Category: Phone FAQs

Ah, the dreaded plunge. Your trusty phone, a lifeline to the world, takes a dive into the deep, watery abyss-a sink, a toilet, or even a rain puddle. It’s a common tragedy, striking phones everywhere, regardless of their make or model.

In that moment, you’re faced with the grim possibility of losing not just a device, but a part of your daily life. But here’s a glimmer of hope: not all water encounters spell doom for your digital companion. So, what do you do when your phone takes an unexpected swim?

This article dives into the rescue mission-how to fix a phone that has water damage. Whether it’s an iPhone that’s seen better days or a beloved Android gasping for air, we’ve got your back. Keep reading, as we guide you step-by-step through the process of bringing your water-damaged phone back to life.

Reviving Your Water-Damaged Phone

When your phone gets a surprise bath, every second counts. The key to how to fix a phone that has water damage lies in your immediate response. First and foremost, power off your phone. This simple act can be a lifesaver, preventing short circuits that could fry your device’s internals.

After switching it off, remove any protective case or cover. Disconnect any plugged-in accessories like headphones or charging cables. If your phone’s design permits, remove the battery, SIM card, and memory card. This step is crucial in preventing further damage to these vital components.

Avoid the common mistake of shaking your phone or using a hairdryer. These methods can push water deeper into the phone, worsening the situation. Instead, gently blot your phone with a soft, lint-free cloth to absorb excess moisture. The goal here is to remove water without applying too much force.

Assessing the Damage

After the initial rescue efforts, it’s time to assess the damage. Water damage isn’t always immediately obvious, but certain signs can help you gauge the extent of the problem. A common red flag is screen malfunctioning-flickering, black spots, or a complete lack of response. This can indicate that water has seeped into your screen or other critical components.

Another crucial aspect to check is the phone motherboard. This is the nerve center of your phone, and water contact here can be catastrophic. Look for any visible signs of moisture or corrosion. Many phones have water damage indicators-small stickers that change color when wet.

These can usually be found in or near the battery compartment. Their color change is a tell-tale sign that water has invaded the interior of your phone, possibly reaching the motherboard.

Remember, even if your phone seems to be working fine, water damage can be insidious, leading to long-term issues if not addressed.

The iPhone Dilemma

Dealing with an iPhone damaged by water presents its own set of challenges. Unlike many Android phones, iPhones generally don’t have removable batteries or back covers. This design quirk means that water trapped inside has fewer escape routes, potentially increasing the risk of damage to internal components.

For iPhones, the immediate step after water exposure-turning it off and drying the exterior-remains the same. However, since you can’t remove the battery, there’s an increased urgency to keep the phone powered off and get it to a professional for a thorough checkup as soon as possible. The compact and intricate design of iPhones makes DIY repairs riskier and more complex compared to other smartphones.

Apple’s water damage indicators, located inside the SIM card slot, can quickly show if moisture has made its way inside. If these indicators have changed color, it’s a clear sign that the phone needs professional attention.

Removing Components

In the aftermath of a water mishap, removing the SIM card and other detachable parts from your phone is a crucial step. If your phone design allows it, swiftly take out the SIM card, memory card, and battery. This action is more than just a precaution; it’s a critical move in your damage control strategy.

Removing these components serves two key purposes. Firstly, it reduces the risk of your valuable data, like contacts and photos, being lost if the phone succumbs to water damage. Secondly, and more importantly, it aids in airing out the device.

By opening up these compartments, you’re allowing air to circulate more freely inside the phone, which helps in drying out any moisture trapped in hard-to-reach places.

This procedure is especially significant for phones with removable batteries. By taking out the battery, you’re cutting off any power that might cause a short circuit, thereby reducing the risk of irreparable damage to the phone’s motherboard and other critical components.

