Your Phone Can Last Much Longer if You Do These Easy Things

this best mobile phone You can buy in 2025, including excellent iPhone 16 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultracost a fortune, while cheaper phones like Google’s Pixel 8Astill need a lot of cash. The best way to squeeze the most value out of your phone is to keep using it longer, spreading purchases over many years, rather than upgrading frequently. Not only is this better for your wallet, it’s also better for the environment; keeping your tech longer before upgrading means fewer phones shipped, and less old ones end up in landfill. The good news is that companies like Apple, Google, Samsung and others are providing extended support for their phones, meaning the software will remain safe to use for years to come.

Then the rest is up to you. Keeping your phone in good working order during its seven or eight years of software support requires some effort, plenty of attention, and a few key strategies.

Here are the main things you can do to help your phone last as long as possible.

Install all available updates

Use a phone that no longer receives security updates Not safe at all should be avoided. In the past, many Android manufacturers typically only supported new phones for two to three years, but now you’ll find things like Google Pixel 9 series Comes with seven years of software support. Sadly, some of the more affordable phones like the new OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite Still only receiving updates for a few years. If you’re buying a new phone, be sure to check its support hours, as this will give you more value over the life of the phone.

Keeping your phone up to date with the latest security updates will help prevent hackers and keep your phone safe from malware that can sneak in and slow down your phone. Most phones will automatically prompt you to install the latest updates (and you should), but if you have an older phone, go into the settings menu and scroll down to Software updates and click to see if updates are available.

The same goes for your application, which also needs to be updated to stay compatible with the version iOS or Android you are using. It’s a good practice to allow apps to automatically update in the background, but if not, make sure to go into the app store of your choice and check that you’re running the latest version.

Use cases

If you just bought a shiny one Brand new iPhone To physically protect it, the best thing you can do is put it in a case Immediately. Not only does it keep it safe if you accidentally drop it, it also prevents it from being scratched by keys or coins in your pocket.

A screen protector is also a good idea because once the actual screen of your phone is damaged, there’s nothing you can do about it. If your screen protector develops serious scratches, you can simply replace it, keeping the underlying phone looking as fresh as a daisy for years to come. Even if you don’t plan on keeping your phone for years, keeping it looking fresh may help you sell it for a higher price on the used market when it’s time to upgrade.

Replace aging batteries, not phones

Over time, your phone’s battery wears out, and its battery life per charge is shorter than when it was new. This is true for all mobile phones. Some older phones may only have 50% of their previous battery power. You might even get a warning from your phone that your battery can’t provide the necessary power, so your processor might be throttled to compensate.

Don’t worry, because on most phones you can easily replace the battery yourself to make it look like new again. iFixit sells a variety of kits as well as third-party replacement batteries to fit a variety of phones, so if your battery is about to die, it’s worth a look You can replace it yourself.

There are a number of places you can take your phone (not all of which are particularly legal) to replace the battery or even other components like a damaged screen, which might be a good option if you have the skills to use a screwdriver yourself. Not very confident.

Uninstall old apps and photos you don’t need

If you’ve had your phone for years, chances are it’s filled with thousands of photos of your friends, your pets, or the food you’ve eaten during your time on the phone. You may also have downloaded various old apps and games on a whim, played them on a few bus rides, and then moved on to the next mobile game.

Insufficient storage space can adversely affect the overall performance of your phone, or it can mean there isn’t enough space to install important software updates. It’s worth checking your archives, backing up the photos and videos you want to save to the cloud, and deleting anything that’s taking up space on your phone unnecessarily.

If your phone has been around for a long time and is running really slow, it might even be worth backing up all your important stuff and doing a full factory reset, starting over and installing only the essentials you need.

clean your ports

Finally, give your phone a good cleaning as it can have unexpected beneficial effects. Pocket lint can be a real problem for your phone, especially since the charging port is often clogged with useless stuff. The result is that when you plug the charger in, it doesn’t fully connect, so your phone doesn’t charge.

It’s easy to think that something is actually broken—the charging port itself, or the cable—but in reality it could be as simple as the port being stuffed with lint. Periodically stick a wooden toothpick in it and try to remove any dirt and debris you find to make sure your charger can be installed without any violent swinging.

It’s also worth using an old toothbrush (clean and dry) to gently brush away any debris you may find around the speakers and microphone to ensure you can hear and be heard clearly on the phone.