6 Tips for Keeping Your Android Smartphone Working at Peak Performance

Tip 1: Keep it Fully Charged

Users will find that their Android Smartphones work best and last longer when kept fully charged. Take the time at the end of each day to plug the phone into the charger. Avoid using a phone until it completely runs out of power. This damages a phone’s ability to hold a charge and affects its performance. Most of the lithium - ion batteries in cell phones last between three to five years, if care is taken with them. It’s also important to avoid using the cell phone in extreme temperatures, as this can also affect the battery and lower its storage capacity.

Temperature Stored At...	Capacity Loss
32 F	6 percent capacity loss per year
77 F	20 percent capacity loss per year
104 F	35 percent capacity loss per year

Storage capacity affects the length of time a phone can be used before it must be recharged again, until eventually, the phone can’t hold a charge at all. The cooler the phone is kept when used and stored, the longer the battery will last. This isn’t always possible to achieve, but is good to keep in mind when dealing with performance issues.

Tip 2: Get Memory Management Software

Users can download and install memory management software for free or a very low cost to use on their smartphones. These programs restore memory lost by defragmenting the hard drive or performing a recovery to find the lost information. Defragmentation also helps the Android run faster and this can even be done while using the phone. Once the software is installed, users can click on the app at any time to run the program and free up some memory. These software apps also provide other features for users to help them stay on top of their memory usage.

Tip 3: Close Unused Apps and Processes

Smartphones aren’t like desktop computers; they don’t have the same amount of processing power. Therefore, they do tend to slow down when several programs are open. If the smartphone does start to slow down, take the time to close a few of the background programs. Users can also end background processes running on the cell phone by using background task killer software. These apps are easy to download and use whenever needed. These programs work like the task manager on a desktop or laptop closing background processes when they freeze or when they slow down the computer.

Tip 4: Clear the Browser Cache

Android smartphones are also capable of surfing the web, which is something that most users love. However, using the Internet for long periods of time can lead to a buildup of data in the phone’s active memory. The memory in the browser cache can start clogging up the phone’s active memory and slowing down the phone’s ability to surf the web. When this happens, users should clear out their browser cache. To clear the history, open up the browser and click on the "Menu," then click on "Options," then click "Settings," and then click the "Clear Cache" button. At this point, the phone will ask the user if he or she wants to clear the cache. Confirm the choice, and the phone will clear the browser cache.

Tip 5: Delete Cookies and Unused Programs or Media

The Android smartphone is capable of storing a variety of information to refer back to or use. This information comes in the form of software apps, photos, files, and video. Most of these things are accessible in the phone’s "Gallery," or on the main screen of the phone. Other kinds of information stored on the phone come in the form of "Cookies." Cookies are programs installed on a user’s website browser to help keep track of their web usage history for marketing purposes. These files and apps take up a lot of space and when the memory is full, nothing else can be stored. Taking the time to delete unwanted cookies, apps, and media can get a phone back up to peak performance.

Deleting Cookies

Many users end up with lots of cookies on their smartphone website browsers without realizing it. This can hinder the user’s ability to surf the web quickly. Deleting cookies can help free up some memory and speed up the Android smartphone. Users can open up the website browser, then click on "Menu," then click on "More Options," then choose "Settings," and then click on "Clear all cookie data" and the phone will ask for verification before deleting the cookies.

Deleting Applications

Users can also manually free up a lot of storage space on their Android phones by deleting unused programs and media. Users can delete software apps on their phones by opening up the "Settings" menu, then clicking on "Applications," then click on "Manage Applications," then clicking on "Downloaded apps," and then select and "Uninstall" the application.

Delete Media

Users can delete various kinds of files and media from their phones by opening up the "Gallery" on the phone. Scroll through the gallery, tapping on files and images you want to delete to select them. When ready to delete the media, tap the "Delete" button on the bottom of the screen and follow the verification instructions.

Tip 6: Perform Factory Reset

If the phone gets really clogged up and the user has trouble using it at all, it may be time for a system restore. This is a tip that should only be used as a last resort. Restoring the phone to its factory settings will delete all of the downloaded and saved files on the phone, so the user loses a lot of information. Users can restore their phones to the factory settings by opening up the "Menu," then clicking on "Settings," then clicking on "Privacy," and then clicking "Factory Data Reset." Select the option to "Reset Phone," and confirm to have the phone erase everything that has been added to it. This will only erase the information that has been added to the phone by the user. The phone’s operating system will still be intact and ready to use. It will basically be in the same state it was when you first received it.

Buying Android Smartphones on eBay

You can buy your own Android smartphone on eBay by clicking on the Electronics portal, then clicking on the Cell Phones and Accessories category, and then choosing Cell Phones and Smartphones subcategory. Scroll down the page and click on Android OS under the "Operating Systems" filter in the navigation menu. You can also look for Android phones directly by searching for them using the eBay search engine on the main page of the site.

Know the Seller

You can save a lot of hassle in buying working Android phones by getting to know the seller. Taking a close look at the seller’s feedback history helps show how well the seller worked with previous customers and how well the auction went. You can find the seller feedback by clicking on the seller’s name in any listing and this will open up a new page, which features all the previous customer’s comments and ratings for the seller. An overall rating for the seller is compiled by averaging all the customer’s ratings together.

Conclusion

The Android smartphone uses a free operating system from Google to perform all the processes and functions users need. These phones also allow users to download software, media, and surf the web. Sometimes, these extra activities can slow a phone down, and overload its memory. Users have a number of options to restore the phone to its peak performance, and none of these tips require much technical expertise. Users can close background processes and software, delete unused apps and media, and even download and install memory management software. These tips can quickly improve a phone’s performance. If all else fails, users are able to restore the phone to its factory settings and completely erase all saved data. This improves speed and opens up a lot of memory. When all else fails and the Android smartphone no longer functions at an acceptable level, head to eBay to purchase a new one.