With software updates for smartphones and tablets, most people are familiar with the principle. Whenever it is available, your phone will download and install the update, sometimes even automatically and at scheduled times if this option is enabled in the system settings. Usually, the phone also restarts automatically after applying an update. But what happens if it doesn’t restart on its own? Do you still need to restart your device? The answer is yes. However, since most updates require a reboot anyway, this question will really only apply to specific scenarios.
Rebooting is a good way to clear temporary files, clear memory and restart the system kernel, thereby solving various problems. This is also why a reboot often fixes many simple problems you might encounter. If you’re wondering how often you should restart your phone outside of updates, the answer is regularly, ideally on a weekly schedule. There are also a few other maintenance tasks you may want to perform after a system update. Some best practices include manually wiping the cache partition or temporary files, optimizing your device, reviewing settings to ensure your choices are saved, and possibly resetting network settings. An important distinction to make here, however, is that this explicitly applies to system software updates, not individual app updates.
There are many benefits to restarting or restarting your phone
Restarting your device can do a lot to improve your overall experience and increase system performance. This is true for Android and iPhone devices, but it also extends to almost all electronic devices, including handheld game consoles, laptops, desktops, smart TVs, and more. If you consider how often you should restart your PC, the answer is pretty much the same as how you would manage your phone: at least once a week is a good choice.
But the benefits of routinely power cycling your phone go far beyond performance, usability, and even just general maintenance. Powering up a device can also improve security. It’s so useful that the National Security Agency recommends restarting your smartphone (home or work phone) every week. It can disrupt cyberattacks and malware by cleaning background applications and processes that may be running without your knowledge. In fact, one of the things that happens if you leave your Android phone on all the time, and your iPhone as well, is that it becomes a bigger security risk.
If in doubt, restart or restart. It can’t hurt.
