Is It a Hardware or Software Issue? – 7 Ways to Diagnose Your Phone Problems at Home Before Seeking Help

Did you know that the first smartphone was created in 1994? As you might guess, it looked completely different than the phones you can buy today. Unfortunately, people still have to deal with phone problems even after all these years.

However, not everybody understands whether or not their issue stems from a hardware or software problem. Phone not working?

We’ve put together a brief guide that has all the information you need to know to get started on the right track.

1. Read the User Guide

Consult the user guide for your phone model and look up any troubleshooting tips or solutions that may help resolve the issue. You can usually find this information in the manual that comes with your phone or online.

The user guide may have a list of possible error messages that could appear and explain what each one means.

2. Check Battery and Connections

Make sure the battery is properly charged and all necessary cables/connectors are securely connected and not loose or damaged. Sometimes, an issue may be as simple as a loose connection or a dead battery.

Many battery-related problems are notably easy to resolve.

3. Reset Your Phone

Power off the device, unplug it from its charger if applicable, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on again to reset it.

It might sound simple, but sometimes a simple reset can fix common issues. This could be a helpful first step if you’re dealing with something like a software glitch or similar issue.

4. Update Software

Check for any pending updates to both your phone’s operating system as well as any installed apps and be sure to download and install them right away in order to benefit from any bug fixes or new features that may help address an existing issue you’re experiencing with your device. With modern smartphones, foregoing updates might lead to potential issues.

5. Clear Cache Data

Apps tend to store data in the form of temporary files called the cache, which can become corrupted over time and cause issues such as freezing or crashing of certain programs.

Deleting these manually via Settings > Storage can often help restore normal functioning once again. Cache data can be a major contributing factor to many software-related issues. This occurs on both Android and iOS devices.

6. Reset Network Settings

If your phone is having trouble connecting to wifi networks, try resetting your network settings by going into Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

This will delete any saved passwords or connections but should also clear up any connection issues you may have been experiencing due to glitches in the old settings data.

Resetting network settings can also be a great way to fix wifi problems without more drastic measures.

7. Troubleshoot Apps Individually

If a particular app is giving you trouble (such as crashing constantly), try closing out other applications running in the background. You can also update it manually via the app store, clearing its cache data separately, etc.

This can often pinpoint a more specific source of an error that you may have otherwise overlooked.

What Are Common iPhone Problems?

Common iPhone problems include battery draining quickly, difficulty connecting to wifi networks, slow app performance, and touchscreen issues. If you continue to experience any of these issues after trying the steps mentioned above, it may be best to contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Other issues might include software glitches and hardware damage. For example, if the screen is cracked or you’ve dropped it in water, physical repair may be necessary to address the issue. With any luck, however, the steps mentioned above should help you troubleshoot the most common phone-related issues without having to take further measures.

What Are Common Android Problems?

Android phones experience many of the same issues that iPhones do. However, Android devices are also more prone to certain issues such as malware and viruses, which can be difficult to troubleshoot.

Android devices are more susceptible to malware because of the large number of third-party apps available on Google Play. Make sure you only download trusted applications from verified sources and be sure to update them regularly for optimal security.

There are also a larger number of Android phones in circulation compared to iPhones. Since these two phones have different operating systems, hackers often write malware to target Android phones since there are more of them.

What Should I Do if the Above Tips Don’t Work?

Getting in touch with a professional technician or service center can often be the best course of action if the tips above don’t fix your issue. If you have a newer phone, some manufacturers may offer repair services that can help restore it to working condition.

In other cases, seeking out a professional technician who specializes in smartphone repairs may be the best option. Often, these technicians will have access to parts and tools that can help diagnose and fix the issue you’re having. Just be sure to research their past reputation.

This will provide insight into what experience you will get.

Dealing With Phone Problems Is Easier Than It Seems

Although managing phone problems might seem daunting, these simple steps should help you identify the source of the issue and get it fixed quickly. With a bit of patience and effort, you can easily troubleshoot issues that you experience.

