Justin Drake Carroll Phone FAQs

How to Increase Battery Life on Any Smartphone

85% of Americans rely on smartphones. Despite the promise of the power of a computer in your pocket being a major selling point for smartphones, the many things a smartphone can do drains the battery of the phone and leaves your phone dead at the worst possible times.

If you have been struggling with keeping a charge, keep reading for the best practices on how to increase battery life on any smartphone.

Turn off Background Apps

The main source of a draining battery is applications that run in the background of your phone while you aren’t using them. These can be anything from social media using your location to games sending you notifications.

Be sure to regularly close apps after you finish using them. With an iPhone, you can do this by swiping up from the home button and swiping away any open apps. You should also be sure to regularly delete any apps you don’t use often.

You can also check your settings to see which apps are running in the background. From your settings, you can customize individual app settings to turn off background refresh.

If you are in an area where you are not using your phone and need to save battery, turning on airplane mode will significantly increase your iPhone battery life. Airplane mode does a few things at one time; it turns off your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and cellular data. This shuts down any background applications that rely on these services. 

Battery Saving Mode

Battery saving or low power mode reduces the power that your smartphone is getting, which allows your iPhone battery to last longer. Like airplane mode, this mode affects background processes on your phone but without turning off complete access to important features on your phone.

Battery saving mode stops or limits automatic downloads, background refreshes, email fetching, and visual effects. Some smartphones have settings that allow you to choose the power mode. This creates a flexible way to have more or less power while still maintaining your battery’s charge.

Dim Your Screen

Many people don’t realize that your screen’s brightness is one of the biggest usages of your battery power. If you are keeping your phone screen on often, your battery is likely to drain much quicker.

Dimming your screen prevents the amount of power that is needed to light your screen. Though it can make your screen hard to see in direct light, it is especially helpful in maintaining battery during the day.

If you aren’t using your phone or are only listening to something in the background, consider turning off or dimming the screen while you listen. This way, you can save power while still listening to your video or song.

Charge Responsibly

While it may seem smart to always keep your phone plugged in and ready, you can actually damage your iPhone battery by overcharging your phone. It is recommended that you charge your phone to 80-90% rather than the full 100%. 

While charging your phone to 100% won’t overload your battery, the energy used in maintaining the 100% charge can generate heat and affect your battery life. 

It also isn’t recommended to let your battery drop to 0% before charging either. Instead, plug your phone in around 25-40%. Creating this balance in your charge will improve battery life over time.

Avoid Outdoor Conditions

Believe it or not, the weather can have an effect on your iPhone’s battery. Extreme heat, extreme cold, and even direct sunlight can cause your battery to drain faster. If you know you will be exposed to these conditions, it is important to know what to do to save your phone battery.

If you are dealing with cold, keep your phone covered and close by using a thick case and putting it in an interior pocket. Keeping your phone off and contained in a warm space is the best way to prevent your phone from bricking. If your phone happens to turn off from the cold, keep it turned off until you are in a warm, safe location.

While the cold drains your battery faster, extreme heat can permanently damage the capacity of your phone’s battery. This means that your phone will be unable to consistently hold the same level of battery that it should or, in worse cases, can completely stop your phone from turning on.

To prevent this, try to prevent using your phone to decrease the heat it is producing. Following our other tips, such as turning down your brightness and closing your background applications, will help with this. If you find your phone overheating, take off the case and wait to charge your phone again until the temperature returns to normal.

Buy a Portable Charger

If all else fails, considering buying a portable charger. While these chargers won’t help your battery life, they can help you hold a charge whenever you need to leave the house and can’t plug your phone in.

There are many different portable chargers that all hold different amounts of charge. Be sure to read the reviews and find out which charger works best for your phone and the amount of charge you need.

If your phone is refusing to charge at all or drains very quickly, you might have a larger issue with your phone’s battery. Be sure to have it checked out by a smartphone repair shop like our own.

Follow Our Steps on How to Increase Battery Life

The steps we laid out should guide you on how to increase battery life to keep your phone battery from dying longer. Overall, it is important to be aware of where your phone’s power is going. Be sure to keep track of how quickly your phone is draining in case you have more serious battery issues that should be addressed by a professional.

If you are still having problems with your iPhone battery and don’t know what to do, check out our smartphone repair! By calling us or stopping by one of our stores, we can do a more thorough inspection of your phone’s battery. 

Justin Drake Carroll iPad

How to Prevent a Cracked iPad Screen From Spreading

Do you have kids that need distracting, errands that need completing on the go, or entertainment that you can take with you wherever you are?

By now, we all know that any of these needs can be met by getting an iPad for your household. Since 2010, these tablet devices have been one of the hottest commodities on the market for Apple. 

Everyone has multiple technology devices that they use daily, and we have all experienced the sheer devastation of one too many clumsy moments, leaving you with a cracked iPad screen or damage to another one of your favorite devices. 

This situation is never fun and always frustrating, but lucky for you, we have a few quick and easy fixes that can keep the cracks from getting any worse. 

If you need a quick solution, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading for our tips to protect your iPad screen from any more cracks or damage.

Fixing a Cracked iPad Screen: What’s the Damage?

First, you’ll want to assess the damage. Your safety is the most important, so be sure to check for any loose, small glass pieces from your cracked screen. These can give you splinters or even end up in your eyes, and no one wants that. 

What kind of crack are you dealing with? Is it a series of shatters, or is it one single crack? Is it big or small? What type of iPad repair you’ll need depends on how severe your damage is. 

