10 Android maintenance tips to keep your device running smoothly

People often seem to forget that smartphones are essentially small computers, and therefore require maintenance in the same way that your laptop or desktop computer does to ensure longevity.

If neglected, your Android phone can start developing problems long before it’s time to upgrade it. In this guide, we go through 10 easy ways you can maintain your phone.

How to maintain your Android phone’s hardware

First, let’s see how to maintain your phone’s hardware. All hardware inevitably degrades over time, but how you use your phone can greatly affect how long it lasts.

1. Follow the battery health guidelines

You could be forgiven for not knowing how batteries work, but you should learn how to maintain the batteries in your phone and other electronic devices to extend their life.

Here are five the most important health guidelines for batteries you should follow:

1. Avoid using the phone in extreme weather conditions or anything that causes it to overheat. Ideally, your phone should be between 32° to 95°F (0° to 35°C) at all times.
2. Don’t use your phone while it’s charging as it generates even more heat in the process than your fast charger is already causing.
3. Avoid wireless charging as it produces unnecessary heat; using a regular wall charger is the best way to charge your phone.
4. Do not fully charge or discharge the battery; keep it between 20 and 80 percent at all times. Batteries degrade faster the more imbalance they have.
5. Avoid charging overnight as a long charge cycle is more harmful to battery health than short charge cycles during the day.

2. Avoid exposure to water and dust

Do your best to avoid exposure to water and dust whenever possible. Sometimes the damage caused by these elements is not immediately obvious, but becomes noticeable only when it is too late and you are not sure what’s wrong with your phone.

Of course, some phones come with IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, but still not invincible. For example, prolonged exposure to water can sometimes cause rust on the charging port, and dust can enter the speaker or microphone and affect call quality.

3. Use a case and screen protector

Most people use a case and screen protector to protect their phone from accidental drops; it’s a practice you probably follow too. Fortunately, these accessories are fairly inexpensive, so if they get damaged over time, you can easily replace them. That way, you’ll not only protect the hardware, but it will make your phone feel like new again.

4. Clean all openings and purchase dust plugs

Over time, dust will accumulate on the openings of your phone. Dust in the USB port can interrupt charging and data transfer, spoil the sound in the headphone jack, and degrade the quality of calls in the microphone and speaker.

To remove dust and lint, take a toothpick or SIM eject tool and gently pull it out of the slot. You can also buy dust caps from Amazon to completely seal off the vents.

5. Clean the screen, cameras and sides

Similar to the last point, your phone’s screen, camera unit and bezel will also get dirty over time due to fingerprint smudges and dust. Some phones come with an oleophobic coating on the screen to prevent fingerprints, but that coating won’t last forever.

Therefore, it is a good idea to clean your phone at least once a day. For more information, you can always come back to us a complete guide to cleaning your phone case.

If your phone needs repair for any reason, avoid trying to fix it yourself (unless you’re an expert) as you may end up causing more problems than you already have. Instead, take it to an authorized service center for best results.

How to maintain your Android phone software

Just maintaining your phone’s hardware isn’t enough. If you want it to run smoothly for a long time, you need to take care of the software as well. Here’s how to do it:

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1. Do not inflate the storage space of the device

If you often find yourself having to free up storage space on your phone, it’s an obvious sign that your phone is struggling to function properly. If there is no space for new files and apps (even temporary ones), your phone will start to lag and slow down.

The fastest way to get a lot of storage back is to delete all unnecessary apps from your phone.

2. Keep your applications and operating system up to date

Software updates are important for your phone because they help improve performance, increase energy efficiency, remove bugs, and add new features. You can easily find an option in settings to see if a new OS update is available for your phone.

The same goes for apps on your phone; updating them minimizes bugs and errors. To update apps on your Android phone, open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile picture, select Manage apps and deviceand tap Update everything.

3. Avoid graphics-intensive games that your phone can’t handle

Unless you have a dedicated Android phone for gaming, you shouldn’t try to push your device to its limits. Even if you have a flagship model, the device will still struggle to maintain its peak performance if you play graphics-intensive games for long periods of time.

If you are on a budget or a mid-range phone, you should avoid playing these games completely as there is a high probability that your phone will overheat and the processor will not be able to handle the heavy load. As a result, your phone will lag, freeze, and even reboot without prompting.

4. Do not download applications and files from unverified sources

This should be obvious, but many people fall prey to malicious apps and malware that they have inadvertently downloaded from the web. When it comes to security and privacy, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The Google Play Store is mostly safe, but you’d be wrong to assume there aren’t any dangerous apps – all app stores do. Don’t browse websites that look obviously fraudulent, and avoid clicking on links that seem too clickbait. Stick with what’s proven to be reliable.

5. Restart your phone at least once a week

Smartphones require breaks like any other electronic device, yet many of us never do. Restarting your phone at least once a week allows it to clear temporary cache files, remove minor errors, increase performance and preserve battery health, allowing it to run smoothly for longer.

Maintain your Android phone for longevity

How well you take care of your phone is one of the many things that affect its lifespan. If you don’t maintain your phone at all, it will naturally show signs of degradation much sooner, thus you will have to buy a new phone sooner than necessary.

If properly maintained, you can save money on repair costs and expect better performance in the long run.