Every second of every day, two smartphone screens break in the United States. There are 5,761 damaged screens an hour. That’s 50 million owners with phone problems each year.
Screen damage is rampant, but it isn’t the only issue. Phones crash and freeze. They get crushed and land in toilets. They overheat or slow to a snail’s pace.
When your whole life is on your phone, you need it 24/7. It’s vital for business communication and social connections.
Don’t give up on your phone if it’s not working. Many problems are easy to fix if you know how.
Keep reading to learn the most common issues and how to resolve them.
1. Slow Response Time
If you update the operating system and apps on your phone it can slow down response time. This happens when internal storage fills up.
Below are three ways to speed up performance.
Close or Delete Unused Apps and Photos
Apps running in the background use valuable RAM space. Close any open apps you aren’t using. Turn off unneeded location services.
Delete apps or software you no longer need. Move photos and videos to cloud storage, then delete them from your phone.
Clear the Cache
Check the cached data in your apps. Cached data is files, images, and scripts a website or app stores on your phone.
Go to Settings > Apps and choose Clear Cache. If you want to automate the process, install a cache cleaner app. It clears the cache on the operating system and all the apps with one click.
Check Internet Speed
If the problem is slow internet speed, check your signal. Alternate between data and Wi-Fi to see if one has a stronger signal.
If you’re on a weak network there isn’t much you can do. If you switch to data, keep tabs on your data limit to avoid extra charges.
2. Frozen Phone Screen
One of the most common problems is a frozen screen. Sometimes, all it takes to fix it is to power off your phone and turn it on again.
If your home button isn’t working you need to force a shutdown. Hold the home button and the sleep/wake button down at the same time.
Take time to clean up your phone. Clear the cache, close the apps you don’t use, and move content to an external storage drive.
If your screen continues to freeze, check for a virus or malware.
3. App Crashes
There are many reasons an app crashes. If you’re running too many apps at once you could be out of memory.
The app or your phone may need an update. If you don’t need an update, a glitch could be the culprit.
Determine if the problem is with one app or several different apps. If a single app crashes, delete the data related to that one app.
First, clear the cache to erase temporary files. If cleaning the cache doesn’t solve the problem, back up your data before the next step.
Uninstall and reinstall the app for a fresh start. This clears any data related to the app from your phone. It also ensures you have the latest version.
If reinstalling the app doesn’t solve the crashes, contact the app developer. It could be a bug or incompatibility problem. You can find contact information for most apps online.
4. Entire Phone Crashes
Phone crashes are more serious. If you downloaded a new operating system it may be buggy. If you didn’t update the OS, it’s harder to figure out the cause.
Restart your device to clear the active apps and the temporary memory. Force a shutdown if it’s frozen.
Look at storage space. Delete unneeded apps and data to increase available storage. If that doesn’t work, back up your info and use the factory reset.
If the problem persists it could be faulty hardware. An older phone may become incompatible with current software.
Call or visit a professional repair shop for guidance.
5. Cracked Screen
How long can you use a phone with a cracked screen? Besides the risk of cutting your fingers, your phone is vulnerable to moisture.
Apply clear packing tape to the screen for a temporary fix. You can buy a DIY kit and fix the screen at home. If it’s under warranty take it to an authorized repair professional.
After it’s fixed, protect your phone from future damage. Buy a screen protector. Invest in a quality case to cushion it in a fall.
6. Water Damage
When you take your phone to the beach, on a boat, or into the bathroom, it’s in danger. Water and electronics don’t go together.
If your device gets submerged wipe away the excess water. Turn the phone off and put it in a baggie filled with uncooked rice. The rice will absorb extra moisture.
Now, take it to the closest phone repair shop. Let the pros assess the damage.
They’ll take your phone apart, then dry or replace parts as needed.
7. Phone is Overheating
Overheating can damage your battery and screen. Never store your phone in direct sunlight or other hot spots. Try not to use it while it’s charging.
If your phone is hot, reduce the screen brightness and close apps you aren’t using. Take a break from energy-demanding apps like Facebook or Pokemon Go.
Delay downloads and updates for when you’re not using your phone.
Consult a pro if you try these fixes and your phone stays hot. The heat may mean there’s a defect.
8. Short Battery Life
Short battery life is a major frustration. The first step is to check for battery hogs.
Change your settings so apps and location services don’t run in the background.
Reduce the frequency of updates. Lower the screen brightness and timeout settings. Use battery saver mode.
Mismatched chargers and/or charging cables can affect battery life.
Older phones may need a new battery.
Get Professional Help for Your Phone Problems
Not every phone problem responds to a DIY fix. If you can’t find the answer to your issue above, call these professionals for phone repair.
Don’t ignore signs of trouble. Keeping your phone at peak performance makes your life easier.
Check out more ways to save time and money on our lifestyle blog.
