Justin Drake Carroll Repair

Bad Habits That Are Ruining Your Tech Devices

With more and more shiny new devices launching on the market every day, keeping up with tech trends can get expensive. On average, smartphones cost us a whopping $228 per year of use, with laptops not far behind. Video game consoles and smartwatches may cost us less than $100 per year of use, but that doesn’t make us want to protect them any less!

Getting the most out of your tech devices means knowing how to extend their lifespan. Unfortunately, a few bad habits can ruin your devices fast. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ways people damage their favorite devices without even knowing. 

Charging Devices Overnight

When it comes to bad habits with tech, most people have heard the popular advice that charging your device overnight can be bad news for your battery.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a myth. Keeping your phone charging at 100% for long periods, whether it’s day or night, can strain a lithium-ion battery. This is because batteries grow warmer when plugged into a charger, and heat decreases your battery life.

However, if you do choose to charge a device overnight, know that some modern devices fare better than others.

Newer Apple devices, for example, support optimized battery charging. With this feature enabled, your iPhone will stop charging past 80% based on your charging schedule. Your phone then predicts what time you’ll unplug it, typically the time you wake in the morning, and schedules a rapid charge to 100% right before then.

Draining Your Battery Too Often

Another way to kill any lithium-ion battery is to drain it until it’s dead.

Modern batteries are strained the most when they’re low or empty as well as when they’re fully charged. In an ideal world, you’ll keep your device’s battery charged to a sweet spot of 30-80% at all times. (Note that taking your battery off a charger before it hits a 100% charge isn’t damaging; this common myth is a holdover from the days of nickel-cadmium batteries.)

If you haven’t plugged in your device before it hits 20%, be sure to turn on the battery saver mode, if it has one. Both iPhone and Android devices offer various power-saving settings that help preserve your battery life until you can find the nearest outlet.

Using Unofficial Chargers

It’s always a good idea to use the charger that came with your device. Barring that, you should replace broken or lost chargers with another model from the original manufacturer. You can also use chargers from brands that go through the trouble of getting certification from the original manufacturer, such as Apple’s MFi certification.

Unofficial chargers may not send the right current to your device. Some chargers may not stop delivering a charge when your device’s battery is full. Both of these things can wreak havoc on your battery life.

While it’s true that some unofficial chargers may offer the perfect charge, it can be hard to tell whether or not you’re getting a product tailored to your device. Instead, play it safe and reach for an official or certified product. 

Failing to Update

Whether you’re dealing with a phone, tablet, or computer, it’s important to update your device’s iOS when a new one is available. Sure, updates take time and may require a reboot, but they can also make your device more stable and usable while adding new features. 

Even better, software updates often patch known vulnerabilities in your iOS. These patches protect your sensitive data and even safeguard your device from malware and viruses that can affect the software in the long run.

Leaving Devices in the Sun

As we mentioned above, heat is a battery killer. Worse, too much heat can cause permanent damage to your phone, impacting your files, limiting processing power, or even making certain features inaccessible. You may end up needing to buy a new phone!

It’s tempting to keep your expensive tech by your side when you’re sunbathing or exercising outside, and you might not think twice about leaving it on the front dash of your car. However, these habits can cook your favorite devices if you aren’t careful! Just like you’d protect your own skin, stick to the shade where possible and try to keep your devices out of the sun for long periods.

Not Using a Case or Cover

This is one of those tech habits that may seem like a no-brainer, but we’ve had plenty of customers come in with a broken device that doesn’t have any kind of protective covering. Accidents happen to everyone, and the last thing you want is a costly mistake that damages your device in a split second!

From spills to accidental drops, a sturdy case or cover can help protect your device from harm. Even if you don’t want to add too much bulk, a sleek silicone phone case or a slim tablet screen protector can make a difference. You can even get cases and silicone keyboard covers for your laptop.

On that note, it’s also a good idea to get a protection plan or a warranty when you’re buying your device, if one is available to you. This way, if you do end up ruining your tech, you’re still protected! 

Get More Out of Your Tech Devices

Taking good care of your tech devices can preserve their battery life and improve their lifespan. Though you’ll have to put some thought into how you treat your phone, tablet, or computer, a bit of effort can help you enjoy your device for years to come!

Of course, we also understand that mistakes happen, no matter how careful you are. That’s why our team is here to offer fast and professional repairs with a lifetime warranty. Contact us today to repair everything from phones to digital watches to game consoles.

Justin Drake Carroll Laptops

How Can You Fix a Slow Laptop?

The average laptop only lasts between 3-5 years, but you can improve upon that with proper laptop care.