Drying and Cleaning Techniques

Once you’ve removed all removable parts, it’s time to dry out your water-damaged phone. The most effective method is to place your phone in a dry, well-ventilated area. A common myth is to use rice; however, this is not recommended as rice grains can get into small openings and cause more harm. Instead, consider using silica gel packets, if available, as they are more effective in absorbing moisture.

Another safe technique is to leave your phone upright in a room with a gentle airflow. You can also use a fan to circulate air around the phone, but avoid using hot air dryers as the heat can damage the phone’s components. While drying, rotate the phone every few hours to ensure moisture escapes from all openings.

Patience is key here. It’s recommended to leave your phone to dry for at least 24 to 48 hours before attempting to turn it on again. Remember, rushing this process can lead to permanent damage.

Now You Know How To Fix a Phone That Has Water Damage

Dealing with a water-damaged phone? At Fruit Fixed, we specialize in resolving such crises. Our approach to how to fix a phone that has water damage is both efficient and reliable.

Backed by our Low Price Guarantee, we ensure you get the best service at the most competitive price. If your phone has taken an unintended dive, don’t let despair set in. Reach out to us at Fruit Fixed. Our skilled technicians are ready to provide expert repair, restoring your phone to its optimal state.

Start the process today and experience the peace of mind that comes with professional, cost-effective repair solutions.

You finally got some time off work, and it looks like it’ll be lovely throughout the day. So, you decide to hit town and stroll around the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.

As you walk outside, though, the sky quickly turns from blue to gray, and you find yourself caught in the rain. In your hurry to find shelter, you drop your precious iPhone in a puddle. You pick it up, only to drop it again.

At this point, the only thing likely running through your mind is how to know if your phone has water damage.

Before you panic, switch your phone off. The sooner you do, the more likely you can prevent further problems.

Then, check out the rest of this guide to help you determine if your phone has sustained water damage. It also gives insights on how much its repair can cost, so read on. 

How to Know if Your Phone Has Water Damage

The easiest way to tell if you have a water-damaged iPhone is to check its Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI). All models, from the first to the latest generation, have this built-in. You should see it from the outside without opening your entire phone. 

What the LCI Is

The LCI is a technology that shows if a device has come into contact with water or water-containing fluid. Its standard color is white or silver, which signifies it hasn’t had water exposure. It turns red if it does. 

How to Find and Check the LCI

If you have an iPhone 5 or later, you should find the LCI within the SIM card slot. On older models, it’s in the headphone jack and charging port. As for the original iPhone (first-generation), its indicator is in the headphone jack.

If you need to access the SIM card slot, ensure your phone is completely dry from the outside first. Then, grab your SIM eject tool (the small metal pin that came with your unlocked phone when you bought it) or a paper clip. Stick this in the tiny hole of the SIM tray and gently push it until the tray pops out.

Check your SIM card and tray to see if there’s any sign of moisture. Hopefully, there’s none, but if there is, use a microfiber towel or a lint-free cloth to dry it.

Next, hold your phone face down and shine a flashlight into the SIM card slot. You should see if the LCI is still white or silver or has gone red. 

Other Symptoms of iPhone Water Damage

It’s vital to note that the LCI can malfunction, making it seem like your iPhone has (or has no) water damage. As such, you should check if your device exhibits the other water damage symptoms below.

Before you do, though, thoroughly wipe dry your phone’s exterior and, if you can wait, let it air dry for at least 48 hours.

If you can’t afford to wait, then it may be best just to bring it to a reputable iPhone repair specialist. Expert technicians can often fix water-damaged phones in an hour or less. 

Blurry Camera

Whether you find a red or a white/silver LCI, you should still check your iPhone camera. In many cases, a blurry camera indicates your phone has water damage. Note, though, that this is also one of the most common iPhone problems that could happen after a bad drop. 

Slow and Buggy Performance

Does your iPhone screen take forever to respond to taps and touches? Maybe some areas of the screen don’t even react. Perhaps your apps keep lagging, or your phone gets noticeably warm.

Those are all signs that water may have infiltrated your device.