Looking for more information on how we can help? Feel free to reach out to us today.

Best Ways to Kid-Proof Your Expensive Tech

Do you have a smartphone that set you back more than $500? Do you have a tablet that you spent almost $1,000 on? Or do you have a laptop that costs you at least a couple thousand dollars, if not more?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, the last thing you want to do is have your kids accidentally break one of these electronic devices. It might put you in a position where you’ll have to fork over a small fortune to get it fixed—and it might even force you to replace one of your expensive tech items altogether.

Fortunately, you should be able to kid-proof your tech so that this doesn’t happen. By taking time to child-proof gadgets, you can keep them in excellent condition and avoid costly repairs.

Here are the best ways to kid-proof all your electronic devices.

Tell Kids Not to Touch Electronic Devices

First things first: If you have expensive tech items in your home like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, you should keep them where your kids can’t access them. This alone should stop them from being able to do any damage to them.

You should also take this further and let your kids know they are not to touch your electronic devices if you forget to put them away. You should emphasize this point to show how serious you are about them not playing on your expensive tech items you aren’t around.

Put Cases on All Your Electronic Devices

As a parent, you know that telling your kids not to do something isn’t always work. They might still try to get their hands on your electronic devices when you aren’t looking so that they can try them out.

Because of this, you should invest in cases for all your various devices. You can child-proof a computer, smartphone, or tablet by sticking a case on it.

Doing this will protect your electronic devices from more than just your kids. You’ll also ensure you don’t inadvertently break any expensive tech items.

In the past, studies have shown that the average American drops their smartphone four times per week. So putting a case on something like a phone will make all the sense even if you don’t have kids.

Ask Kids to Wash Their Hands Before Using Electronic Devices

Ideally, you should try not to let your kids use your pricey electronic devices if you can avoid it. But there might be times when you’ll want to show them something on your smartphone or have them type something up on your laptop.

In these instances, you should always ask your kids to wash their hands before using your devices. It’ll get whatever might be stuck to their hands off them and stop them from messing up any of your devices with their sticky hands.

Have Kids Sit While Using Electronic Devices

If you allow a child to play with your electronic devices while they’re walking or running around, you’ll be asking for trouble. They’re bound to bang these devices up against a wall or trip and fall with them in their hands.

With this in mind, you should always have your kids sit down any time they use your electronic devices. It’ll reduce the risks associated with them holding these devices in their hands.

Advise Kids to Keep Food and Drinks Away From Electronic Devices

Generally speaking, it’s a fantastic idea for anyone using an electronic device to keep food and drinks away from it. It’ll reduce the chances of food or drinks getting spilled on a device and damaging it.

You can help your kids develop good habits while using electronic devices by encouraging them not to eat or drink around them. They’ll know that they shouldn’t do this when they secure devices of their own one day.

Give Kids Their Own Electronic Devices

Speaking of your kids getting their own electronic devices, you may want to kick around the idea of buying them devices that they can use so that they aren’t always using yours. There are lots of cheap tablets and laptops that are developed specifically for children.

Just make sure you try to limit a child’s tablet or laptop usage. You don’t want to raise kids who get used to being on devices all the time.

Arrange to Make Repairs to Electronic Devices ASAP

Accidents happen no matter how hard you try to kid-proof your tech. And unfortunately, they might occur when your kids are using your electronic devices and damage them.

If your kids break one of your devices, you should resist the urge to yell at them and use it as a teaching moment. You should also make a strong attempt to get your devices fixed ASAP.

Fruit Fixed can help you bring just about any electronic device back to life. We can repair devices quickly and get them working like new without breaking the bank.

Contact Us to Schedule Repairs for Electronic Devices

Did your kids just break one of your expensive electronic devices? Or did you do it yourself? Either way, you can rely on Fruit Fixed to repair your expensive tech items.

