Technology is an integral part of daily life. Whether you’re browsing social media or doing your shopping, virtually everything that you do involves some level of technology. Unfortunately, as technology rapidly evolves, many outdated misconceptions continue to persist. From smartphones and laptops to home networks and software updates, myths about how technology works continue to circulate, often passed along through word of mouth or old internet advice that no longer applies to modern systems.

Believing these tech myths not only causes confusion, but it also costs you time, money, and convenience. Knowing what’s true and what technology misconceptions need to be left in the past ensures that you’re ready to get the most out of your devices. We’ve put together a list of some of the most common technology misconceptions and the truth behind them for you.

Closing Apps Improves Device Performance

One of the most persistent tech myths teaches that constantly closing apps on your device improves performance. While this advice might have been relevant years ago, modern operating systems can manage background processes efficiently with little to no user intervention. Actively closing apps can actually make your device work harder, since opening apps requires more processing power than letting them remain idle in the background.

This is especially true on smartphones, where apps that aren’t open operate in a suspended state. Closing them repeatedly can exacerbate strain on your battery. Additionally, this leads to users wasting time as they micromanage their devices instead of letting them operate as designed.

The real performance gains usually come from managing storage space, keeping software updated, and identifying problematic apps instead of obsessing over things running in the background. Understanding this device performance tip alone can save users hours of unnecessary effort over time.

New Devices Automatically Perform Better

Many people assume that upgrading to a newer device will automatically fix any performance issues they’re having. You’ve probably heard conspiracy theories claiming that smartphone manufacturers program their devices to slow down when a newer model hits the market, forcing customers to rush out and buy a new phone that will perform better. While newer hardware often includes faster processors and better features, real-world performance depends heavily on how devices are configured and used. A brand-new device cluttered with unnecessary apps, unused features, and poor settings can feel sluggish surprisingly quickly.

This technology misconception often leads people to replace devices prematurely when the real issue is software overload or mismanagement. Simple tasks, such as freeing up storage space and adjusting your system settings, can improve performance without costing hundreds of dollars for a new device.

Believing that only new hardware solves performance problems can be expensive. In many cases, optimizing an existing device delivers better results than upgrading, especially for users who primarily browse the web, stream media, or handle everyday productivity tasks.

Antivirus Software Alone Keeps You Safe

Another costly tech myth is that antivirus software alone keeps you safe. Years ago, when there were very few operating systems available, and cybercriminals were both fewer in number and less skilled, antivirus software did an excellent job of keeping you safe. However, the days of Windows95 are gone, and the tech ecosystem as a whole has changed. While antivirus tools play an important role in device security, they are only one part of a much larger safety picture. Many modern threats rely on phishing, social engineering, and user behavior rather than traditional malware.

Becoming too reliant on antivirus software can cause you to lower your guard when it comes to the links you click, files you download, and more. This false sense of security makes people more vulnerable to scams that bypass traditional detection methods altogether.

True digital safety comes from having quality antivirus protection, secure passwords, and safe browsing habits. Relying solely on antivirus software is one of the most dangerous technology misconceptions users can hold.

More Storage Equals Faster Performance

Many people assume that adding storage automatically improves smartphone performance. While phones do run faster when they have more available memory, that’s not the only thing that impacts your device's performance. Performance depends more on how efficiently data is accessed and how the system manages active processes.

This myth often leads to people buying higher-capacity devices than they actually need. If you only use your device for browsing the web, streaming media, and a few productivity tasks, you don’t need to invest in the same type of device that people who create and edit media need. In most cases, performance issues stem from fragmented files, bloated applications, or outdated software rather than total storage limits.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t monitor the amount of free space that you have. However, most storage space issues can be resolved by organizing files, removing unused programs, and performing other maintenance tasks.

Factory Resets Fix All Problems

Many users assume that a factory reset is a magic solution for tech issues. You may have believed that if you restore your device to factory settings, it will run as smoothly as it did the day you purchased it. While there are certainly instances in which a factory reset is a viable option, it does not address underlying hardware limitations, poor usage habits, or problematic apps that will simply be reinstalled afterward.

This myth causes users to lose time backing up data, reconfiguring settings, and reinstalling applications, only to face the same issues again. In many cases, targeted troubleshooting or professional diagnostics are far more effective.

View factory resets as a last resort instead of a quick fix. Improving your device’s performance requires you to alter your habits, and resetting everything to its factory settings will only improve the situation for a short time.

Getting the Most Out of Your Devices

From following basic computer maintenance tips to being smart with how you use your mobile device, it’s important to understand how to get the most out of your tech devices. One of the best ways to do that is to understand the truth behind some of the most common tech myths that people believe. Your computer, phone, and tablet should provide you with quality performance for years to come, and knowing the truth about how they work and how to improve performance is crucial.