However, those symptoms can also arise from a potential malware infection. Contrary to popular belief, iPhones can get viruses and other malicious software. 

The Cost of Fixing a Water-Damaged iPhone

Repairing a water-damaged iPhone may cost anywhere from $50 to $699. This depends on whether you have AppleCare+, who fixes your phone, and its model. Likewise, the extent of the damage influences the cost. 

AppleCare+

The Apple One-Year Limited Warranty and AppleCare Protection Plan don’t cover water damage. So, even if your iPhone still has either, you may have to pay hundreds to get your water-damaged phone fixed.

If you have AppleCare+, though, you may only have to pay $99 plus taxes to get your phone fixed. It covers accidental damage from handling (ADH) for two incidents. ADH includes damage due to liquid contact and breakage from drops. 

Who Repairs Your Phone

If you don’t have AppleCare+, you can still have Apple fix your water-damaged phone. However, the cheapest, according to their website, is $269 for an iPhone SE and a whopping $699 for an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

If you take your phone to a trustworthy third-party repair center, they will charge you much less. This price difference has more to do with Apple’s “premium” label, not quality. Just make sure you choose a store known for its high-quality parts and services.

The Model of Your iPhone

It typically costs more to repair water damage on newer iPhone models. This is due to them featuring more sensitive components that water can destroy. So, expect a water-damaged iPhone 15 to cost many times more to fix than, say, an iPhone 6. 

The Extent of the Damage

Suppose your phone’s camera, battery, and screen all sustained water damage. In this case, you may have to pay a pro several hundred dollars to fix them.

In contrast, if the damage only affects your charging port, you may only have to pay $50 to $100.

Save Your Water-Damaged Phone

You should learn how to know if your phone has water damage as soon as you drop it in a puddle or spill liquids on it. The sooner you do, the sooner you can address the issue and potentially save your device.

If you’re in Virginia Beach, Richmond, or nearby areas, our technicians at Fruit Fixed can help. We provide high-quality repair services for Apple products and other brands.

Have a look at our iPhone service page now to get a repair cost estimate. Then, feel free to ring us up if you have other questions!

If you own a smartphone, one of the most important things you can do is prevent accident calls from occurring. 

A study showed that 30% of 9-1-1 calls made from smartphones were accidental butt dials. Emergency calls aside, you might accidentally call someone late at night and disturb them, or may accidentally have them hear a personal conversation. 

The infamous butt dial is an issue that several people deal with from time to time. You owe it to yourself to find some ways to nip it in the bud completely. 

These tips will teach you how to prevent butt dialing. 

Get a Phone Case or Clip

Investing in a phone case or clip is one of the best ways to prevent butt dialing from occurring. The case stores the phone in a way that covers the screen and doesn’t put it in proximity to be accidentally dialed.

These cases are also protective and can help you prevent screen scratches and other issues. Choose a case that is stylish, durable, and made with quality materials. 

Set a Lock Screen

It’s important to set a lock screen to prevent pocket dialing. With a lock screen, you can’t push any buttons on your phone or accidentally access any apps or functions. Consider setting an auto lock on your phone so that this occurs after every 30 seconds to a minute or so go by without phone activity.

When the phone locks itself, you’re safe from placing phone calls to anyone accidentally.

Learn Your Phone’s Mechanisms

If you’re asking yourself, “Why is my phone calling people?”, consider whether or not you actually know how to use your phone. 

You’ve probably done some Android or iPhone troubleshooting in the past, but one of the most important forms of troubleshooting is to understand your phone’s functions. Make sure that you can locate the power button, the section where calls are made, and any shortcuts that help you call previous or favorite contacts. 

The more familiar you get with these mechanisms, the easier it’ll be for you to keep pocket dials at bay. 

Use Security Measures

Keep in mind that you can also add security measures to your lock screen. Rather than just swiping it open, these security measures can require you to punch in a code or other form of authentication to access your phone screen. 