Few things are more frustrating in modern life than having a slow laptop. Whether you’re using it for work or leisure, laptop speed is a major indicator of the overall condition of your computer. When it all boils down, if you’ve got a slow laptop, you’ve got laptop problems.

So, how can you fix a laptop that’s obviously losing speed? 

In this post, we’re going to give you a short guide for fixing some of the most common laptop speed issues. Much of the time, these are solvable problems that are caused by a lack of proper maintenance more than an issue with the computer itself.

Fixing a laptop that isn’t performing will keep it going for longer, but it’ll also keep your blood pressure from spiking while you’re using it. Keep reading and take care of your laptop problems once and for all.

Power Saver Mode

When trying to rectify a slow laptop, it’s best to start with the simplest fixes and work backward to the more intensive ones. Since you’re dealing with a laptop, there’s a really good chance that you’ve turned up “Power Saving Mode” at some point when you unplugged your device.

Having this on reduces the performance of your hardware and your computer tells you as much. Instead, click “Balanced” or “High-Performance” mode and watch your computer speed transform before your eyes. You really only need to save power when you have the laptop unplugged for a long period of time.

Background Apps

The average laptop user isn’t exactly mindful of what programs are running and when. Just because you close programs doesn’t mean that they’ve stopped running. Many apps will keep running in the background, using up your laptop’s memory. 

Both Mac and Windows laptops have a “Task Manager” that shows you which programs are running. Once open, you can look at the finer details to see how much memory and CPU each program uses.

Make sure not to close any programs that are necessary to have open, then go through and click “End Task” in Windows or “Force Quit” in MacOS.

Startup Programs

A similar issue occurs when your laptop boots up. Certain programs are set to launch when your computer turns on. These are called “startup programs” and when you have too many of them going at once, they can really set your laptop off on the wrong foot.

Again, open Task Manager, but instead of looking at your processes, click on the “Startup” tab. You can enable and disable your startup programs. On Windows, you can even see which startup programs are causing the most trouble under the “Startup Impact” column.

It’s also helpful to close down all programs before you turn your computer off. This way, they won’t attempt to start when you turn it back on.

OS Update

On both Windows and Mac laptops, you’ll be prompted to install new OS updates when they come out. Many computer owners simply ignore this prompt and go about their business, but there are numerous benefits to regular OS updates.

This often gives you driver updates and new patches that improve the overall performance of your laptop. Not doing the updates can slow your computer down and make you vulnerable to hackers.

Updates typically come 2-3 times a year. To check if there are any updates available on Windows, go to “Settings” and select “Update & Security.” On Mac, go into “System Preferences” and click “Software Update.”

Delete Unused Files

When you’ve had your laptop for a little while, like with our homes, they get cluttered. Chances are, you’ve got all sorts of files hidden in every nook and cranny of your hard disk. You don’t see them, but they’re almost certainly impacting your computer’s performance.

You can perform a disk cleanup to get rid of old, unused files. It’s good practice to take the time each week to go through your hard disk to delete files and folders that you don’t need. Empty your trash can and you’ll restore some of that lost performance.

Uninstall Unused Programs

As with your files, it’s easy to accumulate programs over time. Whether it’s a game that you really wanted to play or an app you used once when you got into photo editing, they need to go if you aren’t using them. Having them sitting there just clogs up your hard drive and slows everything down.

Even programs that you use once in a while might be worth deleting if they’re big enough. You can always reinstall it if you need to use it again.

Uninstalling a program is an easy process. On Windows, go to “Control Panel,” go into “Programs,” and click “Programs and Features.” It’s even easier on a Mac – just right-click on the program you don’t want and delete it.

Scan for Viruses

So far, we’ve only discussed regular maintenance you can do to speed up your computer. In other scenarios, you might be dealing with malware that is significantly impacting your computer’s performance.

If this is the case, there are likely to be other symptoms, like constant popups or crashing programs for seemingly no reason. Malware can affect your computer’s performance in a number of ways, but it can also result in security breaches that put your personal information and data at risk.

It can be helpful to purchase third-party antivirus software to do a scan. There are plenty of good options for both Windows and Mac that’ll identify and remove the virus in question.

Get Your Slow Laptop Fixed Professionally

Fixing a laptop that isn’t up to speed isn’t always cut and dry. If you’ve tried all of these methods and you’re still dealing with a slow laptop, the only thing left to do is seek professional help.

At Fruit Fixed, we specialize in Windows and Mac laptop repair. If there’s an issue with your laptop hardware causing it to work slowly, we’ll find it and fix it. Contact us for more information on our services or head to one of our locations across Virginia.

