10 Tech Cleanup Tasks ideas For The New Year

To help you start 2026 with a fresh and secure digital slate, here are 10 tech cleanup tasks perfect for New Year’s Day.

1. Execute a “Permissions Audit”

Go into your phone settings and review which apps have access to your Location, Camera, and Microphone. In 2026, many apps have “stealth” permissions that you might have granted months ago. If you haven’t used an app in 90 days, revoke its permissions or delete it entirely.

2. Purge “Ghost” Accounts

Use an online account cleanup tool or search your email for “Welcome” or “Verify” to find old accounts you no longer use (shopping sites, old forums, etc.). Deleting these reduces your digital footprint and protects you from future data breaches at those companies.

3. The “3-2-1” Backup Refresh

Check that your automated backups (iCloud, Google Drive, or Backblaze) actually ran recently. Follow the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 copies of your data (Original + 2 backups).
• 2 different media types (Cloud + Physical hard drive).
• 1 backup off-site (Cloud).

4. Physical Hardware Deep Clean

Your tech is likely a magnet for germs. Use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes on your phone, keyboard, and mouse. Use a toothpick or specialized cleaning putty to gently remove lint from your phone’s charging port—this often fixes “broken” charging issues.

5. Unsubscribe & Inbox Zero

Don’t just delete junk mail—unsubscribe. Spend 15 minutes clicking the “Unsubscribe” link on the last 20 marketing emails you received. For the remaining “must-keeps,” set up a filter so newsletters automatically skip the inbox and go to a “Read Later” folder.

6. Update Everything (Firmware Included)

Beyond just updating your phone’s OS, check your Wi-Fi router and Smart Home gadgets (bulbs, cameras, etc.). These often require manual firmware updates through their respective apps to patch critical security vulnerabilities.

7. Browser Cache & Extension Sweep

Clear your browser’s cache and cookies to speed up performance. Most importantly, audit your browser extensions. Malicious or outdated extensions are a common way for data to be leaked or for your browser to slow down.

8. Transition to Passkeys

If you are still using passwords for major accounts (Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon), switch them to Passkeys. They are more secure than passwords and immune to phishing. If passkeys aren’t an option, ensure Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is on, using an app like Authy rather than SMS.

9. Digital Photo Declutter

Your “Camera Roll” is likely full of accidental screenshots, blurry photos, and memes. Use a “Duplicate Finder” app to quickly merge similar photos and delete the junk. Moving your best 2025 memories into a dedicated “2025 Highlights” album makes them easier to find later.

10. “Desktop & Downloads” Zero

Clear every icon off your computer desktop. Delete everything in your “Downloads” folder that is older than 30 days. Starting the year with a clean, empty desktop reduces “visual noise” and helps you focus on new projects.