This can be done through facial recognition, thumbprint, voice access, and a host of other ways. Not only do these security measures prevent other people from accessing your phone content, but you will also be less likely to accidentally call somebody. 

Find your security functions in your smartphone and put credentials in place that only you can access. 

Re-Arrange Your Front Screen

You may also owe it to yourself re-arrange the various apps on your front screen. Sometimes, pocket dialing occurs because you accidentally hit a call or previous contact button. 

If this is an accident that you’re constantly running into, it may behoove you to put the app on another part of your phone. You might choose to bury it further within your phone’s content so that you don’t accidentally access it. This is particularly helpful if nothing else you’ve tried has worked. 

Remove Raise-to-Wake Access

If you’re always accidentally calling people, it could also be because raise-to-wake access is on. When this happens, it removes your phone lock, making it fair game for an accidental call. 

Your phone might mistakenly think that you’ve raised it when the phone is in your pocket and the motion of your walking triggers this function. This overrides the lock if you had previously set a passcode, even if you didn’t intend to do so. 

Clear Your Recent Calls

Do a little tidying of your call list and it’ll also prevent the likelihood of butt dialing someone. This often happens by calling back someone that you had recently spoken to. 

If you clear out your call history then you are less likely to deal with this. Get into the habit of clearing your call history, particularly if it has piled up significantly. 

Set Your Phone on the Table

One of the best ways to prevent butt dialing is also one of the simplest things to do — put your phone down. Rather than having it in your pocket, simply set it down on the table beside you and pick it up when you’d like to use it. 

This keeps your phone in plain view so that you can use it if you need to, but won’t accidentally access any controls that you aren’t trying to. Be mindful of any voice commands that the phone might also pick up on. For instance, people today talk to “Siri” and “Alexa” when using virtual assistant functions. If you own an Android or iPhone, you know that sometimes the virtual assistant thinks that you are talking to it when you really aren’t. 

That can also lead to accidentally calling somebody when you didn’t mean to. Keep your phone screen visible on a table so that you can override one of these situations if they happen. 

Learn How to Prevent Butt Dialing

If you’re trying to learn how to prevent butt dialing, the points above are worthwhile. Following these steps can save you some trouble and prevent you from avoidable accidental phone calls. 

Fruit Fixed can assist you with any type of phone repair you’re looking into. Find us at any of our Central Virginia store locations to learn more about how we can help you. 

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.

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.

These days, phones are more than just phones. 97 percent of Americans have cellphones that they use — and this isn’t just because they like to communicate on the go. Our phones are portable dictionaries, encyclopedias, checkbooks, and calenders. However, mobile phones come with a serious disadvantage — batteries. Many people run around their daily lives with low battery anxiety. If you want to keep your phone working, you’re going to have to care about the health of your phone battery. 

But how exactly do you take care of this pesky part of modern technology? Read on as we walk you through everything you need to know. 

1. Stop Charging at 100 Percent 

Of course, if you want to keep your battery healthy, you’re going to have to charge it. Our tradeoff when we switched from a connected-by-wires world to a mobile world was that we’d have to make sure we loaded up these devices with limited lives. 

However, it’s possible to charge your phone battery for too long. 

If you charge your phone after it hits 100 percent, you run the risk of overcharging your battery. If this happens, you’ll create unstable conditions inside of the battery, which can lead to reduced efficiency. 

2. Run a Charge Cycle

To make sure that your battery stays healthy and calibrated, run a “charge cycle” every once in a while. This is when you let your battery drain completely to zero until it turns off. Then, let it charge all the way — without use — straight up to 100. 

This will effectively remind your battery of its full capabilities. It will reduce those annoying severe drops that can happen when your battery isn’t very healthy. 

3. Keep Your Phone Out Of the Sun 

Did you know that direct sunlight can damage your phone’s battery? The effectiveness of a battery is vastly influenced by its temperature. This is why your laptop has fans to keep it cooled down. 

