Why You Should Restart Your Phone Regularly
Your phone is sluggish, apps keep crashing and the battery is half dead before noon? A simple restart fixes more than you'd think. Here's why it works.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-06-25
Your phone is responding slowly, an app keeps freezing or the battery is already half empty by midday — even though you charged it fully overnight. Sound familiar? The solution is sometimes surprisingly simple: restarting your phone. Not as a temporary fix, but as part of a smart habit that keeps your device in good shape for longer.
Quick summary: Restarting your phone regularly clears temporary memory, stops background processes that drain your battery and resolves minor software glitches — no technician required.
What actually happens when you restart your phone?
Many people think restarting a phone is the same as putting it to sleep. It isn't. When you turn off your screen, all apps and processes keep running in the background — they barely even pause. A proper restart shuts everything down cleanly, clears the working memory (RAM) and boots the system back up fresh and clean.
Think of it like a busy kitchen at the end of a working day. You can switch off the lights and lock the doors (sleep mode), but the washing-up is still there, the hobs are still warm and the chef is still wandering around. Or you clean everything up, send everyone home and start tomorrow with an empty kitchen (restart). That second scenario is what your phone actually needs.
At our workshop in Nijverdal, we see devices come in every day where the owner is convinced something is broken — when a simple restart would have solved the problem already. That's not a criticism; it's simply a reflection of how little most people know about what's going on under the bonnet of their phone.
5 concrete reasons to restart your phone more often
- RAM is freed up. Apps you closed a long time ago still load fragments of themselves into working memory. Over time, this builds up. A restart wipes everything clean, so your phone responds faster.
- Background processes are stopped. Some apps run constantly in the background, even if you haven't opened them in weeks. They consume battery and mobile data without you noticing. After restarting your phone, only the processes that are truly necessary start back up.
- Software updates are applied. Many system updates are waiting for a restart to fully install. Keep dismissing that pending update notification? Then you're also falling behind on security patches.
- Temporary files are cleared out. Cache files help apps load faster, but when they become outdated or corrupted, they actually cause crashes and loading issues. A restart gives the system a chance to clear out the clutter.
- Network connections are refreshed. Poor signal, Wi-Fi that won't connect, Bluetooth that neither pairs nor disconnects — a restart resets your device's network connections and fixes these kinds of annoyances nine times out of ten.
How often should you restart your phone?
There's no golden rule, but most technicians — including ours — recommend restarting your phone at least once a week. If you use your device heavily for work, gaming or video streaming, feel free to do it more often, say every two to three days.
Apple itself recommends restarting the iPhone at least once a week. Samsung offers similar advice in their support documentation. It takes you literally thirty seconds, and the benefits — a faster device, longer battery life, fewer crashes — are immediately noticeable.
Last week, a customer from Hellendoorn came in with an iPhone 13, complaining that the battery was dying within a day. After a quick check, there was no hardware issue: the device hadn't been restarted in months and had twelve apps actively running in the background, including a navigation app continuously using GPS. After the restart and a small settings adjustment, he was easily getting two days out of a charge again. No needed — just know-how.
Restarting vs. switching off: what's the difference?
Good to know: switching your phone off completely and turning it back on does exactly the same thing as a restart. The result for the system is identical — everything shuts down, the memory is cleared and the device boots up fresh.
The only advantage of the restart option (via the menu) is convenience: one button, and you don't have to wait for the screen to go completely black before turning it back on. Some people also switch their phone off at night — a great habit, as it lets the device cool down and gives the battery a moment's rest.
When isn't a restart enough?
Honest advice, even if it goes against our commercial interests: a restart won't fix genuine hardware problems. Do any of the following sound familiar, even after multiple restarts?
- The battery is still draining extremely fast (battery health below 80%)
- The screen responds slowly or shows patches and dead pixels
- The phone gets hot during normal use
- Apps crash constantly, even after a full restart and update
- Your phone won't turn on or keeps getting stuck on the startup screen
In those cases, the problem runs deeper: a worn-out battery, corrupted software or a hardware defect. Our certified technicians at Willem Alexanderstraat 11 in Nijverdal will take a look for free. A like a battery replacement is often done within thirty minutes while you wait.
Want to know what a repair costs before you come in? Check our or the for current prices.
Restarting as part of smart phone maintenance
Regularly restarting your phone is just one piece of a bigger picture. Our experience shows that people who take good care of their device get an average of a year more use out of it — saving them a significant purchase. Pair a weekly restart with these habits:
- Ideally, keep your charge between 20% and 80% for optimal battery lifespan
- Install updates straight away — not just for performance, but for security too
- Delete apps you no longer use (they often keep running in the background)
- Use a sturdy case and screen protector to prevent screen damage
- Check your battery health periodically: on iPhones, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health
If your device is still deteriorating and you just want a fresh start, browse our range of refurbished iPhones and Samsung phones — fully tested, with a two-year warranty and often a fraction of the new price. Or bring your old device along: we'll give you an instant trade-in value via our trade-in page.
Comparison: the effect of a restart on common problems
| Problem |
Does a restart help? |
Alternative solution |
| Slow phone / stuttering apps |
✅ Yes, often immediately |
Free up RAM, clear storage |
| Fast battery drain (software) |
✅ Yes, stops background processes |
Turn off background app refresh |
| Wi-Fi or Bluetooth not working |
✅ Yes, refreshes connections |
Reset network settings |
| App keeps crashing |
⚠️ Sometimes, not always |
Uninstall and reinstall the app |
| Fast battery drain (hardware) |
❌ No |
|
| Screen not responding properly |
❌ No |
Screen repair required |
Frequently asked questions
How often should I restart my phone?
At least once a week is a good rule of thumb for most users. If you use your phone heavily — lots of apps, gaming, navigation — every two to three days is even better. It takes thirty seconds and keeps your device faster and more stable.
Will I lose data if I restart my phone?
No. A restart only clears the temporary working memory (RAM). Your photos, contacts, apps, messages and settings remain completely intact. The only thing that disappears is unsaved data in apps you haven't closed — so save your work before restarting if you're in the middle of something.
Restarting my phone isn't helping anymore — what now?
If a restart doesn't bring any improvement, there's likely something more going on. Think of a worn-out battery, corrupted software or a hardware issue. Pop into The Phone Shopper in Nijverdal for a free diagnosis, or browse our online. We help customers from across Twente.
Is there a difference between restarting an iPhone and restarting a Samsung?
The principle is identical: both clear the RAM and reboot the system. The method differs slightly. On most iPhones, you hold down the side button and a volume button. On Samsung devices, you typically hold the power button and then select 'Restart'. The result for your phone is the same.
Does restarting help with water damage?
Unfortunately not. Water damage is a hardware problem where moisture affects the internal components. Restarting your phone won't fix that — in fact, powering on a device with wet components can cause additional damage. Switch the device off, dry it as best you can and bring it to our as quickly as possible for a water damage clean.
What's the difference between restarting and a factory reset?
A world of difference. A restart is quick, safe and only clears the temporary memory. A factory reset wipes your phone completely back to square one: all apps, photos, contacts and settings are deleted. Only use a factory reset as a last resort, and always take a full backup first. Not sure what to do? We'll happily walk you through it for free in our store in Nijverdal.
Can't figure it out, or do you suspect something is genuinely wrong with your device? Feel free to stop by at Willem Alexanderstraat 11 in Nijverdal, give us a call on 0548-549536 or browse our full range of products and services on the website. We're always happy to help — no strings attached.
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