Android phone started to slow down: reasons and 10 proven solutions

Has your smartphone on Android suddenly started opening applications slowly, freezing when scrolling through the menu or taking a long time to respond to touches? This is a common problem faced by users of devices of different brands - from budget Xiaomi Redmi to flagship Samsung Galaxy. The reasons for the brakes can lie in both software failures and hardware limitations. In this article, we will analyze all the possible reasons and suggest 10 working methodshow to restore the phone's performance - from simple settings to radical measures.

It is important to understand that slowdowns are not always a sign of a breakdown. Most often this is a consequence of accumulated digital garbage, application conflicts or outdated firmware. But if the phone starts to slow down after a fall, moisture, or battery replacement, the problem may be hardware. In such cases, it is better to contact a service center. For all other situations, read on.

1. Diagnostics: why the phone became dull

Before starting treatment, you need to make a diagnosis. Lag Android usually associated with one or more of these reasons:

• 📱 Lack of RAM — background applications consume everything RAM, leaving few resources for active tasks.
• 🗑️ Full storage - less than 10% of free space on the internal memory leads to lags.
• 🔄 Outdated firmware - old versions Android not optimized for new applications.
• 🦠 Viruses or malware —some apps load the processor in the background.
• 🔋 Worn out battery —when the capacity drops below 70%, the phone may artificially limit performance.

To accurately determine the source of the problem, open Settings → Device Maintenance (on Samsung) or Settings → Memory (on other devices). Here you will see graphs of usage CPU, RAM and storage. If some process constantly loads the system by 80-100%, this is a clear sign of a problem.

2. Freeing up random access memory (RAM)

RAM is temporary storage for active applications. When it is not enough, the phone begins to freeze when switching between tasks. Here's how to free up RAM:

• 🚫 Close background applications: Click on the "Recent" button (usually a square or three lines) and swipe up unnecessary apps. Some devices (for example Xiaomi) have a "Clear all" button.
• ⚙️ Limit background activity: go to Settings → Applications → [Select app] → Battery → Background activity and disable it for unnecessary apps.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone: This closes all processes and cleans up RAM. Do this at least once every 2-3 days.

Some firmware (for example, MIUI from Xiaomi) have a built-in “memory booster”. To activate it:

1. Open Settings → About phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the item Version MIUIto activate developer mode.
3. Go back to Settings → Advanced → For developers.
4. Find the option Process Limit and set the value Maximum 4 processes.

3. Clearing internal memory

When the internal storage is 90% full or more, the system starts to work slower. This is due to the fact that Android uses free space for caching and temporary files. Here's how to free up space:

• 📸 Delete unnecessary photos and videos: use Google Photos to backup and delete local copies.
• 🎵 Transfer music to the cloud: services like YouTube Music or Spotify allow you to listen to tracks without downloading to your device.
• 🗑️ Clear the application cache: go to Settings → Storage → Cache data and click "Clear".
• 📦 Delete unused applications: many apps take up hundreds of megabytes, even if you don't use them.

For deep cleaning, you can use the built-in tools:

Brand	Path to the cleaning tool	What it does
Samsung	Settings → Device maintenance → Memory	Deletes unnecessary files, duplicate photos, clears the cache
Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco	Settings → About phone → Memory → Cleaning	Analyzes junk files and suggests deleting them
Huawei/Honor	Settings → Memory → Cleaning	Optimizes storage and offers to delete large files
Google Pixel	Settings → Storage → Free up space	Deletes unused applications and temporary files

4. Updating the firmware and system kernel

An outdated version Android or kernel can cause slowdowns, especially if you have not updated your phone for a long time. Manufacturers regularly release patches that optimize system performance and close vulnerabilities. To check for updates:

1. Open Settings → System → System update.
2. Click "Check for updates."
3. If a new version is available, download and install it.

On some devices (for example, Samsung or OnePlus) updates come in waves, so they may not be available immediately. If your phone is older than 3-4 years, the manufacturer may have stopped supporting - in this case, only custom firmware will help (for example, LineageOS), but its installation requires unlocking the bootloader and may void the warranty.

What to do if there is an update stuck?

If the update process is stuck at the installation stage (more than 30 minutes), try:

1. Wait another 10-15 minutes - sometimes the system “thinks” longer than usual.

2. Force reboot the phone by holding down the power button for 10-15 seconds.

3. If after rebooting the phone does not turn on, try logging into Recovery Mode (usually by pressing Power + Volume up) and repeat installing the update.

After updating the system, it is also recommended to update Linux kernel i drivers. To do this:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → Kernel version.
2. If an update is available, follow the instructions on the screen.

5. Disabling animation and visual effects

Android uses a lot of animations to smoothly transition between screens, but on weaker devices they only slow down the system. You can disable them through developer settings:

1. Activate developer mode: Settings → About phone → Build number (press 7 times).
2. Go back to Settings → System → For Developers.
3. Find the following parameters and set their values:
   • Window animation scale → No animation
   • Transition animation scale → No animation
   • Animation duration → Off

You can also turn off unnecessary visuals effects:

• 🌈 Live Wallpaper: replace them with static ones in Settings → Wallpaper.
• 🔍 Blur effects: on Samsung disable in Settings → Screen → Blur effects.
• 📱 Dark theme: contrary to myths, it does not always save battery, but can speed up the display of the interface on AMOLEDscreens.

