Basic Cell Phone Troubleshooting
All phones seem to have issues now and again, especially smartphones, and even more so as cell phones increase in complexity. This guide is designed to assist you with troubleshooting your cell phone, so that you know what to do when you have a problem, and you know when to visit a service center, and you know when you need a new mobile phone.
When you experience a problem with your mobile phone, you should first, while the phone is powered on, remove the battery and SIM card (if applicable). Reinstall the SIM and battery and try using the phone. If that doesn't work, look below for some common cures to hopefully uncommmon problems. If those do not work, then call your provider from a different phone than the one you're having problems with, or locate a repair center online.
My phone doesn't send and/or receive phone calls, or my calls go straight to voicemail:
If you're not getting phone calls, it means your phone is not registering with the network. Make sure you're in an area of coverage, with at least two bars of service. If you're in a coverage area, then turn your phone off then on to get it to re-register. If that has no effect, try removing the battery and the SIM (if your phone has one) while the phone is powered on, and then replace the battery and power on the phone. If that still doesn't work, either your phone requires repair or your service has been restricted. Call your service provider to check the status of your service, and they'll advise you on how to get your cell phone repaired if necessary.
I dropped my phone in water:
Water is extremely destructive to small electronics, and needs to be taken care of immediately. Most repair centers won't touch a phone once it's been watered damaged, so your options are limited (You can tell that a phone has been water damaged by looking at the battery to see if there is a red dot). You can try to remove the moisture from your phone by removing the battery, case, and SIM (if your phone has one) and putting it in a bowl of rice. Rice will absorb the moisture so that your phone takes minimal damage. If your phone doesn't power on, you may have to file an insurance claim (if you have the cell phone carrier's insurance) or replace your phone.
My screen is blank or doesn't display correctly:
That can mean a couple of things; most commonly it's a bad connection from the phone's motherboard to the display unit, a fairly easy fix. Other possible causes are water damage, and even if your phone has not been submerged in water, its possible for moisture to accumulate enough to damage your screen display. Look for red dots underneath the cell phone battery and on the battery itself. If there are no signs of water damage, then visit a repair facility; your cell phone provider can help you locate a service center. This is also true if your phone shows lines in the screen, 'blooms' of black on the screen, or a partial picture or screen flips.
My keypad isn't working:
Check to see that your keypad lock is not active, and try restarting your phone. Does it seem to be only a few keys, or the entire keyboard? If its only a few keys, get some canned air to blow out dirt and dust that may accumulate under the keys. If it still doesn't work, then
My phone is not charging:
This can be due to a power supply issue, which requires a trip to your local service center. It may also be that your charging port has gotten dirt and dust and a small amount of corrosion. Take a mildly dampened cotton swab or pencil eraser and clean those contacts as well as you can without going in too far. Allow the port to dry thoroughly before trying it again. If that still doesn't work, try wiggling the charging cord to see if the phone starts charging; it may just be a bad connection your local repair center can fix quite handily.
Of course, these are just common complaints about cellphones. If you have other issues, or need additional help, you can get premium help at fixya.com or ask a question here.
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