Nine Changes You Should Make to Your IPhone Before the New Year
Just like you maintain your car to keep it running smoothly, having your iPhone checked out annually can prevent a lot of problems in the long run. Phones accumulate a ton of digital junk, and since a more organized device works better and lasts longer, use the start of the new year as an opportunity to get rid of it all. By the time you’re done, your iPhone may feel brand new again.
Delete apps you no longer use
We all download loads of apps that are almost never used. If you have a bunch, consider deleting them to save space and bandwidth. Unused apps can sometimes slow down your phone and they keep downloading updates automatically, which can consume the limited bandwidth of your internet plan.
You can go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and select Enable next to Offload Unused Apps . This will free up a lot of space. You can then scroll down the storage settings page, swipe left on the apps you don’t use, and select Uninstall to remove them.
Alternatively, you can go to your iPhone’s home screen and then press and hold on an empty part of the screen until the icons start to wiggle. Swipe left until you are in the App Library . You can now click the “X” next to unused apps to quickly uninstall them.
Change your wallpaper
When was the last time you changed the wallpaper on your iPhone? To get started, go to Settings > Wallpaper . If that’s not enough, try downloading an app like Dynamic Notch , which lets you create stylized designs around your iPhone’s notch. While you’re at it, also make yourself a customizable lock screen .
Removing old, unwanted photos and screenshots
Most people don’t bother deleting photos from their iPhone, but you probably don’t need to store thousands of screenshots, memes, and other random photos. Browse your photo library and delete unwanted photos and videos.
Clean up shared calendars, reminders, and notes
You may have created shared notes or added people to calendar entries and reminders. After a while, you should remove them from unused shared data to protect your privacy. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Security Check > Manage Sharing & Access . Follow the instructions on the screen and you’re done.
Adjust screen time
If you want to scroll less, go to Settings > Screen Time on your iPhone. Tap See All Activity to see which apps you use the most. You can then click on each one and set a daily usage limit. You can also select the Downtime option to remind yourself to put your phone away after a certain amount of time.
Free up space in iMessage
iCloud is great if you want to back up your phone, but backing up your messages is a double-edged sword: it backs up all sorts of spam texts and media files that you’ll probably never need. We have a complete guide to remove iMessage clutter from iCloud to help you free up space quickly. It also ensures that when you move to a new iPhone, your iCloud restore doesn’t transfer years of junk to your new device.
Remove unused subscriptions
We’re all guilty of launching subscriptions we don’t use, and you can save a lot of money by kicking this habit. Go to Settings > [YOUR NAME] > Subscriptions and get rid of the ones you don’t need.
Take a look at your phone’s battery
Before you think about replacing your iPhone battery or buying a new iPhone, go to Settings > Battery to see which apps are draining your battery. Perhaps this page can help inspire you to make New Year’s resolutions, such as using Instagram less. You can also remove some of your most exciting apps and switch to mobile websites instead. Instagram is much less addictive in Safari.
Clear your app’s permissions
It’s never a bad idea to check how much your data apps are using. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security on your iPhone and check each setting to see which apps are using the various sensors on your device. Google Maps probably won’t work very well without location access, but TikTok probably doesn’t need location access at all.