On devices with a processor MediaTek Helio (for example, Redmi Note 8 or Realme 5), disabling animation gives a performance increase of up to 15-20% when switching between applications.

6. Checking for viruses and malware

Viruses and spyware can not only steal data, but also load the processor, causing slowdowns. Even if you have not installed suspicious applications, some apps (for example, pirated games or hacked versions Spotify) may contain hidden mining modules.

To check:

1. Install an antivirus (we recommend Malwarebytes or Bitdefender).
2. Run a deep scan.
3. Remove all detected threats.

Also check the list of installed applications:

• 🔍 Unknown apps: remove all applications that you did not install.
• 📊 Suspicious activity: Settings → Battery → Usage see which apps consume the most energy.
• 🚫 Advertising modules: if intrusive advertising appears in the browser or games, this is a sign of an adver (adware).

7. Reset to factory settings (hard reset)

If all the previous methods did not help, the last chance to return the phone to performance is full resetThis procedure deletes all data from the device, so do it first. backup:

• 📱 Contact: synchronize with Google Account.
• 📸 Photos and videos: download to Google Photos or to your computer.
• 🎵 Music and documents: copy to SDcard or to the cloud.

For reset:

1. Open Settings → System → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data (factory reset).
3. Confirm the action and wait completion (usually 5-10 minutes).

After resetting, the phone will be like new. Do not install all applications at once - add them one by one and monitor the performance to identify the “slow” app.

8. Radical measures: replacing the battery and firmware

If the phone slows down even after resetting, the problem may be in hardware:

• 🔋 Worn out battery: Below 70% capacity, the system may limit performance. Check the battery status in the application AccuBattery.
• 🔥 CPU overheating: if the phone gets hot even when idle, this may be a sign of a failed chip or thermal paste.
• 🛠️ Damaged flash memory: if the phone often produces errors when writing files, a replacement may be required drive.

In such cases, only repairs at a service center will help. Average cost of replacing a battery:

Brand	Model	Replacement cost (original)
Samsung	Galaxy S21	3 500 — 5 000 ₽
Xiaomi	Redmi Note 10 Pro	2 000 — 3 500 ₽
Google	Pixel 6	4 500 — 6 000 ₽
OnePlus	OnePlus 9	3 000 — 4 500 ₽

If you are confident in your abilities, you can try to reflash the phone custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience). This will give new life to an old device, but requires unlocking the bootloader and may void your warranty. Look for instructions on firmware on the forums XDA Developers or 4PDA.

⚠️ Attention: Repair prices and availability of spare parts may vary depending on the region and service center. Check current rates with the manufacturer's official partners.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about brakes on Android

My phone started to slow down after the update. What to do?

If the brakes appeared immediately after updating the firmware, try:

1. Clear the system cache: turn off the phone, hold down Power + Volume up, select Wipe Cache Partition.
2. Roll back to the previous version (if available).
3. Reset settings to factory settings (saving data does not always help).

If all else fails, wait for the next patch - manufacturers often release “fixes” for bugs after major updates.

Why does the phone slow down when connected to the Internet?

This may be due to:

• 📶 Weak signal: the phone spends resources searching for a network.
• 🔄 Background download of updates: disable auto-update in Google Play.
• 🛡️ VPN or antivirus: some apps scan traffic in real time.

Try switching from 4G to 3G or connect to Wi-Fito check if the lags persist.

How to speed up an old phone on Android 5-6 versions?

For devices with Android 5.0-6.0 (for example, Samsung Galaxy S5 or LG G3) we recommend:

1. Install light firmware (for example, LineageOS without Google Services).
2. Use light applications: Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite, Google Go.
3. Disable all animations and visual effects.
4. Install launcher like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair.

If the phone is still slow, consider buying a new device - modern applications (for example, Instagram or TikTok) are not optimized for older ones processors.

Is it possible to speed up a phone using booster applications?

Applications like Clean Master, CCleaner or DU Speed Booster promise to "overclock" the phone, but in practice:

• ✅ They can clear the cache and close background processes (this can also be done manually).
• ❌ They often show false warnings about "critical problems" in order to sell the premium version.
• ⚠️ Some boosters themselves consume resources, worsening the brakes.

It is better to use the built-in cleaning tools from the manufacturer or do without boosters.

Why does the phone slow down in games, but works fine in the menu?

This is a typical problem for devices with weak graphics processors (GPU). Try:

• 🎮 Reduce graphic settings in the game (resolution, texture quality, shadows).
• 🔄 Close all background applications before starting the game.
• 🔋 Connect the phone to charger —some devices limit performance at low charge.
• 🔥 Use a cooler — overheating leads to throttling (throttling, artificial reduction in power).

If the game still lags, check it requirements. For example, Genshin Impact officially requires Snapdragon 845 or a similar chip, but on Helio G80 it will slow down even at minimum settings.