What’s small enough to fit in your pocket but big enough to be your whole world? Your smartphone! Chances are your phone is the possession you use the most. Phones come in handy anywhere, any time, no matter what you are doing. They have become increasingly hardy to withstand damage, but an indestructible phone has yet to be made. Eventually, your phone will break in some way.
When your phone becomes damaged, it’s quite handy to know how to fix the most common problems that might be causing your phone to not work properly. We’re going to discuss how to fix many common issues that occur with smartphones, but note that these tips are not for the faint of heart. If you aren’t very tech-savvy, you’re better off taking your device to a cell phone repair shop to save time, sanity and money.
Fixing a Damaged Cell Phone Screen
Have you dropped your phone and cracked the screen? Join the club. Shattered screens are quite common because they’re typically the first point of contact when you drop your device. If you’re seeing a cracked screen or dead pixels on your display, you might want to replace it.
It’s imperative to find the right replacement screen for your phone’s make and model. Head to a repair shop and try to find the right screen.
Here’s how to fix your cell phone screen on your own:
- Remove the back of your phone to get to the back panel.
- Unscrew all of the screws that are attaching the back panel to the body of your phone. You’ll probably need a Torx or Phillips head screwdriver.
- Before you get to work, make sure there aren’t any screws holding the phone’s motherboard into place. If there are, unscrew them. The motherboard should come off with ease so you can access the screen.
- The screen and the motherboard are typically connected using connectors that plugin. Pull off the connectors carefully to release the screen from the motherboard.
- If you have bought the proper replacement screen for your phone, you should see the same type of connectors on your new screen, which will allow you to easily attach it to the motherboard.
- Replace the back panel, screwing in the screws. Ensure that everything is firmly put into place and that there are no components, inside and out, that are loose.
- Finally, shake the phone a bit to listen for parts rattling. If you hear loose parts, check the connections again and tighten anything that is not held into place.
Fixing a Damaged Battery
As you may have learned from experience, batteries are one of the first components to fail on a smartphone. Happily, it’s also one of the easiest components to fix. If your phone is draining the battery quickly, or if you remove it and it looks bloated, head to a tech store and buy a new battery pack. You can also find new batteries on places like Amazon too.
Like phone screens, you must choose the battery specific to your phone, and your phone only. This is because every phone has its own battery size. Make sure you do your research to find out which battery replacements are the best quality.
- Take the back cover off of your phone to get to the battery bay.
- Carefully lift the battery off of the bay and insert the new battery you just bought.
- Charge your device. It’s always a smart idea to charge a new battery before the first use.
- Allow the battery to fully charge without unplugging it from the charger, and it’s ready to use.
Troubleshooting a Battery that is Not Charging
- Check the condition of the battery – if it is draining quickly or appears bloated, you’ll want to replace it using the method above.
- Check out your charger, by using it on another phone and see if this device can recharge its battery. If the second device doesn’t charge, the charger is your culprit.
Go out and buy a new charger, and be sure it is compatible with your phone. While buying a charger at the gas station might be tempting, it’s best to purchase only original chargers manufactured by the company that built your phone.
This is because you need a charger with an ampere rating compatible with your phone. If a charger has too high of an ampere rating for your phone model, using it could cause your battery to go bad or even explode.
Fixing a Motherboard that No Longer Works
A defective motherboard is a mother of a problem and you should only tinker with this phone component when you really know what your doing. The motherboard is home to critical phone components like your camera, speakers and more.
Purchase a replacement motherboard for your phone from a repair store or a tech shop, and just like your screen and battery, make sure it is the exact model that is currently installed on your phone to avoid any serious issues.
- Remove the back of your phone to get to the back panel.
- Unscrew the screws with a Torx or Phillips screwdriver.
- Remove any screws holding the motherboard in place as well.
- Disconnect the motherboard from the screen by carefully pulling the connectors off to release one component from the other.
- Connect the screen to your new motherboard. You should see the same plugin connectors on your new one, provided you have purchased the appropriate replacement part.
- Reattach the back panel and screw in the screws. Ensure everything is in place by giving the phone a light shake to see if you can hear parts rattling. If everything appears to check out, you can go back to enjoying your phone.
Keep in mind that for a novice, fixing a phone can take hours of your time and you might end up damaging your beloved gadget forever. If in doubt, call an expert who offers a warranty on repair services. Taking electronics apart might be fun, but breaking them in the process is definitely not.
