Does keeping texts on my phone slow its performance?

We all know large apps can fill up a smartphone's memory and slow the phone down, but what about texts? Texts don't typically store lots of data, unless you've got tons of video or pictures in them, but over time they do add up.

So, can texts slow down your phone's performance? The short answer is yes. Yes they can. However, you may not notice it for a while. For both iPhones and Android smartphones, a surplus of texts could eventually slow the phone down. And for those of you who don't have a smartphone yet: First, let me remind you it's the 21st century. Second, your texts can still slow down your old I'm-going-to-fight-technology-as-long-as-I-can cell phone.

Just like large apps that take up a significant amount of a phone's hard drive, your texting app may slow down if you have too many texts stored on the phone. If you notice your texting app takes longer to open, doesn't respond well to typing, or won't send texts quickly, you just might have a few too many old text messages saved.

So what's one to do when you have too many texts? Delete those suckers! Do you really need those old texts asking whether you can borrow your friend's humidifier anyway? Of course not! Deleting those excess texts can speed up your phone and your texting app should see the most improvement.

If you're a text hoarder and can't fathom deleting any of your precious conversations, you may want to look into an app that will export texts to your computer or one that will back up your entire device. There's plenty out there and you won't have to worry about losing that picture of the huge spider your brother sent you.

Oh, and not to get all PSA on you, but don't do any of this while driving.

Author's Note

Truth be told, my Android phone has slowed down many times in the past and the first thing to come to mind wasn't deleting texts. It was probably more like, "Why don't I have an iPhone?!" But after doing a little research it seems that even the beloved iPhone can slow down sometimes, and an overabundance of texts may play a part. Even with the minor inconvenience of a temporarily slow smartphone, I'd still take texting over actually talking on the phone. Phone conversations are so old fashioned.

Sources

Hyatt, Michael. "How To Speed Up Your iPhone If It Starts Slowing Down." June 30, 2012. (Sept. 17, 2012) http://michaelhyatt.com/speed-up-iphone.html
Kazmucha, Allyson. "Daily Tip: More Ways to Speed Up a Laggy iPhone and iPad." iMore.com. May 12, 2011. (Sept. 17, 2012) http://www.imore.com/speed-laggy-ios-device
XDA Developers. "Forum." (Sept. 17, 2012) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1245165

Slow Phone FAQs

Why is my phone internet so slow all of a sudden?

This usually happens due to dropped signals or even bad service. You can try resetting the internet by rebooting it. You should also delete the history of the web browser you use along with the cookies. Try to use one browser on your phone rather than several, which can also slow down the internet speed of your phone.

How can I make my WiFi faster on my phone?

You can start by moving your router to another location. Make sure the router is placed higher and in an open space. Also, make sure that you are on the right frequency band. You can also simply connect less devices on your WiFi at a time to boost the internet speed on your phone.

Why is it taking so long for my phone to load?

There can be multiple reasons why it is taking long for your phone to load. There could be a virus or spyware. Second, you could have a lot of bloatware installed on your phone, which could also make your phone slow. It's best to delete apps you do not need and reset your phone.

How do you fix a slow iPhone?

There are some things you can do if your iPhone is running slow or lagging. Update the iOS and the apps you use frequently. Turn off background apps and updates. Clear the cache to free up storage space. You can also reduce the visual effects on your iPhone to make it load faster.

Why is my phone slower on WiFi?

Your router could be positioned at the wrong place or you could be too far away from the router. Normal router signals can travel at a range of 230 feet; anything more and the signals will be weaker.