A slow iPhone can interrupt productivity, complicate conversations, and be an overall hassle to deal with. Learn the most common causes for a lagging iPhone, how to fix them, and how to know when it may be time for a new smartphone.
How to Speed Up a Slow iPhone
Apps, space shortages, a crowded cache and outdated operating systems or settings are all too common culprits that could be making your iPhone slow and laggy. (Apple even paid $113 million to settle allegations that it was intentionally slowing down older iPhones – so if your device feels sluggish, you’re not imagining it.)
1. Manage Apps
Some ways to manage your apps for a faster phone include:
- Closing when finished: The more apps you have open at once, the less processing power your device has to dedicate to each one. If you don’t close out of one app before switching to another, it may remain active in the background, slowing down the phone and draining your battery. On iPhones with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause to see open apps, then swipe up on each one you’re not using. On older iPhones with a Home button, double-click it to access the app switcher. Keep in mind the app may take slightly longer to load the next time you open it.
- Deleting and reinstalling: If most of your problems seem to be centered around a single app, try deleting and reinstalling it. Long-press the app icon on your home screen and select “Remove App,” then confirm by tapping “Delete App.” Some built-in Apple apps cannot be deleted. Reinstall any app by redownloading it from the App Store after restarting your phone.
- Updating frequently: Apps need to be updated automatically or manually each time you update your operating system or any time the app developer releases a patch. Enable automatic app updates through your App Store Settings or manually update individual apps by tapping “Update” next to them in the App Store.
2. Make More Space
Smartphones start acting sluggishly when they’re at or near their storage limit. This is especially relevant on older devices – while newer models like the iPhone 16 start at 128 GB (with versions going as high as 1 TB), older iPhones may only have 32 GB to work with. As a general rule, keep at least 10% of your total storage free for smooth performance. According to Apple Support, having less than 1 GB of free storage can cause significant slowdowns.
Check what type of data – like apps, photos or messages – are consuming most of your space with these steps:
- Tap “Settings.”
- Select “General.”
- Tap “[your device] Storage.”
- Wait for the color-coded bar to finish generating and see which categories take up the most space on your phone.
You can then enter those categories and start erasing unnecessary files. For example, if apps are taking up the most space, you can review them directly from the storage screen to see which ones you no longer need – in many cases, an app’s stored data takes up far more space than the app itself.
Always delete apps and files you no longer use, or move them to iCloud or your computer to free up space. iOS will also give you personalized space-saving recommendations directly in the “iPhone Storage” screen under “General Settings.” If photos are a major culprit, learn how to delete photos on your iPhone to reclaim storage quickly.
3. Clear the Cache
If your iPhone is especially slow when surfing the internet, it can help to clear your cache. If the cache gets too crowded or corrupted, it can negatively affect your device. Clearing your browser cache removes these temporary files, images and passwords from previously browsed sites. For a more detailed walkthrough, see our guide on how to clear the cache and cookies on your iPhone.
4. Update the Operating System
If you’re running an older operating system, updating to the latest version can help make your iPhone faster and keep it more protected. Start by backing up your phone to iCloud or your computer, as updating the system can occasionally affect files or settings.
You can update the operating system directly from your iPhone or by connecting it to a Mac via Finder. Follow these steps when updating from your iPhone without a computer:
- Connect to Wi-Fi and stay connected throughout the download.
- Tap “Settings.”
- Go to “General.”
- Select “Software Update.”
- If an update is available, tap “Update Now” or “Download and Install.”
Updating your operating system will require a restart to take full effect. If your phone still feels slow immediately after updating, give it a day or two – background processes like re-indexing and photo analysis run after an update and can temporarily affect performance before things return to normal.
5. Reset and Update the Settings
You can reset your iPhone settings back to their defaults by following these steps:
- Tap “Settings.”
- Tap “General.”
- Scroll down and tap “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
- Select “Reset” and choose “Reset All Settings” or “Erase All Content and Settings.”
- Enter your passcode if prompted.
Please note, resetting all content and settings will wipe your iPhone as if it were brand new. You’ll need to reenter things like your Wi-Fi password and reconnect Bluetooth accessories. If you’d like a lighter touch, you can also adjust settings like Privacy and Location Services from the main “Settings” menu to help improve performance without a full reset.
