My iPhone X Is Slow! Here's Why & How To Fix The Problem.

David Lynch

NOVEMBER 10, 2017

Your iPhone X is slow and you don't know why. The iPhone X is the most technologically advanced iPhone ever released, so it's not unreasonable to expect it to be fast. In this article, I'll explain how to fix your slow iPhone X and show you some speed-boosting tips!

Here's Why Your iPhone X Is Slow

Most of the time when your iPhone X is slow, there are software issues preventing it from operating at full speed. Outdated iOS, limited storage space, buggy apps, and general software crashes can all slow down your iPhone X.

The steps below will explain the most common causes of a slow iPhone X and show you how to fix those problems for good!

How To Fix A Slow iPhone X

8 Steps Total
1.

Restart Your iPhone X

When you restart your iPhone X, all of the small programs running on your iPhone can shut down and start again fresh when you turn your iPhone back on.

  1. Press and hold the Side button and either volume button for a few seconds.
  2. Slide the red power icon from left to right when it appears on the display.
  3. Wait about 30 seconds, then turn your iPhone X back on by pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the display.
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2.

Update iOS On Your iPhone

If your iPhone is running an outdated version of iOS, you may run into problems that could be fixed simply by updating to the most recent version of iOS.

How Do I Update iOS On My iPhone?

There are two ways to update iOS on your iPhone: in the Settings app and by using iTunes.

Update iOS In The Settings App

  1. Open up the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Software Update.
  4. If an update is available, tap Install Now or Download and Install.

Update iOS Using iTunes (PCs and Macs running macOS 10.14 or older)

  1. Connect your iPhone to a computer using a Lightning cable.
  2. Open iTunes.
  3. Click the Phone button in the upper left-hand corner of iTunes (see image 3).
  4. Click Check For Update.
  5. If an update is available, click Download and Install.

Update iOS Using Finder (Macs running macOS 10.15 or newer)

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a charging cable.
  2. Open Finder.
  3. Click on your iPhone under Locations.
  4. Click the General tab.
  5. Click Check for Update.
  6. Click Download and Install if an iOS update is available.
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3.

Free Up Storage Space On Your iPhone

When your iPhone is low on available storage, it may operate slowly. You also may not be able to download more apps, music, pictures, or software updates. Freeing up storage space on your iPhone can be a fix for both of these problems!

How Do I Free Up Storage Space On My iPhone?

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap iPhone Storage.
  4. At the top of this menu, you'll see how much storage space is available. If you have less than 1 GB of space available, it may be making your iPhone slow.
  5. To quickly free up some storage space, tap Enable next next to some of the features under the Recommendations submenu (see image 2).
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4.

Close Out Of The iPhone X Apps You Aren't Using

Apps remain loaded in the background of your iPhone X when you leave them open. This way, they'll be ready right away if you want to use them again.

However, when apps are left open in the background of your iPhone, they still have the ability to send and receive data, which can start to cause iPhone X battery drain. There's also a chance that they'll crash, which would make your iPhone X battery die quickly.

How Do I Close Out Of The iPhone X Apps You Aren't Using?

  1. Open the app switcher by slowly dragging your thumb from the bottom of the display to the center.
  2. Pause in the middle of the display until the app switcher opens — you'll know it's open when you see all of your open apps lined up horizontally.
  3. To close an app, swipe it up and off of the screen!
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5.

Turn Off Background App Refresh

Leaving Background App Refresh on for many apps can significantly drain your iPhone's battery life because the apps will use your connection to Wi-Fi or data network to constantly download new data or information.

I recommend going through your apps one-by-one and determining which ones you want to allow to download new content even when you're not currently using it.

How Do I Turn Off Background App Refresh?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Background App Refresh.
  4. Tap the switch next to the apps that you want to turn off Background App Refresh on. You'll know Background App Refresh is off on a particular app when its switch is gray and positioned to the left.
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6.

Clear Safari History and Website Data

When your iPhone has saved a lot of data from the Safari app, your iPhone's speed may slow down significantly. By clearing Safari history and other website data, you can increase your iPhone's speed when it's slow.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Safari.
  3. Scroll down and tap Clear History and Website Data.
  4. Tap Clear History and Data when the confirmation alert appears at the bottom of your iPhone's display.
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7.

Reset All Settings

Many iPhone problems are caused when Settings isn't set up correctly or by corruption within individual Settings app files. Restoring the Settings app back to factory defaults doesn't fix every iPhone software problem, but it is a go-to fix for Apple technicians because it does solve a lot of problems that would be very difficult to to track down by hand.

How Do I Reset All Settings?

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Scroll down and tap Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
  4. Tap Reset.
  5. Tap Reset All Settings.
  6. Enter your passcode, if prompted.
  7. Tap Reset All Settings again to confirm your decision.
  8. Your iPhone will shut down, complete the reset, and turn itself on again will automatically turn back on when the reset finishes.
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8.

Repair Your iPhone With Apple

Apple repairs iPhones at the Genius Bar in Apple Stores and through their online mail-in repair service. Apple repairs are high-quality, but out-of-warranty repairs can be much more expensive than third-party solutions. If you're looking to save some money you're not covered by Apple's warranty, you may want to check out our other recommendations.

How Do I Repair My iPhone With Apple?

How To Repair Your iPhone With Apple's Mail-In Service

  1. Visit Apple's support website to begin the online mail-in repair process.
  2. Alternatively, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753) to set up a repair.

How To Repair Your iPhone At The Genius Bar Inside Your Local Apple Store

  1. Visit Apple's website to make a Genius Bar appointment before you go into the store. Apple Stores are extremely busy, and if you don't have an appointment, you may have to wait for hours or end up being turned away. (Editor's note: I'm a former Apple tech and we're not exaggerating — please, do yourself a favor and make an appointment first!)
  2. When you arrive, go to the Genius Bar to check in for your appointment.
  3. Genius Bar appointments always include free diagnosis. If you're under warranty, many repairs can be done on the spot, but it all depends upon which parts are in stock. If you're not under warranty, the Genius will give you a quote for the cost of a repair.
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The Need For Speed

I hope you found these tips helpful in fixing your slow iPhone X. Feel free to leave me a comment down below and how much faster your iPhone X is! Thanks for reading.

AUTHOR

David Lynch

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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Ullas
Ullas
2 years ago

Best answer

Bart. from Amsterdam
Bart. from Amsterdam
3 years ago

THANK YOU SO MUCH David! Really good and good explained.