Android phone slow

Robm1955

How can I tell if my phone has been hacked, or has a virus? Web sites seem to be loading slow, and some apps that connect to the Internet are too. It may be my phone needs a good clear out. Can anyone recommend a good free app for this? TIA.

ballyblack

another app will only add more gunk. What is it ?
year model??

HillStreetBlues

Robm1955 said:

How can I tell if my phone has been hacked, or has a virus? Web sites seem to be loading slow, and some apps that connect to the Internet are too. It may be my phone needs a good clear out. Can anyone recommend a good free app for this? TIA.

Have you done a download speed test? more importantly have you rebooted it?

Robm1955

It's a Samsung A14

PHK

It’s unlikely you have a virus (as long as you aren’t the type to click on random parts of web pages or adverts)

Goto Settings>Device Care and make sure that your phone is optimised. 

Because of the way Android works, which can cause a slow down, devices benefit from occasional power cycling and a factory reset every year or so (some manufacturers say two years) 

forgotmyname

Budget phone with budget specs, had my galaxy for 6 years and it's spec is slightly better than yours but it cost £200
6 years ago.

You get what you pay for like the cheaper LCD screen not the better Super AMOLED one. CPU cores are older and slower and
the same goes for the video chip.  The Android OS has grown over the years.

I think the G52 in the A14 has less memory than the G72 in other £200 phones.

Updates on mine have ended and I have noticed it's slower as apps grow in size.

Robm1955

PHK said:

It’s unlikely you have a virus (as long as you aren’t the type to click on random parts of web pages or adverts)

Goto Settings>Device Care and make sure that your phone is optimised. 

Because of the way Android works, which can cause a slow down, devices benefit from occasional power cycling and a factory reset every year or so (some manufacturers say two years) 

If I do a factory reset, I'll lose everything. 

flaneurs_lobster

Robm1955 said:

PHK said:

It’s unlikely you have a virus (as long as you aren’t the type to click on random parts of web pages or adverts)

Goto Settings>Device Care and make sure that your phone is optimised. 

Because of the way Android works, which can cause a slow down, devices benefit from occasional power cycling and a factory reset every year or so (some manufacturers say two years) 

If I do a factory reset, I'll lose everything. 

That's why you set the phone to backup everything to your Google and/or Samsung account, not just for this exercise but because you might lose your phone at any time.

Only downsides are remembering to backup WhatsApp message threads before any reset and the need to enter login information into apps once they are reinstalled.

TELLIT01

The A14 isn't exactly ancient.  My wife has used an A20 for a few years.  That used to slow down but a quick power off and reboot sorted it for a while (6 months or more at a time).  I would do that as a first step before anything more drastic.

RumRat

I'm surprised no one has suggest turning it off and back on....Sounds obvious, but you should try and turn it off/on every so often....This will help clear a few things that could cause slow down.
Never hurts to try it before all else.

PHK

Robm1955 said:

PHK said:

It’s unlikely you have a virus (as long as you aren’t the type to click on random parts of web pages or adverts)

Goto Settings>Device Care and make sure that your phone is optimised. 

Because of the way Android works, which can cause a slow down, devices benefit from occasional power cycling and a factory reset every year or so (some manufacturers say two years) 

If I do a factory reset, I'll lose everything. 

Try Device Care first but anyway you should be backing your data up. What would happen if you lost or damaged your phone.