Justin Drake Carroll Gaming Systems

Fixing the Common Nintendo Switch Problems

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular game consoles in the world. Offering adaptability and a great range of games, it’s no wonder that the Switch has sold more than 114 million units worldwide. 

As amazing as the Switch is, it’s sadly not indestructible! Like any other piece of electronic equipment, it can break down under certain conditions. However, if the console is facing issues, do you know what to do?

Want to learn more about common Nintendo Switch problems and how to fix them? We’ve put this article together to help you out. Read on to find out everything you need to know. 

Damaged Screens

We’ve all experienced this common issue. You drop your device or game console and watch in horror as a crack appears on the screen. Or else something falls from your hand onto the screen and causes a scratch.

Fixing a damaged screen is something that’s almost impossible for someone without the right skills and equipment. It is highly recommended you get help from an expert repair technician if you need screen repair. They may need to provide an entirely new screen to get the console working properly again.

Even a small scratch on the screen can spoil your gameplay experience, and fixing it could cost you big. The best way to deal with this issue is to try to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Consider using a screen protector to stop the screen from getting damaged. 

Fast Draining Battery

When fully charged, the Nintendo Switch should offer several hours of playtime. But some Switch owners suddenly find their batteries lack potency, sometimes dying out in less than an hour.

Fixing a Nintendo Switch with this issue might be as simple as playing with the settings. Reducing screen brightness and volume can help to preserve your console’s battery life.

If making these small changes doesn’t help, you may be facing a hardware issue, like a damaged battery. If this is the case, you’ll need an expert technician to help you with your broken Nintendo Switch. 

Failure to Charge

Is your Switch failing to charge, or charging too slowly, when plugged in? This may be due to a range of issues with the charging point.

The charging dock could be clogged with dirt or some other blockage. In this case, cleaning the charging dock or port with a simple cotton swab could fix the issue.

If this simple fix doesn’t work, the charge point could be severely damaged. This may require careful repairs from a trained technician. The entire charge port may need to be replaced, which is a tricky job requiring special skills and equipment.

There’s another obvious cause for failure to charge, which many people overlook: you could be suffering an issue with power flow through the outlet! Try plugging the dock into a different outlet. 

Games Failing to Load

You may find that your Switch loads up to the starting menu without an issue but fails to load your chosen game. This issue may occur with one specific title, or your Switch may fail to load any game. 

The first step here, as with any software issue, should be to try resetting the console. If that doesn’t fix the issue, try uninstalling and reinstalling the game or checking for any patches or updates. 

Fixing a Nintendo Switch with this issue should be no issue for a trained professional. They may need to run a patch or a software update for you. 

Controller Issues

If you can’t control your game properly, you’re unlikely to get the best from this console. At times, you may find your controllers are unresponsive or drift to one side. This is one of the most common Nintendo Switch issues.

Controller issues are often easy to fix. You may be able to fix the problem by simply going into the controller options in settings and following the instructions for aligning the controllers.

Alternatively, you may need to run a system update. If you have an older Switch, there may be a software issue and running an update can solve many of these common problems. 

Finally, try moving closer to the Switch. Some controllers don’t respond well if there are any obstacles between the controls and the console. Even very small obstacles like pieces of paper can cause the controls to become unresponsive. 

Difficulties With Internet Connection

You might be struggling to connect your Switch to the internet. This could cause major problems, as you won’t be able to play online-based games like Fortnite and Rocket League, or download updates for other games. You also won’t be able to connect with your friends and enjoy playing together.

Again, the first thing you need to do is try resetting the console. If this does not work, you can use the test connection option in the settings menu to try troubleshooting. Make sure to check your router and Wi-Fi connection too. 

If these issues continue to occur, you may need to consult a professional for Nintendo Switch repairs. Your gaming system could be facing a software issue and this may need expert attention. 

Help With Common Nintendo Switch Problems

There are lots more common Nintendo Switch problems. Some can be extremely difficult to fix, especially if you lack technical knowledge. That’s why you may need to call for expert help if you’re facing certain issues. 

Need some help getting your console back into good working order? We’ve got you covered! Click here to find out more about our game console repair services. 

Justin Drake Carroll Apple

What Are the Most Common AirPod Problems?

Apple generated $41.1 billion in revenue from its wearable accessories segment in 2022 – with AirPods being one of the popular products. But even with its popularity and high-quality design, AirPods are still not immune to damage.