Try laying your device on a flat surface in bright lighting to see how deep the damage is. Do the cracks affect the functioning of your device, or is the damage just on the surface of the protective glass?

There are plenty of ways to repair a cracked screen right from your home with everyday products laying around the house. Let’s take a look at what you can do. 

Small Cracks in a Specific Area

If you have a crack in a limited area of the screen, you can use something called cyanoacrylate, a compound found in household products such as glue and clear nail polish. 

You just want to be careful with this method, as using too much can lead to even more extensive damage to your device. Start by putting your iPad on a flat surface in good lighting where you can clearly see what you’re doing. 

Before you apply the glue, wipe off your screen with a cloth to ensure there is no dirt, dust, or other debris left. Pay special attention to the corners of your screen so that nothing gets trapped under the glue.

We recommend using super glue for this, as it will give you the best and most secure results. Add a drop or two of the glue to the cracked area of your screen. This is all you will need if the damage is minimal. 

Before you can let it dry, wipe away the excess with a tissue or cloth. You should do this immediately after, as the glue is very strong and dries rather quickly. 

Although this solution isn’t perfect or the same as getting a professional repair, it’s a simple and quick fix that you can do easily at home. However, it is still a great way to prevent the damage from getting any worse or spreading further into the rest of the screen.

Shattered Screens 

If your entire screen is shattered, using an at-home adhesive can be a temporary fix, but it definitely should not be your last resort. 

If you need a temporary fix, you can use clear packing tape to keep the screen in place. Before you do this, wipe off your screen and make sure there are no dust or dirt particles left behind. 

Then, simply cover the screen with the tape while your device is on a flat surface. Avoid wrinkles or air bubbles by doing this as slow as possible and smoothing everything out as you go.m 

Again, this is not meant to be a temporary fix. The best thing you can do to repair a cracked screen is to take it to your local repair facility as soon as possible. 

What to Do Next? 

Whether you have a cracked phone screen, iPad screen, or damage to any other device, it will be noticeable even if you try a quick, at-home fix. However, these small solutions can help extend the life of your phone rather than getting rid of it right away. 

Although you can hang onto your favorite device for a while after it’s been damaged, it’s also important to know when it’s time to move on and get a new one. 

If you’ve had the device for a long time, it’s an older model, and the damage is so severe that it isn’t functioning properly, it might be time to go shopping again. 

Visit Us Today

Now that you’ve learned some tips about how to repair a cracked iPad screen, you can hold onto that favorite device of yours for just a while longer.

Life happens, mistakes happen, and we know how important these devices can be to your daily life. We’re here to support you in all of your device repair and replacement needs. 

If you’re in a pinch and are looking to get your device repaired or think it’s time to replace it, see what we have for sale or contact us to find out more about what we have to offer. 

We value your experience and needs, and we look forward to hearing from you soon. 

Justin Drake Carroll Uncategorized

How to Clean USB Ports in Your Laptop

Did you know that around 92% of the population own at least one computer device? Within these devices, there are several small USB ports that we often don’t think much about.

The problem is that these ports gather a lot of dust and grime if we’re not careful. Without a functioning port, you’ll not be able to use any of your favorite USB gadgets.

That’s why we’ve collected the top tips to help you learn how to clean USB ports without any risk to you or your laptop!

Inspect the USB Ports

The first thing you’ll want to do is to take a closer look at the damage to your ports. You can’t dive into learning how to clean laptop USB ports if you don’t know what is causing the problem.

Plus, how many times do you look into a USB port? It’s good to know the inner workings of the port before trying to clean it.

Your choice of method all depends on what’s stuck inside the port. Take a few moments to inspect it before moving on to the next steps.

Compressed Air

A can of compressed air is always at the top of any ‘how to clean electronics’ list and for good reason. This handy tool gives you a short burst of powerful air to dislodged any collected dust.

It works best when there isn’t anything sticky inside the port. Otherwise, you’ll end up getting more dust stuck on the substance.

Make sure to use the compressed air at an angle. This allows the airflow to go in and go back out while bringing the grime with it. Using compressed air straight into the laptop port risks pushing the dust more inward rather than out.

Toothpick

One of the best USB cleaning tips is to use a toothpick for the bigger clumps that you can’t reach with your fingers. Toothpicks are thin enough to fit into those small crevices and help you pull out any stubborn dust clumps.

Always use a plastic or wooden toothpick and never try to use something made of metal. If used in the wrong way, a metal object could cause damage to both you and your laptop.

Even with the right material, you’ll want to be careful with how you dig out the dust. It’s better to take a few extra minutes than to rush and damage something important within the port.

Isopropyl Alcohol and Cotton

When you’re learning how to clean laptop ports that are filled with gunk, you’ll want to turn your attention towards isopropyl alcohol.

Alcohol makes a good cleaner for electronics because it breaks down a lot of substances and it also dries fast so there’s no risk of damaging anything. Go with a high alcohol concentration, with at least 70% or above. The higher the concentrate, the better it’ll be at cleaning and drying.

A cotton swab is the best pairing for this purpose. It’s a small tool that doesn’t hold too much moisture which means there’s no risk of drenching the port.

Dab some isopropyl alcohol onto the cotton and then use that to gently scrub away any substances. Microfiber cloth also works great for this.

Even with the fast drying time, it’s better to make sure you give your laptop ample time to dry before turning it back on.

