How Often Should You Restart Your Phone?

Most people only restart their phone when it freezes, but experts say you should be doing it weekly. In fact, the National Security Agency (NSA) recommends turning your phone off and back on once a week—not just for performance, but also for security.

Restarting isn’t just a quick fix for glitches. It helps clear memory, keeps your device running smoothly, and adds an extra layer of protection against hackers. Let’s break down why restarting matters, when to do it, and the long-term benefits of making it a habit.

Why Restarting Your Phone Matters

Restarting your phone is one of the simplest ways to take care of it. Here’s why it’s more important than you might think:

• Free up memory: Every app you open leaves processes running in the background. Restarting clears them, giving your phone a fresh start.
  
• Resolve software glitches and apply updates: Some updates don’t fully install until you restart. A weekly reboot ensures everything runs properly.
  
• Boost speed and responsiveness: If your phone feels sluggish, restarting helps it feel brand new again.
  
• Strengthen mobile security: Hackers and scammers sometimes use hidden processes to exploit devices. Restarting makes it harder for them to stick around.

Signs You Should Restart Your Phone Immediately

Even if you’re keeping up with a weekly restart, certain issues mean you should hit that power button right away.

Slow Performance

If apps take forever to load or your screen freezes more often than not, a restart can clear out the digital clutter slowing your phone down.

Overheating Issues

When your phone gets too hot, it’s often because background processes are working overtime. Restarting cools things down and prevents further strain on your hardware.

Frequent App Crashes or Glitches

If apps keep shutting down or freezing, it’s a sign your system needs a reset. A restart often smooths things out without any extra troubleshooting.

Connectivity Problems

Struggling to connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? If toggling Airplane Mode doesn’t help, restarting usually resets the connection and solves the problem.

Rapid Battery Drain

A phone that loses charge too quickly may have hidden apps running nonstop. Restarting shuts those processes down and gives your battery a chance to recover.

How to Restart Your Phone Correctly

Restarting your phone isn’t complicated, but doing it the right way ensures your device actually benefits.

• Step 1: Hold the Power button until the shutdown option appears. On some newer phones, you may need to hold both the Power and Volume buttons.
  
• Step 2: Power down completely and wait about 30 seconds. This gives your phone time to fully clear out its background processes.
  
• Step 3: Turn it back on and let it boot up fresh.
  

Note: Restarting your phone is not the same as a factory reset. A restart simply refreshes your system—your apps, data, and settings all stay right where they are.

Common Myths About Restarting Phones

There’s a lot of confusion about when and why to restart your phone. Let’s clear up the most common myths.

• Myth: Restarting is only for frozen screens
  Fact: Restarting prevents freezes, it doesn’t just fix them. Regular restarts keep your phone from slowing down in the first place.
  
• Myth: Restarting too often damages your phone
  Fact: A weekly restart is completely safe and even recommended. Restarting daily isn’t necessary, but it won’t hurt your device either.
  
• Myth: Closing apps is enough
  Fact: Swiping apps closed doesn’t refresh system processes or clear memory the way a restart does. It’s a temporary fix, not a full refresh.

Long-Term Benefits of Weekly Restarts

A simple weekly restart adds up to serious benefits for your device over time:

• Prolonged device lifespan: Less strain on your phone’s hardware means it stays reliable longer.
  
• Consistent performance: No more sudden slowdowns or random glitches.
  
• Improved battery health: Shutting down background tasks helps your battery last longer between charges.
  
• Better security: Restarts ensure updates and patches are applied, reducing your risk of cyber threats.

Final Thoughts

Restarting your phone once a week is one of the easiest ways to protect your device and keep it running smoothly. It frees up memory, boosts performance, and adds an extra layer of security—all in just a few seconds.

Pick a day, like Sunday night, and make it a habit. Your phone (and your patience) will thank you.

If restarting doesn’t solve the bigger issues—like charging problems, cracked screens, or serious performance failures—Pull Up® Phone Repair can help. We provide fast, mobile phone screen repairs in Baltimore and beyond, coming to you to fix your device on the spot so you don’t waste time or deal with downtime.