Next time you’re out in public, take a look around. Take a quick headcount of how many people have their eyes glued to their phones.

The latest estimates suggest that as many as five billion people around the globe have a smartphone.

We rely on our smartphones for almost everything, from ordering food to shopping for our favorite items. So when something goes wrong, you’ll want to make sure you can fix your phone fast.

Phone problems can be stressful, and that’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common issues you may run into, as well as some quick and handy solutions to help you get your phone back in operation.

So before you spend hundreds of dollars repairing your phone through your manufacturer or carrier, keep reading and try these quick solutions!

 

Since smartphones are so versatile, you’ll end up downloading a ton of apps. But as your phone starts to fill up, you’ll see a noticeable difference in performance.

A full phone is sluggish and can sometimes overheat, causing your phone to shut down. Worse, an overheated phone can lead to internal damage, causing parts of your phone to melt.

Whether you’re looking to download more on your phone or just boost your performance, clearing up space only takes a few minutes.

Android users will want to head right to their settings menu. As you might’ve guessed, your next step is going to be the ‘device maintenance’ submenu.

Once you see this menu, your phone will present you with a nice little circle graph detailing its performance. Hit the ‘fix now’ button to get rid of any background apps and files that are taking up unnecessary space.

After that, select ‘storage.’ You’ll see a similar graph along with an option to clean your phone. Choose this option.

Finally, head back to the ‘device maintenance’ submenu and click ‘memory’. The more memory your phone has, the faster it can function, so click ‘clean now.’

iPhone users will want to head to their settings menu, along with ‘general’ and ‘iPhone storage.’

You should see a list of apps along with a detailed description of how much space they take up and when you last used them. Clear out any unwanted apps.

Don’t forget to clear your cache and history on your mobile browser, too.

 

Be honest, how often do you use your phone in the bathroom? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

61% of people are guilty of texting and tinkling. But if you’re going to use your smartphone while taking some personal time, make sure you have a good grip 9% of people end up dropping their phones in the toilet.

Aside from the sheer embarrassment of the situation, you’re now faced with the unseemly task of dipping your hand in the toilet to retrieve your phone. To make matters worse, there’s a decent chance that your phone won’t work after its toilet tumble.

As awkward as the situation might be, there are a few easy ways to get your phone up and running (after you disinfect it).

First thing’s first: turn your phone off and don’t bother trying to use it. Doing so might make the situation worse.

Instead, turn the phone off and wipe it down with a towel or washcloth. Once it’s dry, remove your phone from its case and take the back of your phone off.

Depending on your phone’s make, this can be easier said than done. Most Android phones have a removable back or at least a button you can press with the tip of a pencil to pop off the back.

iPhones, however, are a bit trickier. You’ll need to use a small screwdriver to remove the screws near the dock connector.

A quick yet important note — whenever you’re taking your phone apart, make sure you store the parts in a safe location. You’re already dealing with a damaged phone. The last thing you need is a missing screw that makes your phone inoperable.

Next, remove your SIM card, and, if possible, your phone’s battery. Place the SIM card on a towel to dry.

Don’t worry if you can’t remove your battery (as is the case with most iPhones). You can still save your phone.

Leave the pieces of your phone on a safe, dry location such as a towel and let it air dry for a few hours.

You’ve probably heard about the rice trick. While placing your phone in a bowl of dried rice can, indeed, remove some of the moisture, it can also ruin your phone by adding debris like starch.

Once your phone is dry, put your phone back together and boot it up.

 

Even if you’re as careful as can be with your phone, it only takes one wrong move to send your phone tumbling to the ground. And while phones are sturdier than they were in the past, manufacturers still know that cracked screens are a goldmine.

So what are your options now that your phone resembles a spider web?

Ultimately, you’ll have to decide between two options. You can attempt to repair your phone’s screen yourself or you can take it into a repair shop.

We don’t recommend the former. Not only is it expensive and difficult, but it’s easy to mess up and could ruin your phone for good.

At the very least, you’ll need to invest in a new phone screen along with special glue and screwdrivers.

Your best bet is to call up your local phone repair shop and see what they recommend. They may be able to sell you a repair kit so you can fix it on your own time. However, it tends to be a better investment to let them repair it outright.

 

You’ve returned home after a long day, ready to rest and relax. As you usually do, you set your phone in its charger and leave it to charge overnight.