Dry Toothbrush

For those stubborn things that don’t want to budge at all when you clean a USB port, a dry and clean toothbrush is your best bet. An old toothbrush is perfect for this because the bristles are worn and soft. 

You’ll use it to scrub at the gunk stuck inside the port. Compressed air is good to have on hand so that the pieces you scrub away won’t find their way further into the laptop.

Preventative Measures

The good news is that there are several things you can do to stop this kind of situation from happening again. With a little bit of extra effort, your USB ports won’t gather enough dust to cause problems in the future.

Frequent Dusting

When you want to minimize dust damage to your laptop, it’s better to focus on preventing a problem in the first place. Your best defense is to clean your laptop often.

A quick spritz from a compressed air can is enough to make a huge difference in the longevity of your laptop. All it takes is a few moments and you’ll prevent any accumulation of dust or dirt.

When you tend to use your laptop more, you’ll want to clean it more. At least once a week is a good rule to follow when you use your laptop every single day.

USB Covers

Did you know that there are small bits of plastic meant to stop dust from getting into your USB ports? You’ll often find them in a standing computer after you’ve first purchased it, but they’re great for laptops as well.

If you don’t have any spares lying around, they’re easy to find. They’re a cheap alternative to needing to seek out repairs due to a dusty port.

Laptop Bag

If you don’t already have a bag for your laptop while you travel with it, then it’s time to start thinking about one. It’s much more difficult to protect your laptop when you’re on the go.

That’s why having a dedicated bag in which to carry it is an asset for all laptop owners. This way, you’ll get to travel anywhere you want and never need to worry about sand or grime getting into the delicate parts of your laptop.

A laptop sleeve or case is also a great option to help protect your computer!

Knowing How To Clean USB Ports Keeps Your Laptop Safe

Now that you know how to clean USB ports for your laptop, you also know how to clean ports in any other computer device. The process is much the same because even smaller ports, like micro USBs, have a similar structure.

Always remember to use a gentle hand to avoid causing damage to your device!

If your laptop still needs some help, check out our repair services to get it back in perfect condition!

Justin Drake Carroll MAC

7 Mac Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Computer Running Great

The average lifespan of a Macbook is about seven years, which is impressive for any laptop. However, to make your Macbook last this long, you need to take good care of it.

Taking good care of it doesn’t just mean not dropping it! 

If your MacBook is a recent purchase, or you’ve had one for years but aren’t sure how to take care of it, these Mac maintenance tips will make sure you get seven years out of your computer or more. 

1. Manage the Storage

If you want to make sure your Mac stays running in peak performance, it’s important to manage the storage. Of all the maintenance tips for Mac, this might be the most important.

If the storage starts to get full, your Mac will slow down and programs may crash often. 

You can go through the storage and offload anything you don’t need anymore, or put it on the Cloud. There are also programs you can buy that will go through the storage for you and offload anything that isn’t being used. 

2. Update It Periodically

Updating the operating system is key to keeping your Mac running smoothly. When running an old operating system, there might be issues that come with it because the new operating system is built to fix bugs.

Many people put off updating their OS because it takes some time and can be an inconvenience. Don’t! Instead, take the time as soon as possible to get your operating system up to date and you’ll find that your computer runs more smoothly.

It may also fix bugs you didn’t even know you had. 

3. Make Sure To Actually Shut Your Mac Down

A lot of people put their Macbook into sleep mode rather than shut it down. It’s important for your MacBook maintenance that you don’t do this. Instead, even if it’s just once a week, shut it down properly.

This gives it time to rest. It’s more inconvenient, certainly, because it takes longer to start up. It’s tempting to just close the lid and walk away.

However, you’re likely to notice a massive improvement if you just take some time to let it rest. 

4. Close Apps

Whether you’re looking for MacBook Pro maintenance or MacBook Air Maintenance, closing the apps on either laptop is essential. Don’t leave things running in the background — instead, close the apps.

If you have apps running in the background that you don’t need, this is very likely to slow down your computer a huge amount. Take a second every few hours, or at least once a day, and close the apps you don’t need.

If you click on the battery symbol in the top right corner of the toolbar, you can actually see which apps are using a lot of energy. Internet browsers such as Google Chrome are the ones likely to be the culprit, so don’t have multiple running at once. 

5. Keep a Case On Your MacBook

It’s as important to take care of the hardware on a Mac as it is the software. 

When it comes to how to care for a Mac, people debate hard cases vs. soft covers. Soft cases keep your Mac enclosed and if you drop it, provide cushioning. Hard cases, however, protect it from everyday scratches and wear-and-tear, and can often be kept on it while it’s in use.

The most important thing is that you pick a good quality case. You can read up on the pros and cons of either and make a decision for yourself, but it’s important to read the reviews about the case.

Picking the cheapest one is likely to result in disappointment if you do drop your computer or scratch it! 

6. Clean It

It’s also important to clean the surface of the Mac, as well as cleaning out the storage.

Your Mac can gather dust, crumbs of food, and anything else and as well as the fact it’ll start to look rough, it can clog up the ports on the sides and cause them to stop working. It could also stop the keys from working or interfere with the trackpad.

Clean it gently, and be sure not to use harsh products. You should also clean the screen. 

7. Reset the SMC

The SMC (System Management Control) is what controls the power on a Mac. If your battery life is starting to drain a little too quickly, the SMC might be at fault.

You can do this by pressing Shift-Control-Option on the Mac after shutting it down, as well as holding the power button at the same time. You might notice a drastic improvement in battery life after doing so.

