Android open nature may be lauded by
many but it also leaves your device vulnerable to malware, freezes &
slowdowns. ET shows you how you to keep it running like new with little effort.
How to manage your applications
Most if not all android devices have
a built in task manager which shows you all the background apps (running apps)
and lets you selectively remove them from memory. Keeping them running will
pull them up faster when you need them, but beyond a point, too many apps will
slow the device down. The app manager is usually pulled up with a long press on
the home or options button. If you need to install a third-party app to do the
same thing, you can get advanced task manager (by info life) or android app
manager (by smart who). The advantage that either of these apps can offer is a
home screen widget which allows you to close running apps with just one tap.
Guard against malware & bad apps
if you download a lot of apps from unknown sources (places other than Google’s play store), chances are that your phone is already infected with malware. Trend micro reports that there are over 500 sources that host malicious apps. While most malware will send texts to premium numbers without your knowledge, some could also be mining data (and consequently slowing down your device). If you must get apps from unknown sources, you should get an anti-virus app. some of the best free options include avast, avg, lookout, norton, eset & zoner. Note that you shouldn't install more than one of these at one time and having one isn't a guarantee against bad apps -but it helps.
if you download a lot of apps from unknown sources (places other than Google’s play store), chances are that your phone is already infected with malware. Trend micro reports that there are over 500 sources that host malicious apps. While most malware will send texts to premium numbers without your knowledge, some could also be mining data (and consequently slowing down your device). If you must get apps from unknown sources, you should get an anti-virus app. some of the best free options include avast, avg, lookout, norton, eset & zoner. Note that you shouldn't install more than one of these at one time and having one isn't a guarantee against bad apps -but it helps.
Manage RAM for smooth multitasking
One of the biggest reasons why your
device runs out of steam is limited available RAM. This is more true of devices
with 512MB and to a certain extent, 1GB of total RAM. Depending on the number
of applications you have installed (and how many of them are running in the
background), the amount of free RAM your device has May not be enough to
smoothly switch between apps. To solve this problem, get a free app called
Clean Master by KS Mobile. Not only does it have a task killer (to free up
RAM), but it can also delete history (web browser data & history), clean
the cache, properly uninstall apps and remove residual files (remnants of
previously deleted apps) to free up space on the device memory.
Get your settings straight
Take a look at your device's
settings page. Are you signed in to any accounts that you are not using? Remove
them. you can also check for sync intervals (how often these accounts check for
updates). are additional functions like Bluetooth, nfc and wifi on when you
don't need them? some of these might keep hunting for a connection and slow
down other services. if you are using a third-party launcher, set it as the
default. If you use more than one launcher at a time, resources are usually
shared between them, making everything slower. It also helps if you remove any
widgets that you aren't using (because they keep updating in the background)
and remove any extra home screen pages.
Get a fresh start
Sometimes, whatever you do may not
be enough. If your phone or tablet still keeps freezing or drags its feet with
even the simplest of tasks, it may be time for a factory reset. A factory reset
restores your device to original settings - like the way it was when you first
got it. Luckily, every Android device has a factory reset option built in. Initializing
the factory reset is a simple, one-step process - just head to settings and
'privacy' or 'backup & reset'. Keep in mind that doing a factory reset
erases everything on the device: all installed apps, contacts, calendar
entries, photos, texts, videos & any accounts that you're signed in to will
be removed. So before you reset, use an app called in Defend to back up your
contacts & messages, use App Backup & Restore (by Info life) to backup
apps, SMS Backup & Restore for SMS & Drop-box to save your photos &
videos to the cloud.
Android tips
Periodically Clean Out messages and
Gallery - If you've owned your phone for a while, chances are you have
thousands of texts, photos & videos stored. You can take a backup of all
essential data and clean out stuff - starting from the oldest first. Since
these apps won't have to cache as much data, they'll load much faster.
How much Free Phone Memory do you
have- Even if you have 16GB storage, some of that is taken up by the operating
system and essential apps. You should keep at least 2GB of that free. Move all
non-essential data and apps to the external memory card using the file manager
and a free app called App2SD.
Does the Stock Launcher Slow you
Down - Phone makers have a tendency to use heavy interfaces with animations
& features that you may never use. Download Nova Launcher from the app
store to give your device an instant speed boost. It's also way more customizable
than the stock interface that you get.
Live Wallpapers use up Processor
Bandwidth - Using a live (animated) wallpaper on your device uses up a fair bit
of processing power - power that could easily be put to use by making apps load
up faster and making the interface smoother. While this is more true of budget
devices, switch off your live wallpaper and you'll also see better battery
life.
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