This is how I keep my 5-year-old phone looking brand new

Although we love to dream about it Latest flagships and flip phonesMost of us are still attached to our old phones. I know this better than most, having used the same phone on a daily basis for the past five years. However, you don’t always need the latest device’s feature kit. Sometimes, what you already have is enough. All you need is an upgrade.

There are plenty of things you can do to make your old phone look brand new, even if it’s no longer receiving the latest and greatest software updates. Here are some tips that anyone can follow.

Let’s start at the top. application launcher It’s the face of your phone. It’s what you see every day when you turn on your phone’s screen, so swapping it out for a new one is an easy way to introduce new functionality or aesthetics. I’ve never been a fan of default phone launchers, so I always opt for a third-party solution.

Many launchers follow the trends set by newer versions of Android. It’s an easy way to “improve” the experience on older phones running an older version of the operating system. In many cases, third-party launchers offer even more features and customization options than their stock counterparts.

I’m currently running Kvaesitso On my main phone, it’s an excellent search-based launcher that swaps folders for labels and multiple screens for infinite vertical scrolling.

Every launcher is slightly different, so there is no one-size-fits-all solution. You may need to try a few before settling on one. That said, you can find some of my suggestions below.

My favorite Android launchers include:

• Nova Launcher:Nova was my go-to launcher for a long time before I switched to Kvaesitso. It’s highly customizable, supports multiple screens, has great folder support, and has useful add-ons like Sesame for a powerful search feature.
• Garden chairLawnchair, which is based on the Pixel Launcher, is open source and has all the features you’ll find on Google phones. There are two versions: an older version that works on older devices and a new beta version called Lawnchair 14.
• Niagara Pitcher: A launcher that focuses on easy one-handed use. Its layout reduces clutter and allows you to pin only a few essential apps. More apps can be accessed via the alphabetical bar, while widgets are also supported at the top of the home screen.

Default icons are not as boring as they used to be, but installing a third-party custom icon pack can do wonders for the look and feel of your device. It is true that not all launchers support icon installation, so this is another good reason to install a third-party launcher.

I am currently running the Simplicio JustNewDesigns pack. It’s premium but offers over 7000 icons, more than enough for most users. It’s a great idea to get multiple icon packs and switch between them whenever you want. I alternate between this one and the Viral icon packanother great package from DrumDestroyer.

Installing a third-party icon pack allows you to choose specific icons for your apps and improve their visibility. For example, I changed X to the Twitter icon and now it’s much easier to find the app when I need it.

Widgets allow you to quickly access information. They’re a long-standing Android feature that iPhone users have barely heard of, but seriously, they’re a great way to add some freshness and functionality to your device. Adding a few to your home screens, swapping out the current list for a new one, or simply rearranging them will give your phone a fresh new look.

My favorite widgets include:

• Meteogram Weather Widget:An excellent weather app that displays weather conditions in a graph with multiple sources and is highly customizable.
• Event Stream WidgetI like the simplicity of Event Flow for my calendar and daily planner. They are pinned to my Meteograms widget.
• HurryIs there a date you’re looking forward to? Let this widget take care of that for you. To keep myself motivated, I regularly set up a Rush widget for an event I’m excited to attend.

Much others Android Widgets are available if these don’t interest you at all.

The easiest way to refresh your phone’s look is with a new wallpaper. A fresh wallpaper will naturally give your old device a fresh coat of paint.

Do you have too many wallpapers to choose from? I use Wallpaper changer change my wallpaper every few hours from a well-stocked folder on my device.

I am regularly looking for new applications for our The best new apps for Android feature, so I’m constantly adding more stuff to my collection. I rarely use the default apps because I’ve found more capable replacements with nice aesthetics and more comprehensive features.

Again, third-party apps generally get more attention than the default apps on an older phone, especially a device that no longer receives any software support.

Some of the apps I’ve ruled out are Google Chrome, my default gallery app, and Google Assistant. Instead, I use Mozilla Firefox thanks to its extensive add-on support, Focus Go for its expandable gallery layout and fast loading times, and Gemini as Google’s new de facto virtual assistant.

Third-party applications do not have to replace existing entities; they can add value beyond that. For example, Task It has become a must-have tool for me. It allows you to automate various tasks on your phone, but my favorite use is shaking the device to activate the flashlight. It has saved me many times.

Hermit is another of my favorites. It allows for easy creation of browser-based applications. I initially used it to access ChatGPT when its Android app was not yet available, but now provides quick access to my router’s dashboard, Google News, and a local news forum.

There are a lot of apps beyond the high walls of the Google Play Store. I regularly visit platforms like GitHub and F-Droid to keep an eye on the apps that are slipping through the cracks.

For starters, your old phone doesn’t have much free storage space, so consider the large amount of WhatsApp images, app cache, downloaded files, and other digital items on your device. It’s a good idea to periodically review the content you have stored on your device, delete old apps and files, and back up valuable media files.

Beyond this, it wouldn’t hurt to uninstall apps that you no longer use or that don’t add value to your smartphone experience. I recently came across the amazing duo of Sings and Shizukuwhich allows users to uninstall applications that they would not normally have access to. Alternatively, you can use Hail to pause or disable apps you don’t want to delete.

These simple yet effective tips don’t just work for old phones. It’s good practice to make your modern smartphone yours from the day you buy it. But, if you’re like me and can’t get rid of technology, here’s how you can make your old phone feel as cool as the day you bought it.