Of course, batteries are often the first thing to become faulty on a Mac, so they might need to be replaced after a while. Replacing batteries are also good Mac maintenance, but that should only need to happen once every few years. 

These Mac Maintenance Tips Will Keep Your Computer Running Great

If you want to get that full seven years out of your Mac, or even longer, these Mac maintenance tips will really help you out. Make sure to keep an eye on your storage, shut it down rather than put it in sleep mode, and perform these other tasks and the effort will pay off.

You’ll get a longer laptop lifespan and notice a huge improvement in performance!

Is something wrong with your MacBook? Fruit Fixed can help you out. Contact us today for help with your MacBook.  

Justin Drake Carroll Repair

4 Important Steps to Take Before Getting Smart Phone Repair

Americans lost $13 billion through traditional identity fraud last year. Theft of personally identifiable information made it all possible for fraudsters. 

Securing your personal data is crucial to defending yourself from predators. But what should you do when your entire life is stored on your phone and then it breaks?

In most cases, you can still keep the data that is important to you and send your device in for smart phone repair. However, before bringing your phone into the shop or mailing it in, there are a few steps you can take to secure your data.

Don’t lose your photos, texts, and emails simply because you need your phone fixed. Here are four steps that you should take before submitting your phone for repair.

Back up Your Smart Phone

If someone looked through your phone, what would they see? If you’re like most people, your phone is full of photos, your daily calendar, personal emails, and nearly every other detail of your daily life.

Typically phone repairs like screen replacements can be completed without any data loss. However, when it comes to broken phones, there is always a chance of losing something.

This is why creating a data backup is a crucial step to take before sending your phone in for repair.

If your phone is automatically set up to be backed up to cloud storage, you should be able to check the backup file to determine it is current. If so, you’re good to go.

If your phone doesn’t have a backup, however, you’ll need to create one.

The easiest way to do this is through the cloud. If you have an iPhone, you can back your data up to iCloud. If you have an Android phone like a Samsung, Google Drive will be the default cloud backup.

If you’re not able to take advantage of a cloud backup, you should save your photos and other data to a computer or external hard drive. If you don’t take this crucial step, your data may be lost.

Take Out Personal Information

Confirming that all of your data is stored on the cloud or a physical drive is just the first step. Once that is complete, it’s time to remove personal information from your smart phone.

The quickest way to do this is to reset your phone to factory settings. That means all of your data will be removed and your phone will be in the same state as it was when it left the factory.

With a factory reset, you can be sure that none of your passwords are available and that you aren’t logged into any private accounts.

If you aren’t comfortable with resetting your phone, the next best security step is to delete data and sign out of accounts. If you are using an iPhone, that also means turning off the “Find my iPhone” feature.

At the very least, you should remove any data that you wouldn’t want to accidentally fall into the wrong hands. This means any information that could help someone answer security questions on your behalf too.

Even though you will be sending your phone to professionals for repair, theft or accidents are sometimes unavoidable.

Remove Your Security Lock

The person repairing your phone will likely need to unlock it to ensure the repair was successful.

Since you have removed all of your personal data, you can remove the password as well. Otherwise, you can keep a simple password to give to the repair person.

To do this on an iPhone, you’ll need to go into your phone setting and scroll to the Face ID & Passcode section. Turning your passcode off will require that you enter it first for confirmation.

On an Android phone, access the Settings app and then the Lock Screen section. You’ll need to enter your passcode before turning it off completely.

Remove SIM Card and Accessories

Now that your phone is almost a blank slate, you’ll need to remove the SIM card if one is installed. If you examine your phone, you’ll likely see a small pinhole where you can insert a paperclip.

If you’ve never removed the SIM card from your smart phone before, you can do an internet search to learn how. Each phone model will differ in the location of the SIM card slot.

If you’ve installed any accessories on your phone, you’ll also need to remove them. This might include cases, protective covers, or additional storage cards.

What Else to Know About Smart Phone Repair

Once you’ve secured all of your data, be sure to physically protect your phone. Get it repaired as soon as you are able to prevent further damage. If you are experiencing a broken screen, it’s especially important to keep it secure.

While smart phone issues are common, it doesn’t hurt to read about the issue you are having. Repair is typically best left to a professional, but additional knowledge may help you from having problems in the future.

After your phone has been repaired, confirm everything is functioning as it should. Be sure to load your data back on your phone as well.

Get Your Phone Fixed

If you’re dealing with a broken phone, you’re not alone. Most people deal with a broken screen or another component at some point. 

Worried about a smart phone repair? Most issues can be easily and quickly fixed by a professional, without the need to replace the phone.

Check out our smart phone repair options. We’ll have your life back in the palm of your hands in no time!

Justin Drake Carroll Apple

How to Improve Apple Watch Battery Life in 7 Easy Steps

The Apple Watch is an incredibly popular device. Ever since it was first released back in 2015, the smartwatch has become more and more well-known and well-loved. It’s got to the point that Apple now sells more watches than the Swiss watch industry.

However, if you use your Apple Watch a lot, you might have noticed the battery draining pretty fast. You need your watch to last you all day, so how can you boost your Apple Watch battery life? 

In this guide, we’re going to take a look at what you should and shouldn’t do if you want to make your smartwatch’s battery life last you all day, every day. Put these tips into use, and you’ll be able to enjoy your watch without ever having to second guess the battery again.

