Should I turn off my tech?

Beryl wants to know if turning off her phone will help it run more smoothly.

Q. Beryl
I’ve been told it’s good to switch off your computer every now and then, but will turning off my phone help it run better once it’s back on again?

A. You’re right on the computer front, Beryl. Turning off your computer at regular intervals helps it to clear problems. Amelia has written a welcome article explaining the pros and cons of leaving your computer on. In short, though, it’s best to turn off your computer every now and then.

When it comes to smartphones, one tech expert, Kyle Weins, reckons that it’s not necessary to switch off your phone.

Mr Weins says that just quitting and restarting your apps is enough to clear any issues you may have with the workings of the phone.

If you’re worried about your phone eating up power while you’re not using it, then you could shut it down overnight. Even better, turn your phone onto Airplane Mode or Flight Mode.

To enable Airplane Mode on an Apple device, swipe up from the bottom of your phone screen and tap the airplane symbol on the top left. Or go to ‘Settings’ and turn ‘Airplane Mode’ off.

For Flight Mode, go to ‘Settings’ and scroll down to ‘Flight Mode’, then switch it off. On some Android phones, you may need to go to ‘Network Connections’ to find ‘Flight Mode’.

Mr Weins agrees with the practice of running your phone’s battery down until it’s dead and then charging it all the way back up. You should do this at least once each year.

If you have any tech questions, send us an email, or ask in the comments below.

Related articles:
Six little-known iPhone tips
Three new iOS phone features
Which features use the most data?

Written by Leon Della Bosca

Publisher of YourLifeChoices – Australia's most-trusted and longest-running retirement website. A trusted voice on Australia's retirement landscape, including retirement income and planning, government entitlements, lifestyle and news and information relevant to Australians over 50. Leon has worked in publishing for more than 25 years and is also a travel writer and editor, graphic designer and photographer.

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