There is no need to launch a survey to check and confirm that all Android users would like a faster smartphone, it`s the obvious preferred choice.

For our smartphones to remain swift, we need to clean them every so often, and I`m not referring to the fibre-cloth for the outside chassis, but to clear the cookies, cache and any other unwanted data.

Why is my Phone so Slow?

Android phones are constantly online, and your web browser of choice in particular, picks up data from all the sites you visit. Much of this data gets stored as part of cookies and cache, and starts to build up in your browser app.

The above applies whether you`re using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Samsung Internet, to name three most popular Android search engines, since Safari is for Apple users only.

Mind you, this data can be useful for websites you visit frequently, making them load faster, with your accounts already logged in.

Moreover, some cookies track your browsing history and assist in providing personalised adverts in line with what you usually look for.
An example of this is when we search for a product on a shopping site, and then we are presented with more adverts of said product later in separate searches.

If you are content with this, there are no issues. On the other hand, if you are aware of a tracker which could be present in stored cookies, it could be removed by clearing data and cache regularly.

This will lead to a slight inconvenience of having to log back in again in some websites, but it`s a minor price to pay to have a peace of mind that your phone isn`t stocking up on unnecessary data, to get rid of any trackers, plus obtaining speed.

How to Clear Search Engines

Depends on which browser you use, since different search engines can vary in methods of clearing.

However, we will be looking, as aforementioned, at Google Chrome, often the default for the majority of Android phones, especially the Google`s own Pixel line. Then the Samsung Internet browser, which is the one Sammy embed on their Galaxy phone series, and the Mozilla Firefox browser.

Google Chrome

Within Chrome you can either click on the More button situated on the top right hand and indicated by three vertically aligned dots, then tap History and Clear browsing data.

Chrome has the option to access this also from the Settings menu, tap Privacy and Security, then Clear browsing data.

Furthermore, Chrome offers Basic and Advanced settings to clear your browsing history, cookies, sites` data, cached images and files.

You can utilise the Time range drop-down to select whether you want to delete the entire history or a selection of anywhere from the past 24 hours up to the last four weeks.

Clicking on Advanced will also give you the possibility to delete saved passwords, autofill form data and site settings.

After choosing what you want to delete, tap on the blue Clear data button.

Could be that Chrome will deem certain websites essential to you, in which case it will prompt a further verification before proceeding to clear what you chose.

Samsung Internet

The method here is twofold, you either clear data within the browser itself, or through your phone`s Settings app.

Via the browser, tap on the Options button situated in the bottom right corner represented by three horizontal lines, then Settings, scroll

down find Personal Data and click on it, and finally choose Delete browsing data to get a menu of options to delete.Here you can clear browsing history, cookies and sites` data, cached images, files, passwords and autofill forms in any combination.

After clicking on Delete data, you`ll receive a prompt to re-confirm your choices before deleting.

To clear via Settings, tap on Apps, and scroll to find Samsung Internet and then Storage. At the bottom of Storage, you will get separate options to Clear cache or Clear data.

If you choose Clear cache it will immediately clear it, however if you click on Clear data system will prompt a warning advising that all of the application`s data will be deleted permanently, including files, settings, accounts and databases. This way your Samsung Internet browser will restart afresh.

Mozilla Firefox

Similar to Google Chrome method, via the browser itself click on the vertically aligned three dots situated on the right of the address bar representing the More button, then Settings, scroll down to Delete browsing data.

From these search engines we`re discussing about, Firefox gives you the most options, allowing you to delete any existing open tabs, browsing history, sites` data, permissions and even your Downloads folder alongside cookies, cached images and files.

No time range option here, however you can be more specific about what type of data you want to clear.

Firefox has an additionally handy option, and that is to Delete browsing data on quit, which instructs Firefox to clear every time you quit an application. This could be useful to keep the browser tidy, while avoiding your data to end up in the wrong hands if your phone is stolen or hacked.

Clear Apps Cache

Apart from search engines, you can also clear other apps cache. This is done via Settings, tap on Storage, then Other apps, choose the app you want and click on Clear cache.

In conclusion, more tips!

Holding too little storage space, or running a lot of apps/programs at once can also slow down your phone. Moreover, keep up with updates, since an outdated operating system could also affect speed. Lastly, it could be your ageing battery.

Compensate by using the Lite version (if available) of bulky apps like social platform ones. Regularly clean the memory of your phone, delete the apps you don`t use, and backup your files, photos and videos on external drives or in the cloud, and delete them from your phone. Reboot, and it should do the job.