Are you ready to learn more? Then read on!

1. Limit Your Cellular Use

Ever since the Apple Watch Series 3, cellular data has been available on the Apple Watch. While this is a massive boon for many users, overusing this feature can quickly drain the battery life.

The same logic applies to this as to your smartphone battery. Using 4G, 5G, or even 3G will drain your battery faster than using wifi. It’s a lot more efficient to connect your watch to your iPhone via Bluetooth or wifi.

If you notice that your battery is draining abnormally fast, you should consider whether you’re making the Apple Watch use cellular technology to communicate with the phone. If you are, then you should try to avoid this if at all possible.

2. Stick to a Minimalist Face for Longer Battery Life

The ability to change your Apple Watch’s face is one of the coolest features that the device has to offer. You can decide exactly what you want the watch to look like, and tweak it daily to suit your mood if you like.

The only issue with this is that some faces use more battery life than others, just as some smartphone wallpapers use more battery life. 

If you’re not going to be near a charger for a while and want to preserve the battery life, you should switch to a minimalist face that uses fewer colors and animated elements. While the animated watch faces look great, they can chug your battery like there’s no tomorrow.

3. Turn Off the Wrist Raise Function

The Apple Watch comes with a feature that can turn the watch on when you raise your wrist. While this works great in theory (after all, who doesn’t raise their wrist to look at their watch), in practice it can lead to a much more pronounced drain on your battery.

Think about all the times that you raise your wrist and it’s not to look at your watch: driving, drinking tea or coffee, eating, gesturing. All of these can lead to a drained battery and, ultimately, a battery replacement.

To turn this feature off, grab your iPhone and go to the Watch app. From here, follow these instructions:

  • Open the “my watch” tab
  • Go to general
  • Go to “wake screen”
  • Turn it off with the slider

When you’ve turned this setting off, you’ll need to tap your watch to view the face.

4. Update watchOS

While it’s not a definitive answer to battery drain issues, sometimes updating watchOS can solve your problems. There’s always the possibility that a new update has stymied battery life.

If this is the case, then Apple almost certainly knows about the issue and will release an update in no short order to solve it. If you’ve recently noticed that your battery is draining faster than it used to, you should check for a watchOS update.

If there is one, install it, and see if that solves your problem.

5. Remove Unused Apps

We’re willing to bet that you don’t regularly use every app that’s on your Apple Watch. If that’s the case, then removing them should be one of your top priorities. Most apps will still run in the background and communicate with your iPhone, which can lead to a draining battery.

Think about the apps that you actually use on your watch. Which ones could you do without?

Then uninstall the ones that you rarely use. You can always put them back on if you change your mind, so why not give it a try?

6. Disable Siri on Your Watch

The “Hey Siri” feature on the Apple Watch can be pretty handy, but if you’ve got your iPhone with you, it’s not something that you can’t live without. Having this feature enabled will mean that your watch is listening to hear those magic words and spring into action.

Turning the feature off will mean that your watch is a little less active when you’re not using it. To turn this feature off, get your iPhone and follow these instructions:

  • Go to the Watch app
  • Open the Siri section
  • Turn off “listen for ‘hey Siri'”

7. Turn Off Haptic Alerts

Haptic alerts use a whole lot of your Apple Watch’s battery. Vibrations use a lot of battery due to the relative size and weight of the device versus the motor, so turning these off can really help.

To do this, you’ll need to grab your iPhone again and follow these steps:

  • Go to the Watch app
  • Open the “my watch” tab
  • Go to “sounds and haptics”
  • Turn off haptic alerts

Use These Tips to Improve Your Apple Watch Battery Life

If your Apple Watch battery life isn’t what it once was, these tips can help you get it back into peak condition. If you’ve tried these tips and your battery is still draining fast, you should consider having one of our expert staff take a look at your watch battery to see whether it needs to be replaced.

We have several locations and will be happy to see you at any of them. If you have any questions for us, please don’t hesitate to contact us by calling 804-698-0004.

Justin Drake Carroll iPad

Should I Get My iPad Repaired or Replaced?

It’s not a secret that Apple dislikes third-party repair shops. Together with Microsoft and Google, it has been actively fighting right-to-repair laws for various reasons.

However, when Apple’s repair prices are too steep, should you replace your device every time it has an issue? Of course not.

As a consumer, you have the option to have your iPad repaired by a third-party service provider. Regardless, think about whether you need a repair or a replacement. Keep on reading to see everything you need to consider.

1. What’s Wrong With Your iPad?

First, consider the type of repairing your tablet needs. It will determine how much you’re going to spend on it. You’ll also discover if the cost is worth your while.

If the issue lies in the software, it’s easy and cheap to repair. If you dropped it from a skyscraper, however, it may be irreparable and you have no choice but to replace it.

Always go to a professional first, especially if you don’t know what’s wrong with your iPad. Go to an Apple service center or a third-party shop with a high standard.

2. Consider the Costs of Repair and Replacement

For peace of mind, get your iPad repaired by Apple itself. It ensures all replacement parts are original and your phone receives high-quality work. Expect the same from Apple Authorized Service Providers since they always use genuine parts and approved techniques.

However, it’s quite expensive when your device is no longer under a warranty or when the warranty doesn’t cover the damage. For example, the out-of-warranty service fee for an iPad Pro can go as much as $749. The most affordable service fee they have is for the iPad Mini, coming at $199.

