any case, the software will restart, saving frequently used files.
Apps that don’t remove temporary data or have grown corrupt over time are the greatest candidates for manually clearing their cache.
Additionally, users shouldn’t lose their saved progress (inside apps) or login status if they clear an app’s cache.
Conversely, clearing an app’s data will remove the cache and important data like settings, login passwords, and stored progress in a mobile game. It would appear as though the app had just been set up.
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7. Ignoring the Battery Optimization Options on Android
The majority of Android phones come with Power Saving Mode, sometimes referred to as Battery Saver, which aids in battery preservation using a variety of power-saving techniques.
Many Android users don’t know about this option or are unsure of when to turn it on. Your Android phone’s battery life can be increased by a few hours, allowing you to access crucial features like texts and calls.
Power Saving Mode does, however, degrade performance. Your phone’s internal processor is typically throttled, which slows down reaction times.
Additionally, restrictions on background apps may cause synchronization or in-app notification delays. Your screen’s brightness is dramatically decreased, making it more difficult to see the display during the day.
Also, Power Saving Mode is simple to toggle on and off and is not permanent. It is not harmful to the battery in your phone and is quite practical in emergencies.
Depending on the design of your Android phone, you might even be able to customize the feature itself to maintain the functionality of particular settings and features.
Here’s how to activate Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode on your Android phone:
- Open the Settings app.
- Select Battery as you scroll down the page.
- Select Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode.
- Depending on the model of your Android phone, further customization options can be available.
Alternatively, you can turn on Battery Saver or Power Saving Mode using your drop-down menu.
8. Neglecting to Restart Your Android Phone
You can forget or purposely choose not to restart your phone as you use it more. Restarting your computer can boost performance, alleviate software-related problems, and prevent your operating system from freezing.
Since certain phones can take a while to reboot, it might not be the most enjoyable task, but the advantages far outweigh any discomfort.
There is no set timeframe, but most tech experts concur that you should restart your Android phone at least once every week.
It may be time for a restart if you’re observing odd program behavior, such as apps crashing or an odd response from your system.
After all, restarting clears temporary memory, ends running programs, and can sometimes resolve minor software issues.
How to restart your Android phone is as follows:
- A power menu will appear once you briefly press and hold the power button.
- Choose Restart.
- If asked, enter your passcode.
Some Android phone makers, like Samsung, have incorporated an Auto Restart or Schedule Restart feature if you don’t want to manually restart your phone.
After that, users can select the day and hour they want their phones to restart maintenance.
9. Avoiding Backup
Personal data and priceless memories are on Android phones. However, unforeseen events can result in data loss; therefore, a backup is essential.
Unfortunately, Android consumers ignore this procedure because it can take time or because they believe the built-in security is adequate.
This does not, however, always protect against unintentional deletion or device malfunctions. Users will likely wish to back up their images, videos, and documents.
These could not be recovered if the internal storage device malfunctioned if they were made on the Android phone itself.
Google Drive is a multipurpose tool that can copy and store data in any format. Users can select specific files to upload or entire folders
Here’s how to back up files on Google Drive:
- Open the Google Drive app. Download it from the Google Play Store if you have not installed Google Drive.
- Select the + button to open the Create New Window.
- Tap Upload and choose the files you want to back up.
Alternatively, if you want to back up your call logs, texts, app data, and preferences, you can store your device data using Google One.
Here’s how to back up your device data on Google One:
- Download Google One on the Play Store and open it.
- Select Storage to create a fresh backup, and tap Set Up Data Backup.
- When the backup is needed, go into Storage again, and select View Details.
10. Not Using Security Measures
Although the Android platform is recognized to be very secure, it is crucial to take additional security precautions for several reasons.
The Google Play Store and other third-party distribution platforms are only two examples of the large ecosystem of apps made possible by the OS’s open-source design.
This encourages invention and app creation but also leaves Android users vulnerable to nefarious attackers.
You might suppose that the most recent Android release includes the finest security updates to prevent hackers and thieves.
Although different Android phone manufacturers use various operating system versions, your handset might not be upgraded to the most recent version.
Even if it is, there’s a potential that hackers will discover a gap if they keep looking for weaknesses.
Add in the ability to install apps from third-party sources or click suspicious links, and you’ve now given hackers a way to test out their exploits.
Thankfully, there are security measures you should take to protect your phone further. This can involve installing an antivirus software app, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), or using a secure internet
connection.
Here’s how to check your phone’s Android version:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll to the bottom and select About Phone.
- Locate the Android Version or Build Number.
- If it isn’t the latest version, check for an update.
11. Letting the Battery Completely Discharge
Stop letting your battery die out in your Android phone. Lithium-ion batteries, which power Android smartphones, have a finite number of charge cycles.
A charge cycle is when the battery is charged from 0% to 100% and then discharged back to 0%.
A battery’s lifespan and performance may be shortened if it is often discharged to zero because doing so uses up the charge cycles more quickly.
Well, battery difficulties are frequently not immediately apparent, and you can already have issues without realizing it.
You run the danger of the battery calibration worsening every time your battery runs out of juice.
This translates into inaccurate battery level indications because the battery percentage does not match the real battery capacity. For instance, the battery could shut off at 10% when it should be at 0%.
There is no certain percentage to strive for when charging your battery, although it is advised to plug it in before getting the Low Power signal.
In addition to pulling it from charge before it reaches 100%, a decent range is typically 20% to 40%.
This is due to the high-voltage charger potentially straining your battery if left connected for an extended period. Alternatively, consider using a car charger if you cannot use a main charger during the day.
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To Sum Up
You may think you are using your Android well, but several things will kill your phone in time, and you must stop doing them.
Although you can’t use a phone forever and will have to replace it after a few years, it’s better not to have a faulty device after six months of use.
Android is a great phone, and with proper usage and maintenance, you will enjoy the device’s many features.
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