I removed 5 resource-hungry apps from my Pixel, and the speed improvement surprised me

Published Nov 1, 2026, 6:01 AM EST Beginning his professional journey in the tech industry in 2018, Yash spent over three years as a Software Engineer. After that, he shifted his focus to empowering readers through informative and engaging content on his tech blog – DiGiTAL BiRYANi. He has also published tech articles for MakeTechEasier. He loves to explore new tech gadgets and platforms. When he is not writing, you’ll find him exploring food. He is known as Digital Chef Yash among his readers because of his love for Technology and Food. My Pixel is fast enough for almost everything I do, but I started wondering whether all the apps installed on it were really necessary. Over time, I had collected apps for social media, browsing, file storage, and customization without thinking much about their impact. Some were useful, while others barely got opened. I wanted to see whether removing a few of them could make my phone feel smoother and less cluttered. So, I picked five apps to cut from my daily setup. The goal wasn't to sacrifice convenience, but to make my Pixel work better with less. Zedge One less app cluttering my Pixel Zedge seemed like a harmless app to keep on my Pixel. I used it to browse wallpapers, download backgrounds, and occasionally change my ringtone. But I started questioning whether I really needed a dedicated app for something I did only once in a while. The app comes with ads, and browsing through its wallpaper collection can leave cached images and other data behind. Over time, that felt like unnecessary baggage for an app I barely opened. I decided to uninstall Zedge and stick with wallpapers available through other sources whenever I wanted a fresh look for my home screen. I didn't expect removing one customization app to transform my phone overnight, but it felt good to eliminate something I rarely used. Sometimes, simplifying your phone starts with removing apps that no longer earn their place. Facebook + Messenger These apps demand too much attention Facebook and Messenger were two apps I kept on my Pixel out of habit. I used Facebook to check updates and Messenger to reply to friends, but I didn't need both apps constantly demanding my attention throughout the day. Between notifications, background activity, and refreshing content, they had plenty going on even when I wasn't actively using them. I decided to remove both and see if I could manage with fewer apps installed. For occasional browsing, I could use Facebook through my browser instead of keeping its dedicated app on my phone. Removing these apps wasn't about giving up social media completely. It was about cutting down on distractions and background activity that didn't add much value to my daily routine. Chrome Too many tabs, too little breathing room Chrome is one app I use almost every day, so removing it wasn't an easy decision. However, I realized I often kept multiple tabs open long after I had finished reading those pages. Some tabs stayed there for days, even when I had no plans to revisit them. Each open tab can consume memory, especially when it runs complex websites or scripts. I decided to try a lighter browsing setup and close tabs I no longer needed. The biggest lesson was that I didn't need to keep every page open for convenience. Cleaning up my browsing habits made my workflow feel less cluttered. Rather than blaming Chrome alone, I wanted to see whether changing my browser habits could make my Pixel feel more responsive. DropBox Stopped syncing files I rarely needed Dropbox was useful for accessing my files across devices, but I started wondering how often I actually needed its Android app. Most of the time, I only wanted to download a document or check a file occasionally. Keeping a dedicated app installed for such infrequent tasks felt unnecessary. Dropbox can perform background syncing and camera uploads, depending on the features and settings you use. These activities can consume battery and data, particularly when transferring large files. I decided to remove the app from my Pixel and access Dropbox through my browser whenever I needed something. TikTok Too many videos, too much cached data Credit: Unsplash TikTok was one of those apps I opened for a quick break and somehow ended up using much longer than planned. The constant stream of short videos made it easy to keep scrolling, even when I had other things to do. But beyond the time I spent on it, I started wondering how much data the app was storing on my Pixel. TikTok loads videos continuously, and its cache can grow as I watch more content. Preloaded videos and other temporary files can also take up storage space. I decided to uninstall the app and see whether I really missed having it on my home screen. It wasn't just about freeing up storage; I also wanted fewer distractions and a phone that felt simpler to use. A faster Pixel starts with a little digital decluttering Removing these apps reminded me that a better phone experience isn't always about upgrading to the latest hardware. Sometimes, it's about being more selective with what I install and what I actually use. Not every app needs a permanent spot on my home screen, especially when a browser or simpler alternative can do the job. Your results may vary depending on your usage, but reviewing your installed apps is an easy place to start. Your Pixel might thank you for it.