How to fix common phone problems yourself.

1. Phone running slow

Before you assume the worst, try these:

Restart your phone. This clears temporary files and background processes. Hold the power button, tap Restart, and wait. It fixes slow performance surprisingly often.

Free up storage. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or Settings > Storage on Samsung). If you are over 90% full, your phone will slow down. Delete old photos, unused apps, and clear your browser cache.

Update your software. Old versions of iOS or Android can cause lag, especially after new app updates. Make sure you are running the latest version.

Check for rogue apps. If slowness started recently, think about what you installed recently. Uninstall it and see if things improve.

Try this at home

2. Cracked screen

A cracked screen is not a DIY job. Phone screens are glued in with precision adhesive, and the display, digitiser, and glass are bonded together. Opening a phone without the right tools risks damaging the cables underneath, breaking the LCD, or losing waterproofing.

What you can do: Put a screen protector over the crack to stop glass splinters and prevent it spreading. Do not use clear tape as it leaves residue.

What we do: We replace the entire display assembly in about 30 minutes for iPhones. We come to you anywhere in Auckland. Read more about screen repair.

Needs a professional

3. Battery draining fast

First, try the software fixes:

Turn off Background App Refresh. Settings > General > Background App Refresh on iPhone. Settings > Battery > Background usage limit on Samsung.

Reduce screen brightness. Auto-brightness helps, but manually lowering it saves even more battery.

Check battery health. On iPhone: Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Below 80% means the battery is degraded. On Samsung: Settings > Battery > Battery Status.

If your battery health is below 80%, no software trick will fix it. The battery needs physically replacing. We do this in about 30 minutes at your place. Read the full guide on battery health.

Try software fixes first, then call us if battery health is low

4. Phone not charging

Check the cable and adapter. Try a different cable. Try a different wall adapter. Try a different power outlet. Cables wear out faster than phones.

Clean the charging port. Lint from your pocket builds up in the Lightning or USB-C port over time. Use a wooden toothpick (not metal) to gently scrape out any fluff. You would be surprised how much comes out.

Try wireless charging. If your phone charges wirelessly but not with a cable, the port is the problem.

If none of that works, the charging port itself may be damaged. We replace charging ports at your door. It takes about 30 minutes.

Try cleaning first, then call if it still won't charge

5. Phone dropped in water

Do NOT put it in rice. This is a myth. Rice does not absorb moisture from inside a sealed phone, and rice dust can get stuck in the charging port and speakers.

What to do instead:

1. Turn it off immediately. Do not try to charge it.
2. Shake out any water from the ports (charging port, speakers).
3. Pat the outside dry with a towel.
4. Leave it turned off. Our guide to a phone dropped in water covers what to do next.

Water damage gets worse the longer you wait. The water causes corrosion on the circuit board, and turning the phone on while it is still wet can short-circuit components. The sooner a technician opens the phone and cleans the board, the better the chance of saving it.

Act quickly

6. Phone overheating

Remove the case. Thick cases trap heat. Take it off and see if the phone cools down.

Close background apps. Swipe up from the bottom (iPhone) or use the Recent Apps button (Samsung) and close apps you are not using.

Get out of the sun. Phones overheat fast in direct sunlight, especially in a car on the dashboard.

Stop charging while using it. Heavy use while plugged in generates a lot of heat.

If your phone overheats during normal use (just sitting in your pocket or light browsing), it could be a failing battery. A swollen battery is a safety risk. Check the signs of a failing battery.

Try these tips first, but a hot phone during light use means call us

7. Screen frozen or unresponsive

Force restart your phone.

iPhone 8 and later: Press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

Samsung: Hold Volume Down + Power for about 10 seconds until the phone restarts.

If the screen stays frozen or unresponsive after a restart, it could be a hardware issue with the display or digitiser. We can replace the screen to fix it.

Force restart usually fixes it

8. No sound or distorted speaker

Check the obvious things first: Is it on silent? Is Bluetooth connected to a speaker you forgot about? Is Do Not Disturb on?

Clean the speaker grille. Use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works) to gently clean the speaker openings at the bottom of the phone.

If the sound is crackly, distorted, or completely gone after cleaning, the speaker may need replacing. We can sort this during a home visit.

Check settings and clean first