6. Restart the Device
Restarting your phone clears apps still running in the background and can help you avoid crashing or lag. You should restart your phone any time you see a drop in performance. On iPhones with Face ID, press and hold the side button along with either volume button until the power slider appears, then drag it to shut down. Press the side button again to turn it back on. On older iPhones with a Home button, press and hold the sleep/wake button until the slider appears, drag it to power off, then press the same button to restart.
iPhone Still Running Slow? It Might Be Time for an Upgrade!
If you’ve tried the methods listed above and are still struggling with a slow iPhone, it may be time to invest in a new one. Slow processing speed is one of the most common reasons to upgrade to a new smartphone. Other common reasons include your battery dying faster than it used to, your iPhone no longer holding charge, or basically wanting to try a new model with better cameras, features, or design.
Apple paid $113 million to settle allegations that it deliberately slowed down older iPhones – so if your device feels sluggish, it’s not necessarily just in your head. Storage also plays a bigger role than many people know. According to Apple Support, you should keep at least 1 GB of free storage to avoid slowdowns, and as a general rule, keeping at least 10% of your total storage free is a good habit – it will be a challenge on older devices like the iPhone 6, which maxed out at just 32 GB. Newer models like the iPhone 16 start at 128 GB and increase to 1 TB on some versions, giving you far more breathing room.
If your iPhone recently received a software update and suddenly feels slower, don’t panic just yet. In most cases, performance returns to normal after a day or two once background processing from the update is complete. But if the slowness persists well past that window, upgrading to a newer model may be your best long-term answer.
If your iPhone feels slower after an update, you’re not alone – and there are a few well-documented reasons why this happens.
Background processing takes time. After installing an update, your iPhone performs tasks like re-indexing Spotlight search, optimizing photos, and reprocessing app data. This can temporarily slow things down, but in most cases performance returns to normal after a day or two once this background work is complete.
Apple has a history of throttling older devices. Apple paid $113 million to settle allegations that it was deliberately slowing down older iPhones – a practice it said was intended to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with aging batteries. If you have an older device and notice persistent slowdowns, checking your battery health under Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging is a good first step.
Low storage can cause slowdowns. According to Apple Support, users should maintain at least 1 GB of free storage to avoid performance issues. As a general rule, aim to keep at least 10% of your total storage free. This matters more on older devices – for example, an iPhone 6 may only have 32 GB of total storage, leaving very little room to work with compared to newer models like the iPhone 16, which starts at 128 GB and goes up to 1 TB on some versions.
What you can do:
- Wait 24-48 hours after updating before drawing conclusions
- Free up storage by deleting unused apps, photos, and messages
- Check your battery health and consider a replacement if it’s below 80%
- Restart your iPhone to clear temporary system processes
Shop Affordable iPhones at Gazelle
Smartphones hold data, like pictures, music, contact information, apps and browsing history. Over time, this data builds up and can cause performance to break down, making your phone slower and increasing the time it takes to load web pages or apps. Fortunately, you can try a few things to improve your iPhone’s speed and performance, like clearing your cache, updating to the latest operating system and freeing up storage space. According to Apple Support, maintaining at least 1 GB of free storage can help you avoid slowdowns – and as a general rule of thumb, keeping at least 10% of your total storage free is a good habit. That’s also the case on older devices with limited capacity like the iPhone 6, which maxed out at just 32 GB.
It’s also worth mentioning that if your iPhone feels sluggish right after an update, this is usually normal. In most cases, performance returns to normal after a day or two once background processing from the update is complete. It’s also worth remembering that Apple previously paid $113 million to settle allegations that it deliberately slowed down older iPhones – so if your device continues to underperform after trying these fixes, the hardware itself may simply be aging out.
If none of these methods work and it’s time to shop for a new iPhone, Gazelle can help! All our certified refurbished smartphones are available without a contract and are compatible with all carriers. Whether you’re looking at a budget-friendly older model or a newer iPhone 16 with up to 1 TB of storage, check out our inventory to find your next iPhone!