Are you an AirPods user experiencing issues with your wireless earbuds? Do you want to know how to troubleshoot common problems that may be affecting your device? You’re at the right place.

This guide will discuss the most common AirPod problems and provide solutions to help you resolve them. Whether you’re dealing with battery life issues, connectivity problems, or audio issues, we have tips to help you get your AirPods working properly again.

Get back to enjoying your favorite music, podcasts, and phone calls without any interruptions. Read on to learn more.

Battery Life Issues

If your AirPods are not holding a charge as long as they used to, you can try resetting them. You can also check to make sure that they are fully charged and that the charging case is working. If one AirPod drains faster than the other, try switching them to see if the issue persists.

Connectivity Problems

If your AirPods won’t connect or keep disconnecting from your device, try resetting them or making sure that Bluetooth is turned on and that your device is up to date. You can also try forgetting the AirPods in your device’s Bluetooth settings and then pairing them again.

Charging Issues

If your AirPods won’t charge, make sure that the charging case is charged and that the charging cable is working. You can also try cleaning the charging contacts on both the AirPods and the case. If your broken AirPods still won’t charge, contact professional Airpods repair.

Audio Issues

If your AirPods are producing low or muffled sound or if only one AirPod is producing sound, try cleaning the speaker grilles with a dry, soft-bristled brush or a clean, dry toothbrush. You can also try resetting your AirPods or checking the sound settings on your device.

Fit Issues

If your AirPods are uncomfortable or won’t stay in your ears, try adjusting the fit by gently twisting them or using different ear tips. You can also try wearing them upside down or using ear hooks or wings. If you still can’t find a comfortable fit, consider purchasing a different type of wireless earbuds.

Firmware Update Problems

If your AirPods fail to update or if the update fails halfway through, try resetting them or checking your device’s software updates. You can also try updating your damaged AirPods using a different device.

Dirty or Clogged Grilles

If your AirPods are producing poor sound quality or if the microphone isn’t working, try cleaning the speaker and microphone grilles with a dry, soft-bristled brush or a clean, dry toothbrush.

You can also try using a soft, dry cloth to wipe away any debris. Be careful not to push any debris further into the grille. If the issue persists, seek the services of a certified Apple repair store.

How to Take Care of Your AirPods

Wireless earbuds have become an essential accessory for many people, and Apple AirPods are one of the most popular brands on the market. However, like any electronic device, they require proper care and maintenance to ensure they last longer.

Here are some tips on how to take care of your AirPods to extend their lifespan.

Keep Them Clean

Regular cleaning is essential to keep your AirPods working properly. Over time, earwax, dirt, and debris can build up on the speaker grilles and microphone ports, which can affect sound quality and lead to other AirPod issues.

To clean your AirPods, use a dry, soft-bristled brush or a clean, dry toothbrush to gently brush away any debris. You can also use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the exterior of the AirPods and the charging case.

Store Them Properly

When you’re not using your AirPods, it’s essential to store them in their charging case. This not only keeps them safe from damage but also helps keep them charged and ready to use. 

Be sure to keep the charging case clean and free of debris. Avoid storing your AirPods in extreme temperatures or humid environments.

Avoid Exposure to Water

AirPods are not water-resistant, so it’s essential to avoid exposing them to water or other liquids. This includes rain, sweat, and accidental spills. If your AirPods do get wet, wipe them down with a dry cloth and let them air dry before using them again.

Use the Right Accessories

Using the right accessories can help protect your AirPods from damage. For example, you can purchase protective cases or covers for your AirPods and charging case to keep them safe from scratches, dings, and other damage. You can also use ear hooks or wings to help keep your AirPods secure in your ears during exercise or other activities.

Keep Them Up to Date

Apple periodically releases firmware updates for AirPods, which can improve performance and fix bugs. To ensure your AirPods are up to date, make sure your iPhone or other Apple device is running the latest software updates and keep your AirPods connected to your device.

Fixed Fruit: Fix AirPod Problems Fast

While AirPods may experience common technical problems, they are still a popular and widely used accessory for many people. If you have tried the solutions we discussed in this blog post and are still experiencing issues with your AirPods, it may be time to seek professional help.

At Fixed Fruit, we offer AirPod repair services to help you get your wireless earbuds back in working order. Our team of experienced technicians can diagnose and fix a range of AirPod issues, from battery problems and connectivity issues to audio problems and more.

Don’t let common AirPod problems disrupt your listening experience – trust us to provide fast and reliable repair services. Contact us today at 804-698-0004 to learn more about our AirPod repairs and get your device working like new again. Find an AirPod repair store near you.