For most of us, the web browser on our phone has become an indispensable tool. I’m always using it to find phone numbers and addresses for local stores, get recommendations for nearby restaurants, or to watch Consumer Cellular’s “How To” videos to learn more about using all the great features on my phone.
For my final “Spring Clean” post, I’m sharing some basic information about how your phone stores all the data you collect when you browse on it. More importantly, I have a few tips to help keep that storage neat and tidy, and make sure your browser doesn’t “freeze up” right when you need it most.
What is cache memory?
When you surf the internet on your phone, each website stores a collection of the images, videos, or text files that are required to display things like web pages, advertisements and more. These are stored into what’s called the phone’s “cache memory” or “cached data.”
You may have noticed that the very first time you load certain web pages it takes much longer than the next time you load it. This is where cached data comes into play. That first time around, the images and text have to be downloaded from the Internet. These files are then saved within your browser, so the next time your phone will already have the information ready to help the webpage load quickly.
For the web pages that you frequent, this is a wonderful tool. But what about sites you will never visit again, or social media posts you’ve already read? Images and information from those pages can clutter up your phone’s available memory, and you’ll start to notice web pages taking a lot longer to load.
Clearing the cache
Fortunately, it’s easy to clear your cache to get rid of all the extra junk that has piled up. While each Android phone is slightly different, the general process will include these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Choose Storage, Apps or Application Manager.
- You will find either a list of installed apps, or a single “Cached Data” category.
- If you’re working from a list of installed apps, find and tap your web browser.
- Look for Cached Data or Clear Cache. Tap this, and follow any instructions to delete the unnecessary files.
If you’re using an iPhone, the process will be slightly different, but still very simple:
- Go to Settings.
- Choose Safari, or whatever browser app you are using.
- Choose Clear History, and Clear Cookies and Data.
If you’ve followed this and all my other “Spring Clean” tips, your phone should now be as fresh and clean as your spring garden bed! And just like your garden, who knows what neat things may grow in the space you’ve created?
My sister wants to go with Consumer Cellular but wants to know if you carry over unused minutes from month to month
We’re happy to answer that, Carol. Our plans don’t have any roll-over minutes, because we don’t ever want our customers to pay for more than they need. Since you can change your plan at any time, our customers often save by switching to a smaller plan if they have leftover minutes, even up until the last day of the billing cycle. We’re happy to discuss our plans and answer any questions your sister may have at 888-345-5509. Thank you for telling her about Consumer Cellular, and we hope to welcome her to our service soon!
There is no way to contact your overstressed system. The return call queue does not function. Rather than have it so just remove it so customers are not so frustrated. Please contact me when you have the time to talk to me else I will not respond to you when you make it impossible.
We apologize for the inconvenience, William. Thank you for being so patient with us while we work to reduce our wait times. I took a look at your account, and I’m so glad to see that Alison, our account advisor, was able to assist you and resolve the issue in question this morning. If we can help you with anything else at this time, please let us know. We will be happy to assist you at 888-345-5509. Thank you for the feedback regarding our system, and please know that I’ve passed it on to our IT team. We hope you have a wonderful day!
Do you have Insurance if phone breaks or is stolen?
Thank you for asking, John. We do offer SquareTrade when you purchase a device from us. This protects you from drops, spills and hardware failures. Best of all, it’s very affordable and can be included on your invoice each month. You can learn more about it here on our website. If we can answer any questions you have about protecting your phone or about any of our devices, please feel free to give us a call at 888-345-5509. We appreciate you taking the time to post today, and we hope you have a wonderful day!
I have a Doro PhoneEasy 618 and want to upgrade and keep the same phone number. Can I go to the Apple store and get this done or must it be done on line? Will my current SIM card work? Your help will be appreciated.
We’re happy to help you move to a smartphone, Dorene. It sounds like you’re looking at an iPhone! We’re happy to help you over the phone at 888-345-5509 if you like, or you can visit your local Target store. They can help you choose an iPhone, and activate it with our service right there in the store. Whether you call or go to a store, we’ll make sure you have the right size SIM card as well. It’s simple to switch, and we’ll be there with you every step of the way. Thank you for reaching out to us, and we look forward to assisting you!
I have been given a used Apple iPhone 5c that had been used on AT&T. Will this phone operate on your network?
Thank you for asking, Jim. In most cases, devices used previously with AT&T work very well with our SIM card option. You will want to make sure it has been unlocked, which can only be done by the original carrier. Once you’ve confirmed that, we’re happy to assist you in activating one of our SIM cards. We can help you order one over the phone, or you can find it on our website here or at your local Target or Sears store. If we can answer any questions you may have or help you get started, just give us a call at 888-345-5509 at your convenience. We appreciate you taking the time to post, and we look forward to helping you setup your new iPhone!