We specialize in repairing smartphones, tablets, laptops, and almost any other tech products you own. If you failed at trying to kid-proof your tech, count on us to make things right.

Get in touch with us today to arrange to have your devices repaired.

Why Is My Samsung Smart Watch Not Turning On?

Research shows that 7 out of 10 people would use a smart watch if it gave them an insurance discount. Smart watches are the most common among Gen Zers.

If you own a Samsung smart watch, you may experience some difficulties. It is not uncommon to have some tech issues with one of these devices.

For instance, your Samsung watch may not be turning on. If that is the case, this guide will help you understand what to do next.

Keep reading to find out why your Samsung smart watch isn’t turning on.

It Isn’t Charged

If you are having issues with your Galaxy watch, there are some main culprits. When a watch is not turning on, the most common issue is a lack of charge.

You may have forgotten to charge your watch, or it wasn’t charging when you thought it was. This can result in it going dead without any warning.

It is easy to automatically assume that something is wrong. But the first thing you should do is to try charging your watch.

Connect it with a charger and step away for 30 minutes to an hour. This should give the watch plenty of time to fully charge so that you can try turning it on.

If it does not turn on, there is most likely something else going on that you can’t fix.

There Is An Update Error

Having an unresponsive smart watch can feel very stressful. This is a big investment, and you probably wear this watch every day.

There are a few common issues that customers have had with Samsung watches. One issue is the Samsung GVI3 update for the smart watch.

This is a faulty update that causes issues after it’s installed. The issue only occurs after installation and once you have turned the watch off.

It seems as though a reboot or a dead battery causes the issue. This results in your watch not turning back on after it was turned off.

There is still a lot of mystery around why this update causes such a big issue. Now that it is known, most Samsung users should not have an issue with it.

If you do see this update, you should never use it for your Samsung smart watch. If you have done this update and turned your watch off, you may need Galaxy watch repair.

Fruit Fixed provides Samsung Galaxy device repair services. This is the perfect option if you are experiencing an issue that you don’t have a solution for.

The Charger Isn’t Working

If your watch is not turning on, you have probably tried charging it. This may not work if something is going on with your Samsung charger.

The charger itself may no longer be working, which is why your watch isn’t turning on. The device may be broken, or there may be something wrong with it.

In some instances, it could also be the outlet the charger is connected to. Try moving the charger to a different power outlet to see if that helps.

If you suspect that your Samsung charger is the problem, you can try using your laptop. You can use a USB port on your laptop to connect your smart watch.

The Watch Is Damaged

When a device doesn’t turn on, there are a variety of things that could be wrong. When you can’t turn it on, it can be nearly impossible to figure out what the solution is.

This can happen if the device itself has become damaged. The battery may be out of juice, or the watch is damaged from impact or water exposure.

If you have tried all of the above solutions, there isn’t much left for you to do. You will need to take your device to a repair company to have them look into the problem further.

Troubleshooting Samsung Smart Watch Issues

There are other options you can try if you still can’t turn your watch on. One option is to try restarting the device by holding down the power button.

Do this for at least 10 seconds to see if the watch starts. If that doesn’t work, you could try factory resetting your Galaxy watch.

Keep in mind that when you do this, it will remove all of your data. If you get it to turn on, you will have to start all over again, as everything will be erased.

You can do this through the wearable app through Galaxy. You will need to go to the watch settings and tap the General tab before going to reset.

Confirm that you want to reset your watch and proceed. You can then try to power on your watch again by holding down the power button.

This is why it is always a good idea to back up your Samsung smart watch regularly. This ensures that if you ever have to reset it, your data is saved.

Samsung Smart Watch: Why It Isn’t Turning On

If you own a Samsung smart watch, you may run into issues at some point. One common complaint is people struggling to get their watch to turn on.

If this happens, the watch may not be charged, or there is an update error. This could also be the result of damage to the watch that you didn’t notice beforehand.

