Hey there! It’s that time of year again – the pollen has us sneezing, the azaleas are in full bloom, and many of us are getting that itch to do clean out the old and make room for spring and summer. We’re clearing out closets, tidying up the garage, maybe even washing those windows. But while you’re making your home feel fresh, have you thought about the cobwebs lurking throughout your digital space?

As we pull out the swim trunks and patriotic bunting, we shouldn’t forget that our digital assistants will be along for the journey and in most cases captures and organizes our summer memories. Our laptop, phone, and tablet could probably use a good spring cleaning too! Just like clutter builds up around the house, digital clutter piles up on our devices, slowing them down, eating up space, and sometimes even causing security headaches. Getting things tidied up now means smoother sailing whether you’re planning summer travels, tackling work projects, or just enjoying some downtime.

Here are some tips to get your tech ready for the warmer months ahead.

Laptops

Laptops and notebooks have become our workhorse, whether for business, school, or home life. Let’s give it some attention:

• Sweep Out Old Software: Remember installing that program for one specific project last year? Or that game the kids downloaded ages ago? Take a look through your installed programs (in Settings or Control Panel). If you don’t use it and don’t need it, uninstall it. It frees up valuable space and stops unnecessary things from running in the background.
• Tackle the Digital Junk Drawer: We all have one – usually the Downloads folder or even the Desktop! Take 15 minutes to go through it. File away important documents where they belong (like in your Documents folder, maybe organized by category). Delete old installers, duplicates, and things you just don’t need anymore. Your future self looking for that one file will thank you.
• Lighten the Startup Load: Does your computer take forever to boot up? Often, it’s because too many programs try to launch all at once when you turn it on. You can usually manage these “startup programs” through the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc is a shortcut). See what’s set to run automatically and disable things you don’t need right away (like music apps, chat programs, etc. – they’ll still work when you open them manually!). Be careful not to disable security software or essential system items, though!

Phone & Tablets:

These gadgets go everywhere with us, and they collect clutter just as fast!

• Evict Unused Apps: Swipe through your app screens. How many of those apps haven’t you opened in six months? A year? Be honest! Tap and hold, then uninstall those digital dust collectors. It frees up space and might even give your battery life a little boost.
• Photo & Video Round-Up: Photos and videos are often the biggest space hogs on our phones. Make sure your precious memories are backed up! Use services like Google Photos, iCloud Photos, Amazon Photos, or manually copy them to your computer or an external drive. Once they’re safely backed up elsewhere, you can clear some of the older ones off your device to free up precious gigabytes.
• Clear the Cobwebs (Cache): If websites seem slow or act funny on your mobile browser, clearing the cache and website data can often help. Think of it like dusting the browser’s temporary memory. You can usually find this option in the settings menu of your specific browser app (Safari, Chrome, etc.).

Bonus Tip: Give Your Wi-Fi a Quick Refresh!

Is your home or office internet feeling a bit sluggish lately? Before you call your provider, try the trusty tech support classic:

• Reboot Your Network Gear: Unplug the power cords from both your modem and your router. Wait a good 30 seconds (grab a diet coke!). Then, plug the modem back in first. Wait for its lights to stabilize (usually takes a minute or two). Then, plug your router back in and give it a minute or two to fully boot up. This simple reboot clears out temporary glitches and can often improve speed and stability.

Ready for Summer! (Or Need a Hand?)

Taking a little time for digital spring cleaning now can make your devices run faster, feel less cluttered, and even stay more secure. It sets you up for a smoother summer, whatever you have planned.

But hey, we get it. Sometimes you run into a snag, aren’t sure what’s safe to remove, or just don’t have the time. That’s exactly what Hey Nephew is here for! Whether you’re right here in Warner Robins or anywhere else, give us a call. We can help remotely or in person, offering friendly, straightforward tech support to get your digital life tidied up and running right.