If you paid extra to have AppleCare+, you’ll still have to pay a service fee. It’s much lower since you only have to pay $49, no matter the type of damage.

iPad Repair by a Third-Party Service Provider

You can choose to go to a third party to get a much lower price. You’ll trade your peace of mind since you won’t know the source of the replacement parts and the quality of their work.

It might also void your warranty and any extended coverage. Apple might also choose not to service your iPad anymore, even when you want to pay for it.

It’s because unofficial parts can be disastrous to the device and user. A low-quality replacement part can damage the whole unit.

If your problem is a cracked screen on your iPad or a dead battery, though, you don’t have to worry anymore. A third-party shop will repair or replace it. Doing so won’t void your warranty anymore.

One way to get some peace of mind is to go to a trusted business. They must have experience repairing iPads and a lot of happy customers.

DIY iPad Repair

Some people go the DIY route as it saves more money and they choose what parts to work with. However, this presents more problems.

If you have no training in repairing the particular model of your iPad or even tablets as a whole, you’re likely to cause more damage. You’re going to end up paying more for the subsequent repairs. Having a professional fix the initial problem is cheaper in comparison.

Furthermore, you may not know for sure what’s causing issues with your iPad. A broken screen is pretty easy to spot, but an internal problem is hard to diagnose.

That said, DIY repair kits remain to be the cheapest option. Although, you have to take a lot of unnecessary risks.

iPad Replacement

The cost of an official repair without a warranty is almost the same as a brand new iPad. Should you get a replacement instead?

A rule that people often follow is that if the repair costs two-thirds of the cost of a new unit, buy one instead. This way, you get all the benefits of a new iPad, like a warranty, upgraded specs, and new features.

Transferring your data from one device to another isn’t even an issue with Apple devices as long as you have a backup. As such, it’s pretty easy to get a new unit when your old one isn’t usable anymore.

3. Look at Other Factors

Let’s face it—the cost is the most important factor when deciding whether to get a repair or replacement. However, consider other factors to see if the savings are still logical or not.

Age of Your iPad

A replacement is a solid option for when you’re due for an upgrade. If you’ve had your iPad for over four years, buying the latest model is more sensible than repairs. It might completely break down soon after, wasting your money and time.

Cost of Your Time

Speaking of time, people who lead busy lives might find sending off their iPad for repairs too time-consuming. Some types of damage require days or even weeks of work.

Some people don’t have much time. If their iPad is important to their work, they’ll lose money. In these cases, it’s more cost-effective to buy a new one instead.

Sentimental Value

You can’t put a price on anything with sentimental value. If your iPad has an important engraving, or it’s a gift from your late grandfather, you might find it easier on your heart to let experts repair it. Remember, some things are worth the extra effort and money.

Get Your iPad Repaired by a Professional

If you decide to have your iPad repaired, you must go to a trusted third-party shop. It’s the more cost-effective route. Choose the right provider to ensure that you’ll get high-quality parts and service.

Choosing a trusted professional is the key. Contact us today and let us know the type of repairs you need.

Justin Drake Carroll iPhone

5 Signs of iPhone Water Damage and How to Fix It

Did you drop your phone in the toilet or spill juice on it by accident? Did you have to answer a call while it was raining? We’ve all been there. To make matters worse, Apple’s warranty doesn’t cover water damage. The good news is that iPhone water damage isn’t a permanent conundrum.

The first step, however, is to identify when your phone is suffering from water damage. To help you out, here are five clear signs you need to look out for:

1. Check the LCI

One of the most obvious signs of water damage is your iPhone’s Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) color. It should appear silver or white, depending on your iPhone model. It will turn red if your phone has severe water damage and needs immediate repairs.

The location of the LCI depends on the model of your iPhone. Models from the iPhone 5 onwards place the LCI by the SIM card slot. For older models, you’ll find the LCI by the headphone jack. 

Your phone’s LCI is the main indicator of significant water damage. If it hasn’t turned red yet but your phone is already experiencing the other symptoms listed below, take your phone to a repair shop before the damage spreads.

Keep in mind that a red LCI spells doom for your warranty. Apple doesn’t repair phones with a red LCI since it indicates water damage. Despite advertisements claiming it’s a water-resistant device, Apple won’t cover water damages so you’ll have to seek repairs from third-party professionals.

2. Boot Up Issues

How can you tell if your phone is suffering from water damage if the LCI didn’t turn red yet? Fortunately, there are a few other symptoms of water damage to look out for. A common one you might experience is a boot-up error.

A phone with water damage might randomly turn off and on again. When it does, you might see nothing but a blank white screen. It won’t move on from this phase, locking you in a white screen.

Some people refer to this as the White Screen of Death, meaning your phone died and you need to repair and reboot it. The downside is rebooting your phone from this will erase all the data and files saved on it. This is why you should always back up important files on iCloud. 

3. Warning/Error Messages

Dealing with a dropped phone in water doesn’t always lead to immediate problems. You might not even know your phone has water damage because it won’t look problematic. However, you could start getting error messages when doing things that normally work.

For example, you might get an error messaging after plugging in your iPhone to charge. It’ll state that the cable isn’t compatible with your phone even if you’re using an official iPhone charger. 

This can happen even with Bluetooth devices. If the water damage reached your phone’s inner components, it won’t be able to detect and pair with Bluetooth devices. This includes headsets and speakers. 

Did you get an error or warning message after plugging something into your phone’s charger port? If you did, immediately un-sync your iPhone and remove the cable. It’s time to seek professional repair services.

