Easy Maintenance Tips for Smartphone Care

In today's fast-paced world, our smartphones are indispensable, serving as communication hubs, entertainment centers, and personal organizers. To help keep your device as reliable and efficient as when you bought it, you should perform some routine maintenance. Here are a few easy tips to help you keep your phone working at its best.

Over time, your phone's search history can accumulate data, potentially slowing down your browser and affecting performance. Clearing your search history about once a month improves speed and helps keep your sensitive information private. 

Here’s how to do it:

• For Safari on iPhone: Open Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data.

• For Chrome on Android: Open Chrome > tap the three dots > History > Clear Browsing Data.

• For Firefox on Android: Open Firefox > tap the three dots > History > Clear Browsing History.

Because we use our phones for just about everything, it’s no surprise they quickly fill up with unused apps and extra data. A quick clean-up can help free up space in no time, thereby optimizing your phone’s storage and maintaining its performance.

• Delete unused apps:

• On iPhone devices: Press and hold the app you'd like to delete until a menu pops up. Tap Remove App > Delete App.
• On Android devices: Press and hold the app you'd like to delete. Drag it to the "Uninstall" prompt at the top of the screen and drop it.

• Backup your media:

• To back up your Samsung phone to Google Drive: Open Settings > tap Accounts and    Backup > > tap Back up data > make sure the Backup by Google One switch is on > then tap  Back up now.
• To back up your iPhone to iCloud: Tap Settings > Tap on your name > Tap iCloud > Tap iCloud Backup > Tap Back Up Now. 

• Delete old media: Review old photos and videos and then get rid of what you don’t need, especially duplicates and multiples.

• Delete outgoing messages: In your messaging app, select the largest text threads and delete them to remove any old media.

Your phone's battery is its lifeline, and proper charging habits can prolong its lifespan. But did you know that batteries work better and last longer when they get some much-deserved rest?

• Avoid constant full charges: Charging your phone to 100% continually can stress the lithium-ion battery. Instead, aim to keep your charge between 20% and 80%.
• Use official chargers: Generic or non-brand chargers can deliver unstable power, potentially harming your battery. Stick to chargers from your phone's manufacturer.
• Pick a safe charging spot: If you do decide to charge your phone overnight, location matters. Place your phone in a well-ventilated area to avoid potential risks like fire or electric shock.

Unlocking your phone's lesser-known features can enhance your user experience by letting your phone work for you. Check out these shortcuts if you want to feel like a tech pro with little effort:

• Utilize battery optimization settings: Worried about over-charging your device? Features like "Optimized Battery Charging" on iPhone or "Adaptive Charging" on Android help maintain battery health by learning your unique charging habits.
• Share Wi-Fi with QR codes: Some phones allow you to generate a QR code for your Wi-Fi network, making it easy for guests to connect without sharing passwords.

Without coverage, a cracked screen or unexpected malfunctions can disrupt your connection for days and be expensive to repair. Consider signing up for one of our Personal Electronics Repair Plans tto help reduce the cost of covered repairs or replacement for devices like laptops, tablets and more, up to the benefit limits of the plan.¹ With coverage as affordable as $2 a day and no long-term commitment, it's a smart way to protect your tech.²

By incorporating these simple practices into your routine, you can help keep your phone operating as efficiently as possible, keeping you connected when it matters most. Find more practical advice for homeowners on our blog!