Is your iPhone suddenly crawling at a snail’s pace? Apps taking forever to open, or your keyboard lagging when you type a message? You’re not imagining it—and you’re definitely not alone.
A sluggish iPhone can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you rely on it for everything from messaging and social media to banking and booking taxis. But don’t rush out to buy a new phone just yet. In most cases, there’s a fixable reason behind the slowdown—and knowing what to look out for could save you time, stress and money.
Here are five common reasons why your iPhone might be running slow, and what you can do to bring it back up to speed.
1. Too Many Apps Running in the Background
Modern iPhones are designed to handle multitasking, but even they have limits. When you’ve got dozens of apps open in the background, they can hog your phone’s RAM (random access memory), slowing everything down—especially if you’re using an older model like the iPhone 8 or X.
Apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Google Maps are notorious for running background processes, even when you’re not actively using them.
Quick fix: Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click the home button on older models) and close apps you’re not using. Restarting your iPhone at least once a week also helps to clear temporary memory and keep things smooth.
2. Outdated iOS Software
Running an old version of iOS is like driving a high-performance car with last year’s tyres. Outdated software can lead to bugs, security vulnerabilities, and reduced app compatibility—all of which can impact your iPhone’s speed.
Apple regularly rolls out updates that include performance enhancements, especially for newer apps that expect the latest software environment.
How to check: Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version of iOS if available. Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi and have at least 50% battery or are plugged in.
3. Storage Nearly Full
One of the biggest culprits behind iPhone slowdowns? Running out of space. If your storage is close to capacity, your iPhone struggles to operate efficiently, particularly when installing updates, taking photos, or opening larger apps.
Cached files, old videos, unused apps and even WhatsApp media can quietly eat up space over time.
Tip: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see what’s taking up room. Delete unused apps, clear your Safari cache, offload large videos and back up older photos to iCloud or an external drive.
A good rule of thumb: Keep at least 10-15% of your storage free for optimal performance.
4. Battery Health is Poor
If your iPhone’s battery health has dropped below 80%, it could be silently throttling performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns. This is a known feature Apple implemented in older iPhones—particularly those in the 6, 7, and 8 series.
A degraded battery means your phone doesn’t have the power to support peak performance, leading to sluggish response times and random lag.
Check it here: Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If you see a message that “performance management has been applied,” it’s time to consider a battery replacement.
At Repair It Reuse It, we offer fast, professional iPhone battery replacements using premium-grade parts—with most repairs completed in under an hour.
5. Software Glitches or Malware
Although rare, software glitches, corrupt system files, or malware (particularly on jailbroken devices) can cause serious performance issues. You might notice random freezes, app crashes, or unusual pop-ups.
Installing dodgy apps or third-party configuration profiles can also interfere with iOS performance.
Fix: First, back up your data via iCloud or iTunes. Then try a factory reset via Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. If that doesn’t solve it—or you’d rather not take chances—speak to a certified technician who can safely clean and restore your iOS software.
Need Help with a Slow iPhone? We’ve Got You.
From overloaded storage to battery degradation, there’s usually a straightforward reason your iPhone is running slow—and a simple fix to match.
If you’ve tried the steps above and your iPhone is still lagging, don’t put up with it any longer. Bring your device to Repair It Reuse It in Liverpool for a free performance diagnostic. Our Apple-trained technicians will pinpoint the issue and get your iPhone back in top form—often within the same day.