If you leave your phone out in the sun, your battery could very easily get corroded. If this happens, you’ll notice a serious drop in the quality, efficiency, and charge of this phone’s battery. 

The sun can also cause your battery’s fluid to evaporate. If this happens, you’ll see a similar drop in quality from your battery’s performance. 

Heat can also overcharge your battery, which as we mentioned earlier, is never good. 

On top of all of this, excessive heat isn’t good for any part of your phone. Leaving your touchscreen out long enough will cause your touchscreen to lose efficiency and might even cause data loss. 

4. Close Your Apps 

It can be hard to keep track of all of the apps you have open on your phone.

On your computer, you have a large screen to look at. Every one of your tabs and apps are evenly laid out. 

This isn’t true on your phone. It’s easy to accidentally minimize a window instead of exiting out of it completely. You can go days without realizing that you still have this window open. 

Certain apps drain a lot of your battery. If you have several of these open at once while running about with standard phone activities, you can cause your battery some serious strain. 

Make it a point to clear out all your windows and apps at the beginning and end of the day. This will ensure that your battery stays healthy and doesn’t get overworked. 

5. Get it Serviced

Sometimes, you have to simply admit defeat. If your phone maintenance mission has failed, you don’t need to fret. Realizing that your phone needs phone repair is also very important in making sure that your phone battery stays healthy.

Check out the electronic repair section of our website. From there, you’ll see that we’ll be able to repair the battery of any sort of smartphone you might have. 

6. Limit Your Location Settings 

GPS tracking services cause a serious strain on your battery. It’s impossible to completely get rid of these, as they allow you to use many of the contemporary technologies that we consider parts of our daily life.

However, your phone might be set to automatically always give out your GPS information. If this isn’t what you want, then altering your GPS and location settings can help you out. 

Your phone’s battery-saving mode is already able to reduce certain GPS capabilities. If you want to save yourself some privacy and battery health as well, consider turning on your battery-saving mode. 

7. Switch to a Dark Theme

If your phone has the capability of switching to a dark theme, you should try it out. The brighter and lighter your theme is, the more battery it will drain. 

If you don’t want to go dark all the time, your phone might be able to automatically switch to a dark mode exclusively for the night time. 

If your phone doesn’t have a dark theme, you might be able to improvise something. Set your wallpaper as simple and dark and you’ll notice results. 

8. Limit Your Wifi 

Your phone is largely automated to try to help you out. However, as we saw with location settings, this can end up damaging your battery. 

Your phone might have a feature where it automatically tries to link up with whatever wifi is nearest. This can be annoying if you have a good data plan and simply want to use your data. It will also drain your battery. 

Turn off this capability and you’ll see your battery performance improve. 

Keep Your Phone Battery Healthy 

Phone batteries are one of the most important — but one of the most annoying — features of modern technology. If you want to enjoy the amazing things that contemporary cellphones can bring you, you’re going to have to take care of your phone battery.

Make use of the above tips and you’re more likely to have a healthy phone battery. 

For more information on the health of your phone, check out the rest of our blog. 

Did you know that cell phones have over 17,000 bacterial gene copies on them? This might have you feeling a bit grossed out. Even prior to the pandemic this is cause for concern, as the bacteria has the potential to make you sick.

But before you go dunking your phone in water and bleach, think again. While chemicals like bleach can definitely be heavy-duty germ killers, they can damage your phone!

So how can you clean your phone so you don’t have to worry about those germs anymore?

Read on to find out how to clean your phone in a safe and efficient way.

Turn Off Your Phone

Before you start cleaning your phone, you need to turn it off first. This ensures that if any liquid accidentally gets inside the ports, it won’t malfunction.

This is true for all smartphones, even those that are water-resistant. To decrease the risk of damage, it’s best if you avoid getting liquids in your phone, period.

You’ll also want to remove it from its case and unplug all the attachments so you can completely clean all surfaces on your phone.

