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The Surprising Settings Apple Experts Say You Should Disable For A Faster iPhone

October 16, 2022 by Lisa Cupido
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Is your phone running slower than you’d like it to? There are a number of reasons why your device isn’t holding up its end of the bargain when it comes to speed and efficiency, and the settings that you have enabled may be at the very top of that list. In many cases, all you have to really do is disable a few common settings to make sure your phone works better. Tech Expert James Calderon at Alrigh says these are the surprising settings that you should disable for a faster iPhone. 

Background App Refresh

“Background App Refresh is a feature that automatically updates apps that you’ve installed in the background,” Calderon says. “While it can be helpful in some cases, experts say that it can actually slow down your iPhone if you have a lot of updates waiting to be installed.”

If you need to keep Background App Refresh enabled, you can try turning it off in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Auto-Play Videos

There are rarely times when you need an app like Facebook to just automatically play every video the second you access the app. In fact, being bombarded with media can be off-putting and the opposite experience than the one you want. “Auto-Play Videos is a feature that lets videos play automatically when you open them,” Calderon said. “While this can be helpful in some cases, experts say that it can actually slow down your iPhone if you have a lot of videos waiting to be played.”

If you need to keep Auto-Play Videos enabled, you can try turning it off in Settings > Videos.

Handoff

“Handoff is a feature that lets you continue working on one app on your iPhone and then switch over to another app without having to quit the first app,” Calderon explained. “While this can be helpful in some cases, experts say that it can actually slow down your iPhone if you use Handoff a lot. If you need to keep Handoff enabled, you can try turning it off in Settings > General > Handoff.”

If you are frustrated by the way your phone is operating at a snail’s pace, try making a few of these changes to the settings on your phone to see if they make a difference. 

Author:

Lisa Fogarty is a lifestyle writer and reporter based in New York who covers health, wellness, relationships, sex, beauty, and parenting.

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Image from SHEfinds
Creamy banana nice cream in a bowl.
Jennifer Lopez wearing Defaience at the 2025 American Music Awards.
Vittoria Ceretti with Leonardo DiCaprio at a glamorous event.
Emma Stone attending the Annual Actor Awards in elegant attire.
Salma Hayek at the 12th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony.
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Kate Middleton during a state visit, showcasing royal fashion.
Middle-aged woman enjoying a glass of wine
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Ariana Grande shining at the Golden Globes in a chic dress.
Kylie Jenner in a sleek black outfit at the 2025 Met Gala.
Woman applying sunscreen for sun protection
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce appearing together at an event.
Healthy seeds featured instead of pastries.
Ivanka Trump with Jared Kushner at a public appearance.
Brad Pitt and Ines De Ramon at the F1 movie premiere.
Bad Bunny performing or attending the Grammys in style.
iPhone charging plugged into a laptop
iPhone charging settings displayed on the screen