5 signs your smartphone is about to bite the dust

Although we may well have entered the digital age, many electronics are still large investments, well beyond their price tags. From phones to tablets to computers, you spend time and money making your device your own. It has your stuff in it, and it’s set up to your liking.

Whether you use it for work, school, entertainment or any combination of these, a dying laptop is never a good thing. Before you break out your wallet and get a new one, check out our tips on how to diagnose and possibly repair your portable computer.

Your smartphone goes with you everywhere you go. It holds a lot of personal information and is capable of doing almost anything. You chose the model, color and specs and now it’s shoddy. While not all symptoms indicate that the phone needs to be replaced, here are five very bad signs.

1. Apps or phone keeps crashing
If you have a faulty app then check if it has an update available. If this doesn’t solve the problem, consider removing it. You don’t need to delete an associated account, but this is the easiest and simplest solution. Try writing to the developer and asking about it. Once the app is patched, you can download it again.

If your phone keeps crashing on its own, it could mean several things. If your Android phone keeps restarting then tap or click here.

Check your storage space. Is it close to perfect? Clear up some clutter. Tap or click here for the right way to clean your smartphone apps.

Close any apps you have running in the background and clear your cache.

Update your phone to the latest operating system.

If all else fails, restore your phone to an earlier backup or do a factory reset. Make sure you back up everything first. Tap or click here for 5 steps to back up your data like a pro.

2. Damage to the display (not the glass)
While it’s easy to tell when your screen’s glass lining is broken (it looks like any other broken glass), damage to the screen isn’t always so obvious at first glance.

The screen may look fine, but you notice that the touch feature is faulty or not working at all. You may see small dark spots, blurring or discoloration. These are signs that the screen itself is damaged and needs to be replaced. You can do this yourself, but be aware that it may void your warranty or cause compatibility issues.

You can take it to an authorized repair center outside your manufacturer. If it’s an older phone, shop around for the best price, but it may be worth replacing the entire phone. Replacing a screen costs a lot more than just swapping out new glass.

3. Water or other internal damage
Most new phones have some water resistance, but it can still seep in. To avoid shorts you must first turn off your phone. Then wipe the phone and tap any port to drain the water. Place the phone in front of a fan or in a bowl containing silica gel packets to absorb moisture. Do not use a hairdryer or rice.

After some time, try to turn on your phone. It may work but still there are problems. If you find it has dried out completely and is still behaving strangely, you may need to get a new one.

When it comes to internal damage that is not screen related, there is not much you can do. If you don’t want to buy a new phone then look for a refurbished replacement phone.

4. Overheating / Bulging Battery
If your phone is getting seriously hot, close all apps and turn off Bluetooth, Location Services, Wi-Fi, and Background App Refresh. You want to stop as many processes as possible to give the processor a break.

If this is not enough, unplug the phone from any charger or other device and remove the case if you have one. Keep the phone in a cool, dry place and give it time to cool down. Don’t keep it in the fridge.

If you have a swollen battery, it’s more serious. You want to allow the charge to drop as low as possible before attempting to remove the battery. If you feel resistance when you try to remove it then leave it alone and take the phone to a service center. Tap or click here to see the apps that drain your battery the fastest.

5. Briquettes
If whatever you do, if your phone does not turn on, it is probably bricked. This can happen if your phone got interrupted during the firmware update. A truly bricked phone is no easy solution, and the best option is to take it to a repair center. Be prepared to receive news that this needs to change.