Is your Samsung watch not turning on, no matter what you do? Contact us today at Fruit Fixed to start a repair on your Galaxy device.

How to Recover Photos From a Broken Phone

Did you know that there are a combined 4 billion active smartphones between Android and Apple devices? As time goes on, mobile tech becomes faster, more reliable, and more convenient to use. However, dealing with a broken phone is still an issue that many people have to deal with.

A situation like this often leads to the need for photo recovery. We’ve put together a brief guide on how to recover photos from a broken smartphone. Let’s take a closer look.

Check for Internal Memory Backup

Check to see if your phone has an internal memory backup feature that may allow you to transfer data from the phone even when it is broken. When operating systems can’t be accessed because of a broken screen, a backup feature may still have the pictures saved.

This will restore all of your data that’s stored on the phone and transfer it to another device. Unfortunately, not all phones have an internal memory backup. So, not everybody will be able to take advantage of this feature.

External Hard Drives

If your phone has an external memory card slot, you can use this to transfer photos from the device before it is damaged. If your phone has a USB port, then you can plug it into an external hard drive and transfer any data that was stored on the device even if it is damaged. External hard drives are a great way to keep your data safe if you ever find yourself in this situation.

Of course, this assumes that you previously backed up your photos to an external drive. Otherwise, the content you are looking for won’t be present.

Using Third-Party Software

It’s possible to use third-party software to recover deleted photos from a broken smartphone. There are several options available, many of which will allow you to recover data even when the device is severely damaged.

It’s important to remember that this method may not work for all phones and always back up your data before attempting any type of software recovery.

However, third-party software can be expensive. It could also be unreliable. Some applications carry the risk of further damaging your device, so it’s important to do research before investing in any type of software.

Connect Your Phone to a Computer

Connect the phone to a computer via a USB cable and attempt to access its internal storage directly. This should allow you to retrieve any photos that may be stored on it.

When you connect the phone to your computer, you may be asked for a PIN or passcode. This is to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information.

Take the Phone to a Repair Shop

Take the phone to a professional repair shop that may have the equipment and expertise necessary to retrieve any remaining data from your device.

So, it’s important to take the phone to a reputable repair shop that has experience with this type of recovery. In practice, they will use professional software to access the data on your device.

In many circumstances, they can then recover your photos for you.

Try Cloud Backups

If you have previously enabled cloud backups on your device, there may still be copies of photos stored online that can be retrieved by accessing them through the appropriate cloud account backup platform/service provider (Google Drive, iCloud, etc.)

Cloud backups can be a great way to make sure that your data is safe, even if the device itself becomes damaged. Most cloud platforms will store your photos securely and allow you to access them even if the device is no longer functioning.

However, you might need to enter certain passwords or security codes in order to access the backup files.

Reasons Why Photos Become Inaccessible

One of the most common reasons why photos become inaccessible is due to a broken phone. Even in the most extreme cases, however, there may still be ways to recover your photos.

Following the steps outlined above should help you retrieve any data that may still exist on the device. In some cases, it’s possible to access data even if the device has been damaged beyond repair. Occasionally, photos may become corrupted.

This occurs when the file is incomplete or damaged in some way, which can make it difficult to view or access. Reasons for corruption include virus infection, hardware malfunction, or simply accidental deletion.

What Should I Look For in a Professional?

If you choose to work with a professional to retrieve photos from a broken smartphone, look for one who is experienced in data recovery.

Make sure that they have the expertise and the right tools and software to safely recover your data without compromising it. It’s also important to find out what their fees are upfront before you agree to work with them.

Finally, ask for references or reviews from other clients who have used their services. This will give you an idea of the quality of their work and if they provided sufficient results.

Knowing How to Recover Photos Is Easier Than It Seems

Although it might seem complicated at first, understanding how to recover photos from a broken phone can be simple. If in doubt, contact a professional data recovery service provider who can help you access any photos stored on your device.

Looking for more information on how we can help? Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.