13 Ways to Optimise Your iPhone Usage
Even the newest iPhones sometimes may work a bit slower than you expect. This can drive us mad and shift the focus from our work to technical issues. Still, this need not be the case if we optimize phone usage in advance. Collabio team will tell you how! 😉
Follow these tips for a fast and furious iPhone:
1. Update to the Latest iOS Version
Even if you have the newest iPhone, updating iOS (and its features) is crucial. So, click ‘agree’ and install the updates in time. They contain bug fixes, security improvements, and a host of useful functions.
Every newer version of iOS is optimized for new devices. Even if you are a lucky owner of an iPhone 13, if you don’t keep the software updated, (currently iOS 15) you won’t be getting the best out of your device.
2. Declutter for a Faster Phone
64, 128, 256 GB gets cluttered with outdated files, old documents and multimedia you don’t need. It’s an illusion that if you get an iPhone with more memory, there’ll be enough space. Phone owners need to delete old files, photos, apps, and any duplicate files. Less is more!
Better use iCloud or external storage (at least you’ll have to pay for it just once, unlike subscribing to cloud storage services 😊) to keep multimedia and documents you may need someday. On the phone, keep only those things you need every day.
3. Give your Device a Break
Power off your phone every so often to clear the app memory and enhance its working speed. When you open an app, it uploads data to the temporary memory to support the app when opened several times. However, people who use 10+ apps (perhaps we all belong to this category) notice a slight decrease in their phone’s speed after a week or two of active use. Sometimes, these changes are not obvious until we reboot the device. Voila! It works as good as new again.
4. Customise Background App Refresh
There are two ways to fine-tune this setting. If you want the battery to last longer and the processor to load only what you need, turn off background app refresh in the device settings. This will prevent installing automatic updates (which can influence the smoothness of their work) but will let you use the iPhone for longer.
Also, you can set this feature to refresh all apps you use automatically. This will need some battery power, however, if you have a power bank at hand or a power outlet nearby, it’s not a problem!
5. Charge Faster in the Airplane Mode
This is a simple tip everyone knows but forgets about when it comes to fast charging. Yep, new iPhones support this option by default, and you might have noticed that it charges from 0 to 80% very efficiently. So, the next time you are running to a serious meeting with only 10 minutes to spare, with all your documents stored on your device (let’s say, in the Collabio Spaces app), and no chance to use a power bank, try Airplane mode! Put the phone in Airplane mode and watch it get up to speed.
6. Store Documents in a Single, Safe Place
Whilst on the topic of documents and meetings, it’s a good idea to have all you need at hand, anytime, anywhere. Being true privacy fans, we prefer using non-cloud solutions to keep third parties away from confidential information. That’s why we are developing Collabio Spaces.
Firstly, you keep everything in one place. What happens in Collabio, stays in Collabio! It is accessible outside of the app if you choose to export the document to the device. This approach saves time, as you don’t need to waste time searching for a single file in different places.
Secondly, if you need to collaborate on the document, you share not the document itself (like in cloud solutions) but only temporary access to it.
7. Organise Files and Folders
Have you ever thought about why people don’t commonly sort out their documents on iPhones as accurately as on desktop? We can’t find the answer either. Nevertheless, doing so will save you tons of time and effort when you next need to find something quickly.
We are so happy that iPhones organize photos by dates and topics automatically! Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen for all files and folders, so organizing them manually, whether alphabetically or in another order, will benefit you later.
8. Ditch Distracting Notifications
Turning notifications off completely might seem difficult to begin with, but it really works! For example, the author of this article turned every social media alert off and forgot about chatting during working hours. 😊 And no, it didn’t feel like something was lost. On the contrary — without notifications, focus was much easier to find and maintain!
If you are not ready to do the same thing, at least turn off the most distracting and unnecessary ones — we are flooded with app notifications every day, buzzing us with some promos and redundant reminders. Ditch the distractions and get into the flow!
9. Try ‘Do-Not-Disturb’ Mode
The ’Do not disturb’ mode is another good way to quieten the environment and limit the usage of social media or messengers. iPhones allow turning off everything for a certain time (until evening, for 1 hour, until you leave some location or any scheduled slot). You can allow some phone numbers to call you anyway and allow your phone to auto-respond to people who want to connect with you. At the same time, you can block all incoming alerts and not receive any messages, notifications and calls until you are ready for them.
10. Limit Time for Playing Games
Playing something simple on a phone can be addictive and steals your time and focus.
If this sounds familiar, fear not! There are two ways out:
- Completely delete time-consuming games from your iPhone and replace them with something which contributes to your productivity or knowledge (perhaps some pop-sci or productivity apps).
- Cap your playtime to 15–30 minutes a day and reduce it every week. You will be rewarded with more time and opportunities!
11. Analyse Your ‘Screen Time’
If you’d like the battery to last longer and for you to become more productive, see what things consume too much time and resources.
Add screen time widget or see reports in Settings — you’ll be able to view the nature of your screen time. Of course, the smaller the number, the better. However, if your work is kept on the phone, it’s okay that screen time shows 8 hours per day.
12. Backup Information from Your iPhone
For some reason, some of us don’t do that unless something happens. Copying important information may be not lifesaving in some cases, but at least it will help keep your mind calm. Be it iCloud or some external drive that you use, you will sleep better knowing things are secure.
13. Set Passwords and Check Privacy
Last, but not least, conduct regular privacy check-ups. Do you have a strong password that no one knows? Set your Face ID and don’t turn these features off!
You may not have a mobile office with confidential documents on a phone but if you lose the device or it gets stolen, you’ll lose any hope for finding it and keeping your memories (photos, videos) safe. Also, it’s a good idea to check and change passwords to services you use regularly (especially cloud services) — always choose complicated passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.
Make sure to activate ‘Find my iPhone’ via iCloud just in case it goes missing one day! You’ll be able to see its location and find it again.