Wash Your Hands

Another thing you’ll want to do is wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning your phone. Otherwise, you’ll just get more germs on it after cleaning, which will defeat the purpose of even doing so in the first place!

While most of us know how to wash our hands, it never hurts to have a refresher. You’ll want to wet your hands, lather them with soap, and scrub for at least 20 seconds (hum the birthday song; its length is around 20 seconds long). Then rinse off the soap and dry your hands off completely.

Use Antibacterial Wipes

If you’ve got something like Lysol wipes in your house, these are perfect for cleaning your phone! Grab a sheet and wipe down the entire outside of your smartphone.

If you’re wondering how to clean your phone screen, you can use the wipes still. Make sure to wipe gently to ensure you don’t accidentally scratch the surfaces and/or screen.

If you have a cracked screen, you might want to get that repaired first before you start cleaning your phone. The liquids can get in the cracks and possibly damage your phone further!

Now let your phone air dry for at least 15 minutes. Not only does this give the antibacterial wipes more time to work their magic, but it also ensures that you’re not putting your phone back into its case wet, which can cause it to grow mold or mildew.

Use an Alcohol-Based Disinfectant Cleaner

If you don’t have antibacterial wipes, then you can use an alcohol-based disinfectant cleaner instead. Make sure it has at least 70% isopropyl, as this is the strength needed to kill germs effectively.

Get a microfiber cloth and spray it with the cleaner. Now wipe your phone thoroughly with the cloth.

Like with the antibacterial wipes, you’ll want to allow your phone to dry for at least 15 minutes before you touch it again.

How to Clean Your Accessories

In addition to cleaning your phone, you’ll want to clean your accessories as well. Here’s some advice on how to get a completely clean phone!

How to Clean the Case

The way to clean your case will depend on what material it’s made of.

Plastic is more durable, so it’ll be easier to clean. Simply make a bleach or dish soap solution, soak your case for 5-10 minutes, and then scrub it with a sponge or toothbrush to get rid of dirt and grime. Then rinse it off completely.

For all other materials, you’ll want to use a dish soap or vinegar solution. These are gentler!

You can clean your case thoroughly once a month and then use things like antibacterial wipes once a week for maintenance.

How to Clean Your Earbuds

First, pop off the silicone covers if there are any. Soak them in a dish soap solution for at least 30 minutes. After that, dip a Q-tip in the solution and scrub them to get rid of excess dirt and grime.

You can then rinse the covers and leave them to air-dry overnight.

To clean the earbud mesh cover, dip a Q-tip in isopropyl alcohol and rub it over the mesh. Make sure you don’t use too much alcohol since it can drip in and damage your earbuds.

Now dip a microfiber cloth in the isopropyl and wipe the outer surfaces of your earbuds. You should also clean the cords if you don’t have wireless earbuds.

Lastly, let your earbuds air-dry for at least 15 minutes.

How Often to Clean Your Phone

Now that you know how to clean your phone, you might be wondering how often you should do so.

In general, you’ll want to clean your phone and its accessories once a week. However, if you use your phone quite a bit, you’ll want to bump it up to a few times a week, or even every day if you’re out and about daily. On the other hand, if your phone’s pretty neglected, you can get away with a less frequent cleaning schedule.

The important thing is that you clean it on a regular basis so the bacteria doesn’t get a chance to multiply and thrive, which can make you sick.

Know How to Clean Your Phone Right

After reading this article, you should now know how to clean your phone in the correct fashion, as well as your case and accessories.

Make sure you clean them on a regular basis since your phone is a hot touchpoint. Considering we’re in the middle of a serious pandemic, it wouldn’t hurt to step up your cleaning schedule so you can get peace of mind about staying healthy!

If you’ve already tried some ways to clean your phone prior to reading this post, then it might not be functioning correctly. In that case, we’re here to help! Start a smartphone repair with us now and we’ll get you back up and running again!