Is your phone running slow or hanging frequently? You’re not alone. Over time, Android phones—especially those with heavy app usage—tend to slow down due to cluttered storage, app overload, and background internet usage. But don’t worry, this article explains four powerful settings and one essential app that can bring your old, laggy phone back to life.
With just a few tweaks, your smartphone can feel smooth, fast, and fresh—just like it did when you first unboxed it.
🛠️ Setting 1: Enable Developer Options and Turn Off Animation Scales
Animations make your phone visually pleasing, but they can also slow it down. Disabling or reducing them can boost speed dramatically.
Steps to Enable Developer Options and Adjust Animation Settings:
- Go to
Settings > About Phone. - Find and tap the Build Number 7 times. It will activate Developer Mode.
- Enter your phone’s lock screen password if prompted.
- Now go back to Settings > Additional Settings > Developer Options.
- Scroll down to find these three settings:
- Window animation scale
- Transition animation scale
- Animator duration scale
- Set all three to “Off” or 0.5x for minimal animations and maximum speed.
This alone can make navigating through your phone feel twice as fast.
🛠️ Setting 2: Update and Optimize Google Play Store
A lot of people ignore the Play Store itself—but if it’s outdated, your app performance can suffer.
Steps to Update and Optimize Play Store:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon (top right).
- Go to Settings > About > Play Store Version.
- Tap it to check for updates.
Enable Play Protect:
- From the same profile menu, go to Play Protect.
- Tap the gear icon (⚙️) and enable:
- Scan apps with Play Protect
- Improve harmful app detection
- Now, tap Scan to check for harmful or suspicious apps.
This protects your phone from potentially harmful apps that can slow it down.
🛠️ Setting 3: Remove Unused and Residual Apps from Play Store
Many people uninstall apps, thinking they’re gone. But Google Play Store keeps a record of all apps you’ve ever installed. These leftovers take up space.
Steps to Remove Residual Apps:
- Open Google Play Store > Profile Icon > Manage Apps & Device.
- Tap Manage, then tap the dropdown and choose Not Installed.
- You’ll see a list of apps that were uninstalled but are still stored in your Play Store history.
- Select all unwanted apps and tap the trash icon to delete them.
- This will free up significant storage, reduce clutter, and speed up your phone.
🛠️ Setting 4: Restrict Internet Access for Rarely Used Apps
Background apps consume internet and battery. You can restrict internet access for apps you rarely use.
Recommended App: NetGuard
NetGuard allows you to manage which apps can access the internet.
👉 Download NetGuard from the official site: https://www.netguard.me
Steps to Use NetGuard:
- Install and open NetGuard.
- Enable the service from the top toggle.
- You’ll see a list of installed apps.
- For apps you rarely use, disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data access using the icons next to them.
By stopping background internet usage:
- Your phone becomes faster
- You save mobile data
- Battery life improves significantly
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Will disabling animations harm my phone?
A: No. It only removes visual effects. Your phone will work faster and smoother.
Q2: What if I don’t find the Developer Options?
A: Follow the steps carefully in Setting 1. Tapping “Build Number” 7 times unlocks the Developer Options.
Q3: Is NetGuard safe to use?
A: Yes, NetGuard is a trusted app widely used to control internet access without root.
Q4: I uninstalled apps but still don’t see more space. Why?
A: Apps often leave residual files or stay listed in the Play Store history. Follow Setting 3 to remove them completely.
✅ Final Words
By implementing these four settings and using NetGuard wisely, your phone can:
- Stop hanging
- Run faster and smoother
- Save battery and data
- Stay protected from harmful apps
It’s a one-time setup that delivers long-term benefits.
🔗 Useful Resources
- NetGuard Official Website: https://www.netguard.me
- Google Play Protect Info: https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/2812853
🛡️ Disclaimer:
These optimizations are safe and do not void your phone’s warranty. However, modifying developer settings should be done carefully. Always read each setting description before changing anything else.
🔖 Tags:
android optimization, mobile speedup, fix phone lag, android tricks, developer settings, netguard app, play store cleanup, background data control
📢 Hashtags:
#AndroidTips #PhoneOptimization #SpeedUpPhone #NetGuard #DeveloperOptions #PlayStoreTips #BatterySaver #MobileTricks #CleanAndroid #NoMoreLag
