Spring cleaning isn’t just about cleaning cobwebs from the exterior of your home or organizing the garage. Use this time of year as a reminder to spend time showing your love for your favorite gadgets. With just a few adjustments, you can make your iPhone or iPad feel brand new again.
I’m not talking about clean the exterior of your device, but instead I’m talking about giving the software a little bit of tweaking to make sure you have storage and your device is performing as smoothly as possible. Not to mention the impact that subtle adjustments like moving app icons or changing your wallpaper can have on your phone or tablet.
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Reset the app layout of your home screen for a fresh start
Personally, I know I miss my home screen layout and constantly find myself moving an app, folder, or widget just to change things up a bit. But there are times when I want to start all over again, so I reset my home screen layout.
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You can find this setting by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset home screen layout. Once you use this option, the built-in apps will return to their default position and you will have the option to rearrange or organize your phone.
I’ve found that it often reminds me of old apps that I never use, which I can then delete instead of leaving them hidden in a folder I created some time ago, well, hide them applications that I no longer use. That brings me to my next tip: remove unused apps.
Get rid of those single-use apps
Not only do old apps take up valuable storage space on our devices, but they clutter up your home screen and, depending on your privacy selections when you first installed the app, can potentially verify your location or monitor your contacts or calendars. Instead of letting an app you no longer use take up space or have access to your data, take a few minutes to delete any apps you no longer use.
With the release of iOS 14, Apple changed the way you delete apps on the iPhone. But instead of using the default method, I will show you yet another method. Open the Settings app then go to General> IPhone / iPad storage and wait for the list to load.
Scroll through the list of apps installed on your phone or tablet. When you find one you want to get rid of, tap it, and then select Delete the app.
When I delete a lot of apps, I prefer to use this method because it’s easy to see everything installed in a list instead of having to go from folder to folder – something that only gets more complicated with l ‘addition of App library in iOS 14.
Get a new wallpaper every day
Once your home screen is free of unnecessary apps and revamped, here’s another easy way to keep it fresh every day. Apple’s shortcut apps are a powerful tool for all kinds of use cases, but one thing I use on a daily basis is to set a random Unsplash image as my iPhone and iPad wallpaper. .
Open this link on your phone or tablet, then add the shortcut. Once added, you will need to create a personal automation in the Shortcuts app via the automation tab at the bottom. Choose the day and time you want it to run, then select Run Shortcut and choose the Unsplash Wallpaper shortcut.
Going forward, the shortcut will work at the time you set (I have mine run every morning at 6 a.m.) and your wallpaper will be new and fresh every day.
Sort your current subscriptions
More and more apps are moving to the subscription model and it’s easy to forget what you signed up for. Take a look at your App Store subscriptions by opening the Settings app. Tap your iCloud name at the top of the screen, then tap Subscriptions.
A list of everything your Apple ID is registered for, along with the cost and renewal date will appear after a few seconds. Tap anything you want to cancel, which should allow you to use the app or service until your renewal date.
Do you really want to go crazy? Do this
Resetting your device settings will give you a clean slate without deleting any apps or accounts stored on your phone to the tablet. Indeed, it is an extreme option and one that requires additional thought. But it’s all too easy to turn one setting on or off and forget about everything, all the while getting bored with how your device works. By resetting all the settings on your device, you can start from scratch.
Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset all settings. You will need to enter your password and confirm your decision.
Remember that you need to press Reset all settings and do not Erase all content and settings. This option will factory reset your iPhone or iPad, removing all apps, documents, and accounts from your device and you really have to start all over again.
After giving your iPhone or iPad a spring cleaning treatment, take a few minutes to learn more about Most useful features of iOS 14. We also found hidden features you’ll want to know about. Of course, you should also clean the exterior of your phone or tablet.