4. Other Ports Stop Working

You might also have a broken iPhone if the other ports break. Modern iPhones have a single USB-C port for charging and connecting headsets. However, if you own an older model, you can still find a separate 3.5mm earphone jack.

If that also fails to read your headset or earphones, it’s likely there’s an internal problem. Of course, it could simply be your earphones. Test whether or not it’s the phone by plugging in different earphones to the 3.5mm port. 

Did all of the earphones fail to work? Do you hear constant static regardless of the earphone inserted? If you experience any of these problems then you could be looking at water damage. 

The best way to make sure is to bring your phone to an expert and have it checked. It could simply be a damaged earphone port or it could be an early symptom of water damage. Taking your phone to an expert repairman guarantees you can catch the problem before it spreads.

5. Water Spots on the Screen

You might not need to open up and repair your phone yet. If your phone got wet from the rain or a spill, you might be able to spot early symptoms of water damage by checking your screen. Spots on the screen are a good indication that water seeped inside.

Spots on your screen come from water droplets that dried from the inside. The dirt and debris caught in the water will remain after the droplets dry off and can settle and damage your screen surface. It doesn’t take much for the damage to become noticeable.

This can happen when your phone gets exposed to rain or when juice and water spill on your phone. The liquid might not have entered the ports but could’ve seeped through the screen and screen protector.

Fortunately, this could mean the damage hasn’t corrupted the internal hardware yet. Therefore, taking your phone to a professional repairman could decrease the chances of your phone completely shutting down.

Repair iPhone Water Damage Today

Dealing with iPhone water damage can seem a little bit of a hassle. After all, you might not even know if your phone has water damage until you see some of the aforementioned symptoms. Make it a habit to check the phone’s LCI and look out for the other symptoms of water damage after taking your phone out in the rain. 

If your phone does show these signs, don’t waste time trying to get Apple to repair the device. The warranty doesn’t cover water damage.

Don’t fret if you don’t know how to fix phone water damage. We’re here to help. Never hesitate to get in touch with us now for professional iPhone repairs and let us get your phone back in shape.

Justin Drake Carroll iPhone

5 Things You Need to Know Before Getting Your iPhone Repaired

Are you experiencing problems charging your device? These are only a few of the different problems that require iPhone repairs. Over a billion active iPhones exist in the world. With the brand’s commitment toward quality, they offer warranty for their devices. However, Apple’s warranty isn’t as extensive. They only cover manufacturing defects for one full year to get your iPhone repaired. It starts from the day you purchased your device.

Moreover, the warranty doesn’t cover damages resulting from accidents.

Hence, you have the option to bring your device to a third-party repair shop. If you’re planning to bring your device to a repair center, there are some important things you need to know before doing so.

Continue reading below for five of the most important tips. Read on to get your iPhone repaired:

1. Determine Your iPhone’s Problem

One of the first things to know before getting your iPhone repaired is the nature of the problem. Many common reasons merit a trip to the repair center. Detect and determine the problem of your device.

Sometimes, it’s tricky since some issues overlap and intertwine. At times, the problem can be minor and only needs app or software updates. Identify the issue and troubleshoot before opting for a smartphone repair.

After exhausting all troubleshooting options and it still doesn’t work, check if your device remains under warranty. If so, contact your Apple Support. Otherwise, call a trusted third-party repair center.

2. You Need to Perform a Backup

Back up your smartphone before taking it to the repair center. There are two ways to back up your device. You can do it via iTunes or through iCloud.

If you choose to back up using the former, make sure your MacBook or Mac computer is running on the latest version of iTunes. From there, connect your iPhone to your computer. Open “File” and select “Devices” then click on “Backup.”

In case you’re using the iTunes 10.7 version or an earlier version, right-click the device from the list. From there, select “Backup Now.” Alternatively, you can back up your phone by syncing your iPhone with your Mac computer or MacBook.

To ensure the backup’s completion, open “iTunes Preferences.” Hit the “Devices” tab and look for the name of your iPhone. Check the date and time you created the iTunes backup.

If you want a wireless and automatic method of backing up your phone, an iCloud backup is your best bet. First, verify your iCloud backup to see if it is up-to-date. Go to “Settings,” select “iCloud,” then hit “Storage & Backup.”

From there, check if the iCloud Backup feature is active or not. Select “Back Up Now” to commence the function.

The great thing about this feature is that iCloud will automatically back up your data once enabled.

3. Remove Your SIM Card and Security Locks

Before repairing your iPhone, you must remove the SIM card. As basic as it may seem, some iPhone users overlook this task. To avoid problems, keep your SIM ejector tool in a safe and accessible place.

In case your device has no SIM card, request a temporary suspension of the service from your provider. Also, remove your device from the Apple ID device list.

Moreover, remove the security locks on your iPhone. Disable your pattern lock, PIN, or fingerprint authorization. It will help technicians work on your smartphone faster.

To do this, go to “Settings” and hit “Touch ID & Passcode.” Go to devices without tapping “Touch ID.” Head on to “Settings” and select “Passcode.”

4. The Warranty Conundrum

Another vital aspect is to determine the warranty of the repair service. If you decide to have your iPhone repaired by a third-party center, it will void an active Apple warranty.

If the problem is with the battery, check if the 12-month coverage is still in effect. If so, take advantage of the warranty. If you’re on AppleCare+, it offers up to two years warranty for the battery.