The next morning you wake up and glance at your clock. You’re late for work. Sure enough, you go to check your phone and the screen won’t turn on. It didn’t charge!

Phone batters are fickle. And when your device stops charging, it can seem like cause for alarm. But before you panic, make sure you try this.

Put on your detective hat, because it’s time to rule out the cause of the issue.

If it’s any consolation, this issue is likely due to a faulty charger or outlet. Remove the phone charger from the outlet and try plugging it into a different wall. If you’re not noticing a difference, the issue isn’t your outlet.

Next, snag another lightning or USB cable and place it into the charging brick. Sometimes charging wires get twisted and frayed, causing them to stop working.

If you’re still not having any luck, odds are there’s an issue with your USB or lightning port. In that case, you’ll want to take your phone to a repair shop.

Like with a cracked screen, you could attempt to fix the problem yourself. However, removing and replacing a port is a more in-depth process requiring precise finesse and knowledge.

 

On the other hand, your charger may be perfectly fine and the issue may be your battery.

If you’re noticing a difference in your phone’s battery life and you haven’t changed your usage habits, your battery may be on its way out.

There’s some good news and some bad news. The good news is that this fix is easy and only requires a trip to your favorite phone store or website. The bad news is that you’ll still have to take your phone apart.

But first, find a replacement battery for your phone. Depending on your warranty coverage, you may be able to get your carrier to pay for a new battery, so check that first.

Otherwise, you should be able to find a replacement at electronics stores like Best Buy or, if you’re lucky enough to live near one of the few remaining locations, RadioShack.

If that’s a no-go, Amazon has everything you’ll need.

Once you have your replacement battery, it’s time to perform some cell surgery.

Open up the back of your phone by unscrewing the two small screws near your iPhone’s dock or by pressing the small button on the top of your Android device.

The battery is easy enough to identify, as it’s often the biggest component in your phone. If it’s glued down, take a heat gun or hairdryer and loosen any adhesive residue.

Android users should have an easier time, as most phones allow you to remove the battery and put in the replacement.

 

From FitBits to Apple Watches to Pokémon GO devices and home theater systems, Bluetooth allows users to connect their phones to their favorite items using wireless communication.

But you wouldn’t be here if things always went according to plan.

Bluetooth issues tend to result in two errors. One denotes an inability to connect to a device. And the other renders your Bluetooth device more or less invisible to your phone.

Don’t worry, this fix only takes a few minutes in either instance

Let’s start with the first issue, the inability to connect with your device. Begin by making sure that your phone isn’t already paired with a similar device.

If you’re trying to pair multiple pairs of Bluetooth headphones, for instance, you’ll run into trouble.

If that seems to be the case, locate the culprit and turn it off or forget the device from the Bluetooth menu.

If you can’t find your device in the menu, ensure that both devices are in pairing mode. If only one device is searching, you won’t be able to connect.

Likewise, if you have too many devices connected via Bluetooth, interference can cause issues. Try and limit your number of Bluetooth devices to two or three.

 

You keep hearing about the latest app. Everyone loves it, and you’re looking to try it. So, like you do a few times a week, you head to your phone’s app store to give this trendy new program a shot.

You hit ‘install’ and go back to browsing Facebook while the app downloads in the background. After a few minutes, you hit the home button and swipe to your new app.

Only... it isn’t there. You know you downloaded it, and you know you have enough storage space. So what gives?

This is a common issue for both Android and iPhone users and it’s a pretty easy fix.

If you’re on an iPhone, give your phone a quick reset. The app should show up after your phone boots.

If that doesn’t work, head to the settings menu. Check your storage to double-check that the app’s information is on your phone.

If it is and you can’t see it, select ‘reset’, followed by ‘reset home screen layout.’ This should cause your home screen to refresh and your app should appear.

For Android users, the process is a little different as a reboot usually won’t solve the issue. Instead, head to settings, then ‘applications’ and select the Google Play Store. From here, select ‘storage,’ followed by ‘clear cache.’

Try downloading the app again and you shouldn’t have any issues. It’s a good idea to clear your cache every few weeks.

 

As much as we love our smartphones, you can see just how easy it is for one seemingly small issue to change the way you use your phone.

But remember, you don’t have to replace your phone yet, even if you’re experiencing phone problems. If you’re in the Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky area, get in touch with us today and let’s see if we can save you money by repairing your phone.