Until some months ago, I used to have so many unused applications on my smartphone, and it doesn't really bother me because my regularly used apps always appear at the top of my screen, separated from the apps in general. Once I unlock my phone, I don't go around searching for my frequently used apps, so all is well but I started getting concerned when my smartphone started freezing.
I have to lock and unlock to unfreeze, and sometimes I have to switch off the phone to ensure it's working properly. I knew the storage must be the problem, so I started deleting pictures and lots of my food/DIY videos I shared on Hive. My phone worked properly for a short time and started freezing again, so it occurred to me that my RAM was the problem.
I went through my phone and was surprised to see so many unused apps were sitting comfortably, messing up with my phone. I got some of these apps because I needed them temporarily and didn't delete them after, but there are some I can't even tell where they came from. Aside from these ones, there are system files in app form that are risky to delete because you don't know their exact function, and they are just there useless to me.
I deleted a lot of them that day, and despite that, I still have useless apps sitting around on my device just after a few months of that thoroughly decluttering I did the other day. Many of these apps are just one-time things, and thanks to my phone security check that reminds me of these apps, it automatically restricts the apps from running in background, and it's left for me to delete or not.
One of the apps is Tiktok. I might sound really outdated with this, but that's just reality. I enjoy watching videos online but not on TikTok because of so much unreasonable stuff there, plus it drains my data a lot. It's a different thing when you post content there, at least you have a concrete reason to keep the app.
I don't post content there, and neither do I watch videos, but sometimes people send me links to TikTok videos to check something important, and because I can't watch without the application, I downloaded the app. I can go a whole month without opening the app, and it's just there doing nothing.
If I were to rate the usefulness of the app for me, it would be 1 out of 5, so it's automatically useless for me. The tricky thing is that I don't want to delete it so there won't be a need for me to download it again when I need it.
Another app is Mi Browser; I believe it's Redmi's inbuilt browser, and it's just been there since I got the phone. I have never used it, and today's the first time I am checking out the app. I have about three browsers already and wouldn't be needing this app.
I don't know why I haven't deleted it, but since the file isn't huge and it's not disturbing, it can just stay there. I am always careful with system files and wouldn't want to tamper with anything that would require me installing software that would make me start running from one carlcare center to another.
PicsArt is another idle app that I use once in a blue moon. The last time I used it before yesterday was during the INLEO Zealy contest; I used it for collage, and that's all. I actually downloaded the app, and it's been on my phone for a very long time.
I have been tempted to delete these apps a lot of times, but thinking about needing them again wouldn't just let me do the needful.
There are still other apps, but I love taking about these three because it seems like I am stuck with them despite the fact that their usage isn't often. Leaving them in restricted mode on my phone seems like the best option because I wouldn't want to start downloading over and over again whenever there is need for the app again.
Decluttering on our devices is definitely a good thing, not just for the sake of our phones. Yes, we will have enough storage for our phones to run properly, and it can help us stay focused and organized when using our devices.
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