It means you can request a battery replacement free of charge. What if you’re the problem is broken glass? Even if you have AppleCare+, you will still have to shell out a significant amount for a replacement.

If you decide to go the third-party route, the key is to find a repair center that offers low-price guarantees. How does this work? The repair center will match its competitor’s published price for repairs and beat the price by a few bucks.

5. The Track Record of Repair Shops

Last but not least, understand the value of research and due diligence. Before deciding on a third-part repair center, be sure to check their track record. A good place to start is to look for online review websites or through the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

How do they deal with their clients? Are they friendly yet maintain a high level of professionalism?

How about their industry experience? Do they repair devices other than smartphones? Also, you want to check the availability of their technicians.

How many customers can they accommodate in a day? A trusted repair center can handle over a hundred clients a day without compromising customer service and the quality of their output.

Lastly, ask about their deals and promos. You want to find an affordable repair center that delivers top-notch services. At the same time, they must fit your budget range.

Get Your iPhone Repaired by an Expert Now!

Now that you know these facts, you can prepare your device before taking it to the repair center. You can make better decisions to help you get the best value for your money. If ever you’re looking for a place to have your iPhone repaired, you came to the right place.

We offer repair services for old and new iPhone models. Connect with us and tell us more about your iPhone-related concerns. Let one of our expert technicians work on your devices, today!

Justin Drake Carroll Repair

Computer Repair: What Are the Functions of My Computer Parts

A massive 89 percent of American households have a computer, but far fewer of them know how computers actually work. The complex parts and how they work are still a mystery to the vast majority of us. Understanding how all of your computer’s parts work can make computer repair much more intelligible, and it can help you fix some simple issues yourself, too. 

In this guide, we’re going to take a look at how your computer’s parts work and what each component does. Are you ready to learn more about the inner workings of your machine? Then read on!

1. The CPU

The CPU is one of the most important parts of your computer. The CPU, which stands for Central Processing Unit, is the microchip that carries out the calculations that are necessary to run the programs on your machine.

While certain other components on this list can be scaled down, or in some cases eliminated completely, your computer can’t run without a CPU. 

An old CPU is one of the most significant bottlenecks that your machine can have. If the CPU is slow, everything else will be slow. Your programs will lag and your machine will take longer to get things done.

If you want to play the latest games, edit photos or videos, or do other complicated operations, a fast CPU is a must. This means that it’s a very common and effective upgrade. 

On top of the CPU, you’ll also find the cooler, another vital component. CPUs can generate a lot of heat, so effective cooling is a must.

2. The Motherboard

The motherboard is even more important than the CPU. This is because the motherboard allows all of the other components to speak to each other.

For your CPU to be able to load up programs from your hard drive, it needs to go through the motherboard. To access the RAM, your other components need the motherboard.

A motherboard is essentially a printed circuit board that all of the other components slot into. Without a motherboard, you can’t do anything.

While you usually only need to upgrade the motherboard if you’re installing newer components, they can also go wrong and require replacement. 

3. Hard Drives and SSDs

Your system needs somewhere to store all the programs and other data that it uses. This is where hard drives and SSDs come in. 

A hard drive is the traditional way to handle bulk storage on your computer. This component is made up of a spinning platter that your computer can read and write with a magnetic needle. The mechanism is fairly similar to how a record player works.

When you want to read or write data, your hard drive needs to spin up so that the needle can carry out the operation in the right spot on the drive. 

SSDs are another bulk storage solution but these are similar to scaled-up flash drives, which means that there are no moving parts in SSDs. As there is no need to spin anything up, these drives are a lot faster than hard drives. 

While they both have the same purpose, the way that they work and their speeds are very different. If you’re looking for a very impactful upgrade, swapping a hard drive for an SSD is one of the best ways to improve your computer’s speed.

4. RAM

Many people refer to your computer’s RAM as “memory,” which can get a little confusing for less-experienced users. While RAM is a type of memory, it’s very different from hard drives and SSDs.

RAM is short-term memory. Your computer uses it to store all of the programs and processes that it’s running right at this second. Due to its very high speed, this allows your computer to do its job far faster.

While you could technically turn on a PC without RAM, it’s not going to work. There are two important factors to consider when it comes to RAM, too. The amount of it and the speed it runs at.

Smaller amounts of RAM with a higher speed could be a better proposition than more memory at a lower one!

5. The Graphics Card

The graphics card, also known as the video card, or GPU, is an important but not always necessary part of your computer. If you’re going to be doing visually intensive tasks, such as gaming or video editing, a graphics card can make things run far faster.

This is because a graphics card comes with its own microchip and memory that focuses on visuals alone, which results in a big performance boost to these tasks.

Some CPUs now come with onboard graphics, known as integrated graphics, which can work in a pinch if you don’t have a graphics card. If you’re a hardcore gamer or need to edit photos or videos, however, a video card is vital.

6. The Power Supply

All of the computer components that we’ve mentioned so far require a consistent power source. The power supply converts AC power from your household sockets into DC power that your components can use. 

Different power supplies can handle different amounts of power, measured in watts, and the amount of power your computer needs will depend on the parts that you have. A gaming PC will need more than a simple office machine, for instance.

Understanding Your Components Is Key to Computer Repair

If you want to be able to solve your common computer issues and carry out basic computer repair, you need to be able to understand your components. We hope that this article has helped you do just that!

However, there are some computer issues that only professionals can fix. If you’re having problems with your machine, we can help you, and are ready and waiting to meet you at any of our stores!