Samsung Galaxy Note II displayed during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), 2013.
A Samsung Galaxy Note II phone-cum-tablet is displayed during the first day of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas January 8, 2013.Reuters

It has been noticed that over a period of time Android devices start to lag when users open heavy files.

However, the user should keep his/her device clear from unwanted temporary files which eat into a major chunk of space.

To prevent sluggish operations, follow these five important tips to keep the handset free from storing temporary files and make it run smoothly.

Uninstall and Disable Unused Apps

If the user has a number of photos, videos or audio files in the handset, the device is bound to become slow as the free space gets utilised. The user can move files to cloud storage system such as Dropbox or Google Drive or can move into the expandable storage cards if supported by the handset. They can also uninstall applications which are not used.

For uninstalling:

-Settings > Open apps menu > select the app which will be uninstalled > click Uninstall.

Clear App Caches

Cached data can eat a lot of space over time and affect the performance of the device. Deleting the caches individually can be done from the app menu in the Settings option.

However, a number of programmes are available on Google Play Store which can automate the process. These include App Cache Cleaner and Clean Master which are free to download.

Widgets and Live Wallpapers

Deleting widgets, especially heavy ones such as Facebook, will help the smartphone run smoothly and quickly. Extra widgets take up battery power and storage space of the device.

Like widgets, live wallpapers on the handset can also slow down the device and drain battery. The wallpaper can be changed by pressing the home screen button for long.

Disable Animations

Animations also take some space, making the handset run slower than before. One cannot disable the animations right away until he/she knows how to go for the hidden settings option and disable it.

For enabling the animation option:

-Settings > About phone > tap on the 'Build Number' 7 times.

This will give the user access to developer options.

For disabling animations:

-Settings > Developer options > Drawing option.

-Turn off Windows animation scale, Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale.

This will disable animations while the user opens, closes or switches between the apps.

Get Software Updates

The user should have the latest software in the hardware pushed by manufacturers and carriers. The updates usually include bug fixes and security that will improve the overall stability of the device.

To check for updates:

- Settings > About Phone > System updates.

Rooting, ROMing and more

Users can also root their device which will lead to new features and greater performance boosts. They can over-clock the device through rooting, install custom ROM and other functions.

[Disclaimer: The above mentioned steps are not guaranteed to work exactly as stated. International Business Times would not be responsible for any loss of data from the device while implementing the steps. More details can be seen  here.]