Make Your Smartphone Last Longer – Easy Tips

Not everyone is interested in upgrading their phones every year. At SwiftechBuy, we get many online and offline customers who prefer buying refurbished devices to save money – and we think that’s awesome.

Smartphones are a significant investment, and most individuals are happy to keep their existing models until they experience considerable difficulties.

So, from our day-to-day experience with repairing phones, we have tips to help you make your phone last longer and hopefully avoid costly repairs and replacements.

Most common problems that come to us are related to damaged screens, non-functional buttons, battery issues, non-functional speakers and mic, etc. However, proper care may extend the life of your phone by up to 50%. So, here are ten simple ways to avoid or at least reduce the severity of common phone issues and extend their lifespan.

Prolonging the Life of the Battery

The first and most important thing you can do to prolong the life of your device is to take care of the battery.

Batteries are designed to last a certain number of charges, and then they will begin to degrade. The severity of this degradation depends on how you use and care for your device.

Don’t Overcharge 

Most phones (iPhones, Samsung, etc..) have lithium-ion batteries designed to be charged and discharged without significant degradation. However, it is important not to overcharge these batteries. 

Overcharging can shorten the lifespan of the battery, and it can also be a safety hazard. So if you’re leaving your phone plugged in overnight, unplug it before it hits 100%.

Avoid Draining the Battery Completely

This used to be more of a problem with older NiCd batteries, but it’s also something to consider with lithium-ion batteries. If you regularly let your battery drain down to 0%, it can shorten its overall lifespan. So it is best to plug in your phone for charging before it gets below 20%. 

Purchase a Battery Case 

If you are traveling and are unsure if you will be able to charge your device, consider getting a battery case or an external one. This will help you keep your phone charged and avoid any potential damage from running out of power.

Don’t Use Your Phone While It’s Charging.

This is more of a safety tip than anything else, but it’s important to avoid using your phone while it’s plugged in.

And if you must use your phone while it’s charging, make sure to unplug it as soon as you’re done. Leaving it plugged in when you don’t need to can also put unnecessary strain on the battery.

Don’t Leave Your Phone Plugged in Overnight.

Most of us are guilty of this one. We’re busy and forget to unplug our phones from the charger before bed. But leaving your phone plugged in when it’s fully charged can damage the battery and shorten its overall lifespan. Use a timer to unplug if you forget!

Taking Proper Care Of The Hardware

In addition to the battery, you can do a few other things to prolong the life of your phone’s hardware.

Care for the Charging Slot

Be careful with the charging slot.

The charging port on your phone is one of the most vulnerable parts of the device. It’s constantly exposed to dust, lint, and other debris, which can build up over time and cause problems. 

Also, when we plug in the charger in a hurry, we might roughly plug in the charger, resulting in some physical damage to the charging slot in the long term. So be gentle when you plug in and unplug your charger.

Don’t Use Cheap or Generic Chargers.

Using the adapter and cable that comes with your device is always advised. If you need to replace it, buy a high-quality replacement from a reputable company.

Using a cheap or generic charger can damage your phone and be a safety hazard.

Headphone Jack

As the charging port, the headphone jack is also vulnerable to damage. Be careful when inserting and removing your earphones, and ensure not to pull too hard on the cord.

Also, avoid using headphones that are not compatible with your phone. Cheap headphones can damage the jack and also affect the sound quality.

Use a Screen Protector

Phones often fall, and the screen is usually the first thing to take a hit. So it’s important to take care of your screen and protect it from damage.

To prolong the life of your screen, use a good quality screen protector. It is inexpensive to protect your screen from scratches and other damage.

Be Careful With the Buttons

While most phones these days do not have physical buttons on the phone, the side buttons still exist. You need to treat these buttons carefully and not press them too firmly. Using them roughly can cause them to deteriorate over time.

Also, do not use phone covers that are too tight. They can make it difficult to press the buttons and might cause damage to the buttons.

Caring for the Mic and Speakers

Your phone’s microphone and speaker are critical components. They are responsible for your calls’ quality and music listening experience.

Avoid using them in dusty or dirty environments to prolong the life of your phone’s mic and speaker. Also, keep them clean by dusting them off regularly with a soft cloth or a soft brush.

