If you bought an iPhone Or iPad a couple of years ago, chances are, it’s either getting sluggish, or you’ve stopped using it because it got a lot sluggish. You need a speed boost.

We all like to get the most out of our money, and with the price of Apple products, we figure you’d love to hear a little trick that will give you an extra year or so of (not-so-sluggish) life from your hardware.

When you take a look around on the internet for tips to make your iPhone or iPad faster, there is (of course) a ton that just don’t work, and some may even cost you. The trick we are going to give you has been tested and proven, and won’t cost you anything but a bit of time – so don’t waste it on those other “fixes”!

The simple solution for a speed boost? Wipe the device and reload it from a backup.

Easy-peasy. Here are some extra tips, though, to ensure it all goes smoothly:

  • Make sure you actually have a backup. You can create a backup via iCloud or iTunes to avoid reloading everything you have manually.
  • The longer it has been since your device has been wiped, the more you will get out of this trick.

The actual process for a speed boost goes like this:

  • Once you have a backup ready, make your first step familiarizing yourself with the process so you know what to expect and can run through it quick and efficiently.
  • Now that you have a backup and know what you are doing, it is time to begin. Wipe your device (Settings >General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings, and from here, you will be guided through the wiping process).
  • Take a step back and let your device do it’s thing (which shouldn’t take to long).
  • You are now ready to recover your information from a backup.

If you have a little more time on your hands and are feeling brave, another thing you can do after wiping the device is re-set it up as a new device. However, this means you have to load all your apps and data into it manually, such as (but definitely not limited to):

  • apps
  • passwords
  • settings
  • bluetooth pairings

Not only is this a good idea for old iPads and iPhones that need a speed boost, but a lot of people tend to do this when new hardware or software comes out as well.