Why Is My iPhone So Slow? 6 Proven Ways to Speed It Up

Does your iPhone take forever to open apps? Are you staring at loading screens instead of actually using your phone? As a tech support specialist who helps seniors throughout North York and the GTA, I hear "why is my iPhone so slow?" more than almost any other question.

The good news: you don't need a new iPhone. In most cases, a slow iPhone can be fixed with a few simple steps. This guide will walk you through six proven methods to speed up your iPhone — no technical expertise required.

These simple fixes can make your iPhone feel brand new again.

Why iPhones Get Slower Over Time

Before we fix the problem, here's why it happens:

• Storage is nearly full: iPhones need free space to work properly
• Too many apps running: Background apps use memory and battery
• Old software: Outdated iOS versions run less efficiently
• Battery degradation: Older batteries can't power the phone at full speed
• Cached data buildup: Temporary files accumulate and slow things down

Fix #1: Check Your Storage (The Most Common Cause)

An iPhone with less than 10% free storage will run noticeably slower. Here's how to check:

How to Check iPhone Storage:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap General
3. Tap iPhone Storage
4. Wait a moment while it calculates

What the Colors Mean:

• Green = Lots of space available (you're fine)
• Yellow = Getting full (time to clean up)
• Red = Critically full (fix this immediately)

Quick Ways to Free Up Storage:

1. Delete unused apps: In Settings > iPhone Storage, tap apps you don't use and select "Delete App"
2. Clear out old photos: Delete screenshots, duplicates, and blurry photos (see our photo organization guide)
3. Offload unused apps: Settings > App Store > turn ON "Offload Unused Apps" — this removes apps you don't use but keeps your data
4. Delete old messages: Settings > Messages > Keep Messages > change to "30 Days" or "1 Year" instead of "Forever"

Fix #2: Restart Your iPhone (The Easiest Fix)

It sounds too simple, but restarting clears temporary files and closes stuck apps. Many seniors are surprised how much faster their phone feels after a restart.

How to Restart Your iPhone:

For iPhone X or newer (no home button):

1. Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button at the same time
2. Slide the "slide to power off" slider
3. Wait 30 seconds after it turns off
4. Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo

For iPhone 8 or older (with home button):

1. Press and hold the Top or Side button
2. Slide the "slide to power off" slider
3. Wait 30 seconds
4. Press and hold the Top or Side button until you see the Apple logo

Fix #3: Close Apps You're Not Using

Even when you're not using them, apps running in the background use memory and processing power.

How to Close Apps (iPhone X and newer):

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle
2. You'll see all your open apps
3. Swipe up on each app to close it

How to Close Apps (iPhone 8 and older):

1. Double-click the Home button
2. Swipe up on each app to close it

Fix #4: Update Your iPhone Software

Apple regularly releases updates that fix bugs and improve performance. Running old software can make your iPhone slower and less secure.

How to Update iOS:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi
2. Open Settings
3. Tap General
4. Tap Software Update
5. If an update is available, tap Download and Install
6. Make sure your iPhone is plugged in or has plenty of battery

Fix #5: Turn Off Background App Refresh

Many apps constantly refresh in the background, using battery and slowing your phone. You can turn this off for apps you don't need updating constantly.

How to Turn Off Background Refresh:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap General
3. Tap Background App Refresh
4. You can turn it off completely, or turn it off for specific apps

Which Apps to Turn Off:

• Turn OFF: Games, shopping apps, news apps you don't use daily
• Keep ON: Email, Messages, Phone, Banking apps, Weather

Fix #6: Check Your Battery Health

When an iPhone battery gets old (usually after 2-3 years), iPhone deliberately slows down the phone to prevent unexpected shutdowns. This is called "performance management."

How to Check Battery Health:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Battery
3. Tap Battery Health & Charging

What to Look For:

• Maximum Capacity above 80%: Your battery is fine
• Maximum Capacity below 80%: Consider battery replacement
• Peak Performance Capability: If it says "This iPhone has experienced an unexpected shutdown," performance management is on

If Your Battery Needs Replacement:

• Apple Store: $89-$109 (official Apple battery)
• Authorized repair shops: $60-$80
• Third-party repair: $40-$60 (riskier, may void warranty)

Sometimes, simply replacing an old battery makes an iPhone feel brand new again.

When to Get Professional Help

If you've tried all these fixes and your iPhone is still slow, there might be a deeper issue. As a tech support specialist serving North York, Thornhill, and surrounding areas, I can help diagnose and fix problems that simple troubleshooting can't solve.

Situations where professional help makes sense:

• Your iPhone is less than 2 years old but very slow (may be defective)
• You've tried everything and storage is fine, but apps still crash
• Your battery health is good but performance is poor
• You'd rather have someone patient walk you through optimization step-by-step

Related Articles

• How to Organize Photos on iPhone: A Complete Guide for Seniors
• How to Transfer Photos from iPhone to Computer
• Computer Running Slow? 5 Simple Fixes That Actually Help
• How to Spot Tech Scams: Red Flags Every Senior Should Know

Anthony is a tech support specialist serving seniors in North York and surrounding areas. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from TMU and certifications in AI Engineering from IBM and Google.