Other Useful Tips to Improve Your Phone’s Life

Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Your phone is designed to operate within a specific temperature range, and if it gets too hot or too cold, it can cause all sorts of problems. In extreme weather conditions, it can even lead to permanent damage.

Try keeping your phone out of direct sunlight as much as possible and if you’re in a cold climate, make sure you don’t leave it outside for too long. 

Don’t Use Unapproved Chargers or Accessories:

Using third-party chargers or accessories can void your warranty and damage your phone. So even though that $5 charger from Amazon might seem like a good deal, it’s not worth the risk.

Stick with approved chargers and accessories from the manufacturer or an authorized retailer. And if you’re not sure whether something is safe to use, err on the side of caution and don’t use it.

Keep Your Software up to Date

One of the easiest ways to prolong your phone’s life is to ensure you’re running the latest software. Not only will this help improve performance and fix bugs, but it can also patch security vulnerabilities that could leave your device open to attack.

Most phones will check for updates automatically, but you can usually force a check by going into the settings menu. 

Avoid Using Live Wallpapers

Live wallpapers might look cool, but they can significantly impact battery life. That’s because they’re constantly running in the background, even when you’re not using your phone.

If you want to save battery, it’s best to stick with static wallpapers. Or better yet, turn off the wallpaper entirely.

Use The Power-Saving Mode

Almost every phone these days comes with some form of power-saving mode. This is a great way to extend your battery life when running low and you have limited access to charging ports (especially when traveling).

Source: www.apple.com

A power-saving mode will typically disable certain features, like automatic syncing and dim the screen to help conserve battery.

If you’re low on battery and need to make it through the day, enable power-saving mode. You can find this option in the settings menu.

Turn Off Unused Features

Our phones have a lot of features installed by default that we don’t use regularly. However, leaving these features enabled can drain the battery and potentially overheat your device.

So, disable any features you don’t need, including Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, and Wi-Fi which are turned on all the time. You will find these options in the settings menu.

Factory Reset Your Phone Regularly:

This may sound counterintuitive, but resetting your phone regularly can help improve its long-term performance. That’s because it lets you start fresh and eliminates any unnecessary files or data bogging down your device.

Source: www.apple.com

A factory reset should take only a few minutes, and you must backup your data first. Here is where you find that setting:

For iPhones Users, you can find the total reset option under Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

For Androids Users, navigate to Settings > System > Advanced > Reset options> Erase all data (factory reset)

Use a Protective Phone Case

This is more of a preventive measure, but using a phone case can help you avoid damaging your device in the first place. And if you accidentally drop your phone, a good case will protect it from shattering or sustaining other forms of damage.

Make sure you use a case designed for your specific phone model.

Keep Your Phone Clean

Dust and dirt can damage your phone over time, so keeping it clean is essential. Use a soft cloth to wipe down your phone regularly, and clean the open ports nicely. 

Avoid using harsh cleaning products; they can potentially damage your phone’s screen.

Install Apps Wisely

Some mobile apps drain your battery life or strain your processor, so be picky about any application you install. Read the reviews and do your research before installing any app.

Uninstall any unused apps you no longer need, and take a close look at the permissions for each app to ensure it’s not doing anything suspicious.

Keep Your Phone Away From Kids

No matter how tempting it is, it’s bad to hand your phone to your kids to keep them entertained.

They could drop it, break the screen, or install unwanted apps. So only give them your phone if you’re okay with those risks.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Get Repairs.

Don’t wait too long to fix your phone’s issues. The longer you wait, the worse the problem could become. 

If you have phone insurance, you can cover the expensive repairs.

Don’t Carry Your Phone to the Shower.

Most phones are labeled waterproof, but that doesn’t mean we have to test them every time. Furthermore, even if your phone is waterproof, constant exposure to water can damage the internal components.

Water and phones don’t mix well, so avoid taking your phone into the shower or swimming pool.

Use Your Phone’s Built-in Storage Wisely.

If your phone runs out of storage, it can slow down and become less responsive. 

Delete any unnecessary files, apps, and photos to keep your phone running smoothly. You can also use cloud storage to offload some of your data and free up space on your device.

If you have any outdated equipment or repairs to be done, stop by one of our offline stores in Milwaukee or the Chicago location for more information.

That’s all for now. Make sure you take good care of your phone. We will keep updating this list with more tips. Thanks for reading!