We love our cell phones. We rely on them to check our email on the go, wake us up in the morning, and alert us about our plans. When your smartphone breaks, it can be frustrating. Fortunately, most common cell phone problems are easy to fix. Here are four common cell phone problems and how to fix them so your smartphone is up and running quickly.

 

1. Frozen Screen

Sometimes your phone or tablet will freeze when you’re trying to load or operate an app. You try to close the app, lock the screen, and turn off your phone but nothing seems to fix it. It may not be possible to use the phone when the screen is frozen like this.

Solution: First, plug your mobile device into a charger because cell phones with low battery power occasionally freeze. Next, perform a hard restart on your device which will force it to restart but not affect your data. For most Apple devices, hold the home and power/lock button at the same time until the Apple logo reappears (power and volume-down for 7 series and newer). For Samsung phones, hold the volume and power/lock button for 15 seconds until the screen turns on. For LG devices, hold the volume down and power/lock buttons for 20 seconds. If these tricks don’t fix the problem, stop by a repair shop. Triangle Cellular Repair offers free diagnostics. There might be something else going on that experts can help with.

2. Broken Glass Screen

If you drop your cell phone, it’s possible that you’ll shatter its glass screen. Some people try to keep using their phone despite the cracked glass. Others will cut their fingers on the broken glass because they don’t want to spend the money to replace it. Using a phone with cracked glass also exposes it to further damage inside the device.

Solution: The two most common ways to repair cell phone screens are through insurance or at repair stores. If you have insurance, check if it covers replacements. Insurance typically requires you to pay a deductible and mail the phone in for service. If you’re looking for same-day service, you can take it to a repair shop, such as TCR, for an affordable and fast glass replacement.

3. Water and Liquid Damage

Surprisingly, water damage is one of the most common cell phone problems. Most of the time phones and tablets are exposed to liquid by accident in the bathroom, kitchen, ocean, or by the pool. Even a small amount of water inside your phone is enough to damage it through corrosion or by shorting out electrical circuits.

Solution: First, turn your phone or tablet off immediately. Then, dry off your device as thoroughly as possible. Next, quickly get to a repair shop to have it diagnosed. Waiting can cause significant issues. If stores are closed when your device gets wet, it does not hurt to put it in rice overnight. The quicker you’re able to get your phone looked at, the better the outcome will be. Stores like TCR offer free diagnostics!

4. Charge Port Failure

Over time it’s possible that your charge port will wear out and you won’t be able to charge your phone. If your phone doesn’t charge no matter how long it’s plugged in, your chart port may be damaged or dirty. Unless it’s fixed, you won’t have enough power to use your device.

Solution: Make sure your charging cable is not the issue. Use a different charger in your house or borrow a friend’s. Make sure you test with an original charger because aftermarket cords can be unreliable. If you still cannot charge your device, bring your phone into a repair shop for a diagnostic. Sometimes the charge ports just need to be cleaned out carefully. Repair technicians will have the tools and knowledge to do this without causing damage. It may also be a bad battery which they can test and replace in the store if necessary. Otherwise, the repair technicians may need to replace the charge port.

Most of the time these problems are easily fixable. Write down the address and phone number to the nearest TCR location in case you ever run into a cell phone emergency, like water damage. We will help you get back on your feet like it never happened!