10 Tips for DIY Cell Phone Troubleshooting and Repair

0
745
10 Tips for DIY Cell Phone Troubleshooting and Repair

Last Updated on February 14, 2024 by Nasir Hanif

In 2021, Americans spent over 4 hours a day on their phones. We’ve become incredibly reliant on our phones, using them for socialization, work, and even as maps when driving.

So when we experience smartphone issues, it immediately becomes a big problem. A phone can break when you’re lost and need a map, or when you have an important document you’re waiting to be emailed to you. And this is when you need troubleshooting support ASAP. 

Luckily, some minor issues can be solved with basic cell phone troubleshooting and repair skills. You don’t have to be a tech nerd or engineer to solve some of the many problems that cell phones experience.

Looking to try a cell phone repair on your own? Here are a few tips to consider when making a mobile phone repair. 

1. Battery Dies Fast

Does it seem like your phone is dying faster and faster with each passing day? There are a number of reasons your phone can be losing its charge.

You might have too many apps open. Many apps run in the background, even while you aren’t using them. It helps to close out any apps you aren’t using throughout the day to prevent phantom power usage.

Also, lower the brightness of your screen. If you don’t need wifi or Bluetooth, turn those off as you go about your day to prevent your phone from actively searching for a signal.

As batteries age, they eventually become less efficient and can’t hold a charge as long. Either the battery will need replacement, or you’ll need to upgrade your phone. However, modern smartphones should be able to last a few years before this happens. 

2. Replacing a Cracked Screen

One of the most common mobile phone repair tasks needed is fixing a cracked screen. Screens are getting stronger, but they still aren’t indestructible. 

For one, make sure to add a screen protector to your phone, which will drastically lower your chances of cracking your screen in the first place.

If it’s already cracker, fixing it yourself is definitely an option. If you have the time and patience to do it yourself, you can save some money.

Just buy a screen replacement kit made for your specific phone model. Follow the instructions on removing the damaged screen and replacing it with the new one.

If you are comfortable tinkering with electronics, it shouldn’t take more than an hour to restore the functionality of your phone. 

3. Slow Phone

We use our phones a lot. So when they are running poorly, it affects everything we are trying to do, from browsing the web to opening apps.

Since phones are essentially mini computers, they can get bogged down when the storage space is full. If you’re like most people, you probably have dozens of apps on your phone and thousands of photos and videos.

If your memory is full, your phone won’t work very well. Take some time to go through your photos and videos and delete anything you don’t need. If you can’t delete anything then buy an external hard drive and transfer anything you want to save to the hard drive.

You can also delete text threads and voicemail to free up space. 

4. Phone Not Charging

If your phone isn’t charging, or it takes quite a bit of finagling to get it to charge, you may have a problem with your charging port. 

Before messing with the port, try completing a hard reset on your phone. Most people never turn their phones completely off, but it’s essential to do this on a regular basis.

Once you turn it back on, if you’re still experiencing charging issues, you either need a new cable or need to fix your charging port.

Replacing a charging port isn’t very difficult, and can be done in a few minutes if you are okay to tinker.

5. Fix a Headphone Jack

Along with a charging port, a headphone jack is easy to break. With contact plugging and unplugging, things can get out of whack.

If you are willing to learn how to open up your phone then you can replace the jack with ease.

6. Phone Overheating

Overheating is a big problem. And you know a phone is overheating because it will feel much hotter than usual. This can cause a lot of internal damage long-term, so you need to stop it when it’s happening.

Turn off or remove any apps that constantly use power and reset your phone to try cooling it down.

7. Loose or Stuck Buttons

Phones are getting fewer and fewer buttons with each model. But on modern iPhones, there are still at least three physical buttons.

If they don’t work, life becomes a lot more inconvenient. The buttons are quite easy to replace if you buy a kit and make the repair carefully. 

8. App Keeps Crashing

Occasionally, you’ll have an app that keeps crashing and closing when you’re trying to use it. To fix this, restart your phone. Check to see if your phone needs an update, or if the particular app needs an update.

9. Lost Device

Mobile phone repairing isn’t the only issue you’ll face. It’s very common to misplace phones since we take them anywhere and everywhere.

Luckily, with an iPhone, you can enable the “Find My” function, which allows you to track the location of your phone from another Apple device, like a MacBook. Make sure to enable this before you misplace your phone, however. 

10. Hire an Expert

There are many times when our phones are broken beyond DIY repairs. At some point, you’re going to need to bring in an expert if you hope to salvage your phone.

And while doing so will cost some money, it will likely be much cheaper than having to buy a new iPhone or top-of-the-line Android phone. A service will make your phone feel brand new, giving you years of life left before needing to replace it.

If your screen is cracked, battery not charging, or dropped your phone in water, bring it to the experts and get it fixed fast, so you can get back to normal life. 

Mastering Cell Phone Troubleshooting and Repair

Many people shouldn’t try cell phone troubleshooting and repair on their own. If you’re bad with tech or tools, it’s best to leave it to an expert. But if you don’t mind trying new things, many phone issues you face can be resolved cheaply with a little bit of time.

Looking for more tech tips like this? Visit our blog now to keep reading.