How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Smartphone

Knowing how to take care of your phone can go a long way in extending your device's lifespan. Does the way you charge your smartphone affect its lifespan? Are software updates important for the longevity of your smartphone? Can extreme weather damage your phone? All these are legitimate questions when you're wondering what you can do to make your phone last longer. Actually, there are many things you can do to this end, so let's see how you can extend the lifespan of your smartphone.

Keep your operating system and apps updated

Don’t ignore system and app updates if you want to keep your phone running smoothly and securely. Keeping your operating system and mobile apps updated improves your phone’s overall performance. From introducing new features to fixing bugs, system and app updates can be very beneficial for your phone’s health, so always keep your operating system and apps up-to-date with the latest versions. Don’t forget these updates can also help protect you from viruses, malware, and other security threats, which could harm your phone.

Uninstall unnecessary apps

Too many apps on your phone take up too much storage space, so it’s best to delete all apps you don’t need or use. Deleting unnecessary apps will free up storage space on your phone (as well as files you don’t need), help you get rid of all apps that may be running in the background, and, as some tech experts point out, can help revive a slow phone. Removing unused apps is a simple process for both iPhones and Android phones, so look at the apps you have installed at some point on your phone and uninstall those you no longer use.

Charge your phone properly

For years there has been an ongoing debate about how much charging habits influence battery lifespan, especially whether it is a bad idea or not to leave a phone charging overnight. The fact is that the lithium-ion batteries in modern smartphones chemically age, so your battery performance will decline over time, no matter what you do. However, there is no need to speed up the process. Instead, here are some things you can do to help prolong your battery lifespan:

• Avoid letting your battery drain completely to 0% or charging it to a full 100%. Many battery experts agree that lithium-ion batteries undergo a lot of stress when fully drained or fully charged, which shortens their lifespan.
• Try to keep your phone charged between 20-30% and 80-90%. According to many studies, charging your phone to around 80% and recharging it when it hits around 20% can help your phone battery last the longest.
• Avoid charging your phone overnight. The truth is that your battery will stop charging when it reaches 100%, but once it drops to 99%, it will continue to charge to get back to 100%. This cycle repeats until you unplug your device and can affect your battery health in the long run. Even Apple says that when your phone remains “at full charge for prolonged periods of time, battery health can be affected,” so unplug your phone when it’s done charging.
• Use the original charger. Always charge your device with the charger that comes with the phone. If not possible, use a reputable third-party charger. Never use cheap or counterfeit chargers from unknown manufacturers – they can seriously damage your battery and phone.
• Store your phone at around 50%. If you need to store your phone for an extended period, don’t fully charge or discharge your device. Many manufacturers, including Apple, recommend charging your phone to around 50% before turning it off and storing it to keep your phone battery healthy.

Clean the screen and charging port regularly

Whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, keeping your device as clean as possible is always a good idea, especially your phone screen and charging port. Things like dust, dirt, sand, ink, or makeup can leave stains or scratch your phone screen, but some can also get into the charging port, causing it not to work properly or stop working overtime. Dust can also get inside your phone and gather in the battery, causing your phone to overheat. You can use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to wipe your phone screen and a toothpick to gently scrape the inside of your phone’s charging port. To clean your phone the right way, make sure to follow the recommendations of the phone manufacturer.

Don’t expose your phone to extreme temperatures

Extreme heat and cold can significantly impact your phone’s internal components, including your lithium-ion battery. Exposing your phone to extreme heat for prolonged periods can permanently damage your battery, cause motherboard failure or data loss, and slow down your device. Extreme cold can also harm your phone, from shortening your phone’s battery life to causing display problems or even screen shattering. Here are some things you can do to protect your phone from extreme temperatures:

• Don’t leave your phone in your car - especially when it’s too hot or cold outside. Never place your phone on the dashboard where it can be exposed to direct sunlight.
• Avoid using your phone for extended periods in very hot or cold environments. Never leave your phone out at the beach, and keep it in your pocket while skiing or snowboarding.
• Let your phone adjust to room temperature before using it if it has been exposed to extreme heat or cold.
• Don’t charge your phone in direct sunlight or the cold. Also, avoid charging your phone under pillows or blankets to prevent overheating.

Don’t use a phone with a cracked screen

Using a phone with a cracked screen is not just annoying, but it can damage your device even more over time. A cracked screen can lead to touchscreen malfunction and leave your phone’s inner parts exposed to things like dust, dirt, or moisture, which can work their way inside the cracks and damage your phone – to name just a few risks of using a phone with a cracked screen. Although it may seem like an unnecessary expense, it’s best to repair a cracked phone screen as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your phone. Even better if you already have phone insurance – your insurance provider will help you repair your phone.

If you don’t have phone insurance yet but want to protect your phone from everyday mishaps, you’ve come to the right place! Besides taking good care of your phone to make it last as long as possible, getting phone insurance is the most practical step to protect your device from cracks, drops, spills, and other potential accidents. Don’t wait until it’s too late – get iPhone protection or cell phone protection today!