iPhone Running Slow? 10 Ways to Speed It Up

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

iPhones stay fast for years, but they can start to feel sluggish, with laggy typing, slow app launches or a stuttering camera. Here's how to fix it.

1. Restart your iPhone

Turn it off and on. If frozen, force restart: press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the Side button.

2. Free up storage

A nearly full iPhone slows down. Keep at least 5–10 GB free. See iPhone storage full.

3. Update iOS and apps

Updates fix performance bugs. See updating iOS safely.

4. Check battery health

An old battery can cause iOS to limit performance to prevent shutdowns. In Settings → Battery → Battery Health, check Peak Performance Capability. A battery replacement can restore speed. See iPhone battery health.

5. Limit Background App Refresh

Settings → General → Background App Refresh: turn it off for apps that don't need to update in the background.

6. Reduce Motion and transparency

In Settings → Accessibility → Motion, turn on Reduce Motion. In Display & Text Size, turn on Reduce Transparency. Older iPhones feel snappier.

7. Clear Safari data

If browsing is slow, clear history and website data in Safari settings, and close unused tabs.

8. Remove unused widgets

Many live widgets refresh constantly. Keep only the ones you use.

9. Let it cool down

Hot iPhones slow down to protect themselves. Remove the case and avoid direct sun.

10. Reset settings or restore

Try Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings. This resets settings but keeps data. As a last resort, back up and Erase All Content and Settings, then restore.

Most effective: free storage and check battery health. Old batteries are the most common cause of slow older iPhones.

Slow in specific situations

Slow keyboard

Reset the keyboard dictionary in Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Remove third-party keyboards you don't use.

Slow camera

A nearly full iPhone makes the camera slow to open and save. Free up storage, turn off Live Photos if you don't use them, and close heavy apps.

Slow Wi-Fi browsing

The problem may be the network rather than the iPhone. Test speed on another device, forget and rejoin the Wi-Fi network, and try switching DNS. See Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Slow after moving to a new iPhone

After restoring from a backup, a new iPhone spends a day or two downloading apps, photos and indexing. Keep it on Wi-Fi and charging overnight, and performance will settle.

How to tell if the battery is the cause

Battery Health shows below about 80% maximum capacity.
The iPhone shuts down unexpectedly at 20–30%.
Battery Health shows a message about performance management.
The phone is noticeably slower in cold weather.

If these apply, replacing the battery at Apple or an authorised provider usually restores normal speed.

Keep it fast long-term

Update iOS regularly, keep 10 GB or more free, remove unused apps, and restart once a week. These small habits keep iPhones feeling fast for many years.

Frequently asked questions

Should I close apps in the app switcher?

Generally no. iOS manages background apps well; close an app only if it's frozen.

Does iOS slow down old iPhones on purpose?

iOS may limit performance on worn batteries to avoid unexpected shutdowns, and shows this in Battery Health. Replacing the battery removes the limit.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.