How To Speed Up A Slow iPhone In 4 Easy Steps (Great For Older Models)


How To Speed Up A Slow iPhone In 4 Easy Steps (Great For Older Models)Pin

Is your iPhone slow? It happens from time to time, especially on older models. But there are ways and methods to fix a slow iPhone…



Key Takeaways: Speeding Up Your Slow iPhone

  1. Refresh Your RAM:
  2. Clear App Cache:
  3. Manage Your iMessages:
  4. Turn Off Animations:

When your iPhone is new, it feels blazing fast. But after a few years, it may start to feel slower. This isn’t by design. It usually happens because the newest version of iOS is more resource intensive than the last. So when older phones get the new iOS, the OS will run a little bit slower than the previous one since the iPhone’s hardware hasn’t been upgraded.

For instance, if you’re running a really old iPhone, like the iPhone 4, in 2023 the performance and support will have dried up years ago. Even handsets like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are no longer supported by Apple.

How To Speed Up A Slow iPhone In 4 Easy Steps

The good news is if you have an older iPhone and it’s beginning to feel a bit slow, there are steps you can try to help speed it up…

#1) Clear your RAM

RAM stands for random access memory and it’s a thing software on your phone relies on so it can open quickly and perform tasks. When an app is running, a certain amount of RAM is allocated to it. While this RAM is allocated to it, other apps can’t use it.

If you are using a lot of apps at the same time (meaning several are running in the background) it’s possible almost all your RAM can be used up, slowing down your iPhone, until you quit those apps. The problem is sometimes apps, even when quit, don’t give up the RAM they were using.

This means your iPhone can actually run slower even though you aren’t actively using apps. One way to reset the RAM—that is, force free it from the apps that are using it—is to restart your iPhone.

Here’s how:

  1. On iPhone X or later, press your iPhone’s Side and volume down buttons at the same time. On iPhone SE and iPhone 8 and earlier, press and hold your iPhone’s power button.
  2. When the “Slide to power off” bar appears, slide the button on it from left to right.
  3. Once your iPhone powers off, press and hold its Side button until it turns on again.

Your RAM will now have been refreshed and your iPhone should be much faster.

#2) Clear the cache from the iPhone’s apps

Another thing that can slow down your iPhone is cache files. These are files that store data so an app can quickly access that data next time without having to go looking for it or creating it again. In theory, this will lead to speedier apps. However, large caches, over time, can actually slow down your iPhone.

Not all apps allow you to clear the cache, but Apple has built a secret feature into iOS apps that let you clear their cache. It’s called offloading the app. This will delete the app from your iPhone (and its cache files), but its icon will remain in place – allowing you to quickly download it again with an empty cache.

Here’s how:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap iPhone Storage.
  4. In the list of apps, find the one you want to clear the cache of. Now swipe left on the app’s name.
  5. Tap the blue Offload App button.

Apple says the documents and data in the app will be saved, but the app will be deleted. This in theory should also clear the app’s cache.

#3) Clear your iMessages

Believe it or not, but having a ton of iMessages can massively slow down your phone—in addition to taking up space.

At some point, people are shocked to learn they can have gigabytes of iMessages on their iPhone. You can check how many you have by going to Settings > Apple ID name > iCloud > Manage Account Storage. If your iMessages are taking up more than 1GB it might be time to delete them.

WARNING: If you delete your Messages they will be gone for good. So if you want to keep a copy of them either do NOT delete them or create a backup of them before you delete them from your iPhone.

To ensure iMessages never become a storage or speed hog in the future, you can set iMessages to auto-delete after a set amount of time. To do this:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Messages.
  3. Tap Keep Messages.
  4. On the Keep Messages screen choose 30 Days or 1 Year (if you want to keep them for a bit longer). Choosing either one of these options will delete all your older messages past that timeframe—and in the process probably speed up your iPhone.

#4) Disable animations

Apple introduced some cool motion and animation effects called Parallax back in iOS 7. While they look cool, making your iPhone carry these out each time you open an app drains both the battery and requires your RAM and processors to work harder, slowing down your phone.

If you don’t need the eye candy it’s best to disable the animations. To do this:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Accessibility.
  3. Tap Motion.
  4. Toggle the “Reduce Motion” option to ON (green).

Now animations will be less pronounced (or gone altogether).

NUCLEAR OPTION – Get A New iPhone

iPhone 14 Pro Max PricePin

If all else fails perhaps it’s time to concede defeat and get a new iPhone? We know, we know – new iPhones cost a BOMB. But you do have options, so let’s go over them below:

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB