Most of us have a large number of apps on our phones, but how many do we really use? If you have not used an app in the past four weeks, there is a good chance you do not need it on your phone. If it is not being used, it is simply contributing to the clutter on your phone and should be removed. Later on, if you do find yourself needing one of the deleted apps, you can always reinstall.
Our phone cameras are used on a daily basis, multiple times per day. This can lead to a whole lot of clutter on our phones. Instead of leaving all this clutter on your phone, upload them to the cloud. If you do not use cloud storage, transferring them directly to your PC is an option. Once they are safely backed up off your phone, delete any that you do not absolutely need to keep on your phone. In doing so you’ll both clear clutter and free up space.
If you use a notes app, they can quickly pile up in numbers and become a cluttered mess. Instead, either copy them to a document or upload them to the cloud. Like your photos, once they’re safely backed up, remove any truly unnecessary ones from your phone.
Most of us have a contact list that could stretch miles long. Between work contacts, friends, family, schools, doctors, and more, the number of contacts can quickly add up. When you’re working on decluttering your phone, take the time to go through your contact list. Remove any that you no longer need. Once you do, making a call and finding a number will be much simpler.
Old texts can also create clutter on your phone and depending on the size of the texts, they may be taking up a large amount of space on your phone. If you think you may need a text later on, take screenshots or simply archive it. Otherwise, delete any that you are done replying to.
Most of us use our phone's internet browser in a way that results in numerous browser tabs being open at once. This not only creates a cluttered browser but also slows your phone down. Go through these tabs and close any that are not needed. Once you have done this, open the settings for your browser and clear the cache. This will remove any unnecessary data that your browser may be storing.
Once you have done the tasks above, it is time to declutter your phone's home screens. The easiest way to do this is by grouping like apps with like apps. To group apps and create a folder, touch and hold an app. Drag it on top of another like app to create a folder. Give your new folder a new name and repeat until your apps are organized. A few folder ideas are: – Finance Apps – Health and Fitness Apps – Games – Shopping – Social Media – Business
After a suggestion from my friend Diana at DianaRene (the decluttering queen!), I changed from folders grouped by "type" to a color-coordinated folder system. I wasn't sure about it at first, but now I'll never go back. I have a white, red, orange/yellow, green, blue and black folder on my second screen. On my main screen I have a single line with my calendar, gmail, camera and daily folder. In my daily folder are things I use everyday for quick and easy access.
Finally, open your phone settings and clear the cache of your phone. Cached items are small pieces of data that are stored by your phone but they are essentially unnecessary. By clearing it, you will free up even more space on your phone and help it to run smoother and quicker.