Galaxy S20 is running slow? Here’s what to do!
Wondering why your Galaxy S20 is running slow? This post might be able to help you. Read on to find out what could trigger a new powerful smartphone like the Galaxy S20 to become sluggish earlier than expected. I’ve also mapped out a few helpful solutions and workarounds to rule out software-related factors from the underlying cause.
Frequent lags or sluggishness are usually among the common indications of performance issues in mobile devices. Such behaviors usually manifest on any device after several months of years of regular use. Nonetheless, there are also some instances when similar symptoms emerge earlier than expected. Things like these are inevitable considering many factors can trigger a device to act up from time to time. On a positive note, such atypical behaviors can be remedied.
Fixing a Galaxy S20 that’s running very slow
Time Needed : 10 minutes
Performing the subsequent methods will help eliminate common factors that can slow down a powerful smartphone like the Galaxy S20. While these are just simple tweaks, they can deliver significant remedies unless hardware damage is present. Just follow these steps when needed.
Clear all background apps and restart.
When apps are left open and running in the background for a long period of time, there is a tendency for them to crash. When this happens, the entire system functions could get affected and thus, your device would slow down.
To rule this out, clearing all background apps and restarting the device is recommended. This is the simplest yet effective means to clear and refresh the internal memory and operating system, allowing the device to run smoothly again.
To clear all background apps on the Galaxy S20, simply tap the Recent icon from the Home screen. Doing so will open app previews. These are the apps that are left open and running in the background. Swiping up on each app preview will force close individual apps.
After clearing all background apps, restart the phone. This is imperative to clear out any existing system errors that might have slowed the phone down.
Install all pending software updates (apps and operating system).
Software updates be it for apps and Android OS not only bring in new features but also deliver security patches that are programmed to address existing issues inflicted by some bugs and malware. Some updates are purposely rolled out to enhance a device’s system functions and overall performance.
If you haven’t set your Galaxy S20 auto-install updates, then you should consider doing a manual check.
To check for app updates from the Play Store, open the Play Store app then tap on the Menu icon to view My apps & games. From this menu, you can find the option to Update individual apps or Update all apps at once. The latter option is only applicable if multiple app updates are available.
To check for the latest software update (Android version), navigate to Apps-> Settings-> Software update menu and from here you can find the option to Download and install the latest Android version available for your phone.
Your device will execute a new update check and if available prompt you to update your device. Simply tap OK then Start to continue.
You can also update your Galaxy S20 using a computer via Samsung Smart Switch.
After installing all updates, restart your phone to apply the recent system changes.
View a step by step guide here.
Manage storage space.
Although the Galaxy S20 offers a huge storage space, it’s internal storage is not limited. This means that it can become fully occupied and run out eventually. To rule out insufficient storage, deleting all unwanted old files from the phone and creating backups of critical information is recommended.
To check and manage your Galaxy S20 storage, navigate to Apps-> Settings-> Device care-> Storage menu and then scroll to the Available space section.
If necessary, you can free up some space by deleting unused apps on the phone, clearing app cache and data, deleting call logs, unnecessary messages and other useless files.
View a step by step guide here.
Reset settings.
Performance issues can also be attributed to some incorrect configurations or invalid settings on the phone. Thus, if your Galaxy S20 started to slow down after changing some settings, restoring the default settings can help. This is when the need to reset all settings arises.
Reset settings is a reset command that is used to erase all customized settings and system modifications you’ve recently done. After the reset, original options and system configurations are restored. All saved information on the internal memory would remain intact and so you don’t need to create backups.
To reset all settings on your Galaxy S20, navigate to Apps-> Settings-> General management-> Reset menu and then select Reset settings from the given options. Tap Reset settings to proceed and if prompted, enter your device PIN and password to confirm Reset settings.
View a step by step Reset settings guide here.Factory reset/master reset.
If the problem continues after implementing all prior methods, there’s a higher chance that you’re dealing with a complex system issue if not, hardware damage. To rule out the former, advanced methods like a factory reset are needed. But before you proceed, be sure to back up all important files saved on your phone’s internal storage to evade from losing them permanently. You can back them up to cloud or other external storage devices, as you would prefer. Once the backup is secured, you’re all set for a factory reset.
To factory reset your Galaxy S20 via settings, navigate to Apps-> Settings-> General Management-> Reset menu then choose Factory data reset from the given options. Continue by scrolling down, tap Reset then Delete all.
If prompted, enter the correct PIN or unlock credentials to confirm full system reset.
Another way to master reset a Galaxy S20 is using the hardware keys. This method is applicable when you need to factory reset an unresponsive or frozen device.
View a step by step Factory Reset guide here.
Tools
- Android 10, One UI 2.0 and up
Materials
- Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus, Galaxy S20 Ultra
After the reset, everything is restored to factory defaults. Thus, you will need to set up your galaxy s20 as new.
In normal circumstances, performing a master reset or factory reset will restore smooth performance as the device is totally cleared out of various contents. A factory reset is also a solution needed to performance issues inflicted by complex system flaws. The only downside however is that it results in permanent data loss. But this shouldn’t be a problem given that Cloud backup servers as well as external storage media are already present.
If none of the given solutions is able to fix the problem and your galaxy s20 is still performing very slow, then that’s when you should consider opting for service. The phone might have obtained some sort of physical or liquid damage that eventually resulted in early deceleration.
And that covers everything in this troubleshooting guide. Please keep posted for more comprehensive troubleshooting guides and tutorials that would help you make the most of what the new Samsung galaxy s20 has to offer.
You can also check out our YouTube channel to view more smartphone video tutorials and troubleshooting guides.
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