Own an iPhone? Here are some of the most common problems and their fixes

Apple’s iPhones are some of the best smartphones that money can buy right now. However, they too aren’t completely free of pesky problems that might arise sooner or later. While some of these can occur on their own due to software issues, others can be a direct consequence of human negligence.

The silver lining? Some of these issues are ones that you can fix on your own, while others will require professional help. Here are some of the most common iPhone problems along with some simple solutions.

1. Black screen of death

If your iPhone simply cuts to black like a scene from a horror movie, you’ve been visited by the infamous black screen of death. It is a software issue that can occur on older iPhone models due to dated software and hardware. The fix is simple, though. All you need to do is force restart your iPhone.

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To do that, quickly press the volume up button, followed by the volume down button, and then hold down on the power button till the phone restarts and you see the Apple logo. If this doesn’t work, try the same after charging your phone for a while, as your phone may not have enough power to turn on.

2. Battery drain

Your iPhone’s battery health will decline over the years, which means you’re unlikely to see the battery life you did when you unboxed the device. However, if you experience severe battery drain, that could be a problem.

Begin by figuring out what app is sucking your battery. Head to Settings > Battery and look for the apps that have the most impact on your battery. If you don’t use some of these apps, uninstall them, restart your phone and check if your battery life improves. You can also take other measures like turning off push notifications for some apps. Also, make sure you’re on the latest iOS updates to rule out any software optimisation issues.

3. Overheating

If your phone reminds you of your morning coffee when you hold it, you’re facing some overheating. This is bad for your device in the long run as regular overheating can speed up internal wear and tear and also damage components. Not to mention, nobody likes holding a hot smartphone. However, you may be able to fix your iPhone’s temperature with some simple steps.

For starters, stop using your iPhone when its charging. This is a very common cause of heating smartphones across brands. Check for unwanted applications that are always running in the background and using up resources so you can disable them. Lastly, avoid using your phone intensively (like for gaming) when in hot and humid conditions if you can. If your iPhone still overheats, you may need to take it to the service centre.

4. Cracked screen or back panel

Apple’s iPhones popularised the glass sandwich smartphone form factor years ago with the iPhone 4. Today, most premium smartphones sport metal bodies between a screen and back panel, both made up of glass. While this helps make these devices sleeker, they’re also more prone to damage due to impacts.

The smallest drops can sometimes leave a crack on your iPhone screen or back panel. Unfortunately, this is a fix for which you’ll have to take the phone to the service centre.

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What’s worse is that the repair costs of replacement parts, especially the display can be really high. However, you can prevent high repair costs by getting a coverage plan when you buy your phone. Plans like Croma’s ZipCare Protect Advanced range will help you here. To prevent damage, you can also consider using a case of skin with your iPhone.

5. Liquid damage

Liquid damage can occur because of accidental spills and drops, but also completely automatically if you use your phone in very humid regions that see frequent fluctuations in temperature. Either way, the damage to your iPhone and its internal components is permanent, and the device will need replacement parts as per the extent of the damage when this happens.

Just like physical impact damage, replacements due to liquid damage can be very expensive. You can prevent such instances by avoiding using your phone near water bodies and generally being careful around pools, beverages and rain. However, getting a coverage plan that covers accidental damages like Croma’s ZipCare Protect Advanced range.

These are five ways you can fix common iPhone issues. To keep your iPhone safe, always update to the latest software, use your phone in safe conditions, keep liquids at bay and consider protecting your device with accessories like skins and cases.