Love the phone you're with: 6 ways to extend the life of your phone

People are hanging on to their current phones longer than ever, with up to 70% delaying an upgrade or choosing a cheaper model due to the pandemic or other economic issues, according to a recent Ting® study. But using an older phone doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality.

Asurion is your one-stop-shop for maximizing your tech and appliances. From creating more space on your phone to fixing a dishwasher that won't start, our experts offer total tech care to millions. Here are their top tips and tricks for keeping your phone running like new.

Replace your battery

Like your car battery, your phone battery has a finite number of charge cycles and will eventually wear out. If your battery is unable to hold a charge when unplugged or dies quickly after being fully charged, it's time to replace it. The good news: Replacing a battery is easy, cost-effective, and can boost your phone's lifespan.

To read more ways to get more life out of your phone battery, check out these tips for improving your iPhone's battery life and minimizing Android battery drain.

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Invest in a high-quality charger

Speaking of batteries, your convenience-store charger may be causing your battery to wear out even faster. It's best to always use your phone manufacturer's official charger to ensure the highest quality and proper power regulation. Inexpensive cables often charge more slowly, and poor construction can result in frayed wires, phone damage, and shorter battery life.

Also, use a wall outlet instead of a USB port, and turn on airplane mode while charging. Here are more of our experts' tips on how to make your phone charge faster.

Clean the charging ports and headphone jacks

Over time, lint, dirt, and debris can find their way into your phone's charging port, microphone, speaker, or headphone jack, causing charging issues or other problems. Try connecting your charger—does it fit snugly? Is the battery struggling to charge? If so, it's time to clean out the port.

A professional repair technician can help you safely clean out harder-to-reach areas. For the DIYers out there, shine a flashlight at the area and clean out any dust and grime with a toothpick or cotton swab. Never use a toothbrush or safety pin, as they can damage the device, and never blow into the area either. Read our expert guide for more tips on how to safely clean your phone charging port.

Big picture, it's always a good idea to occasionally remove your case to fully clean your phone and ensure there's no buildup.

Delete unused apps and other storage hogs to free up space

Most of us have a handful of apps we use every day plus a handful we no longer need. Those unused apps eat up precious storage space on your phone and can cause it to run slower than it should. So make a habit of reviewing your apps and delete any that are no longer relevant. (Check out our detailed guide on how to free up storage space on your phone.) You can also save space by deleting photos and videos, especially those in your text threads, or moving them to a cloud-storage service like Google Photos™ or Dropbox™.

Don't delay cosmetic repairs

Shattered screens are often dismissed as a cosmetic issue, but they can harm your phone's internal functionality. The screen protects several important phone components, like the camera and LCD display. A shattered screen can mean dirt, oil, and moisture work their way into the device, damaging important components and leading to a more difficult and expensive repair.

A screen repair doesn't have to be a hassle. For more information, check out our guide to fixing a cracked phone screen.