First things first, the perks of a professional phone repair far outweigh the DIY repairs. But you might run into situations where you neither have the time nor the luxury to take your phone into a professional. During these times, you must know what you can repair on your own and what you can’t. Here are a few phone repairs that you can do on your own. But before you dive into the list, remember that the repairability of a phone is subject to the model and the device. Some phones are hard to crack open, while others are easier. If your model is too complex to crack open, it might be a good idea to take it to a professional rather than risk further damage.
Replacing the battery: Replacing the battery is one of the easiest smartphone repairs you can do on your own. Most phones have a removable back that allows for easy access to the battery. Smartphones are built with lithium-ion batteries, which don’t suffer from the “memory effect.” This means that it doesn’t matter if you discharge and recharge them using an algorithm or not. Replacing your phone’s original battery will ensure better performance over time. You can find replacement batteries online easily at low costs compared to what third-party repair shops would charge you for labor alone.
Replacing external parts: You might run into problems where individual components such as camera lenses are damaged beyond repair. Alongside camera lenses, there are plenty of external parts that you can replace yourself. The most common include the camera lens, charging port, and SIM card tray.
Replacing internal parts: Smartphones use various internal buttons such as volume controls and power switches which are all easy to replace when damaged or broken beyond recognition. Replacing them is an easy process; however, it might be more difficult if your phone uses screws in its construction instead of clips. Be sure to check out replacement parts before starting any repairs by visiting websites like eBay, where there’s plenty available under $50 with free shipping depending on the model of your device.
Replacing a screen: Screen damage is common in most smartphones and can happen either due to accidents or through tampering. Replacing the screen might be difficult depending on what model of phone you have. You should try removing one screw at a time using an appropriate screwdriver until the back panel pops off. After this, check what’s holding the screen in place. If clips are holding it together instead of screws, removing them will not cause any additional damage to the body itself. If there are screws inside, take your phone to a professional. Once done, remove all visible components, including the adhesive tape covering certain areas inside. Next, change out the parts that need replacing and put everything back in the correct order. Ensure that the clips are firmly holding your phone and everything is working together before popping on the back cover.
Cleaning charging and headphone ports: If your device has problems with charging or headphones, then there’s a high chance that the problem lies within its ports. Dirt and debris might have accumulated inside them over time which can cause connectivity issues. It’s advised that you use compressed air to clear out any dirt from the port before attempting another charge/sync session. You can find compressed air cans at most hardware stores for less than $20, which should be enough for several uses.
Replacing speakers: Speakers tend to degrade naturally as batteries lose power over time. This is most noticeable with the device on full volume as the sound starts to crackle and distort. Replacing a speaker usually requires you to remove it from its enclosure before connecting a new one in its place. Just make sure you follow the instructions to a T.
Replacing charging ports: Charging ports, like speakers, tend to degrade naturally as batteries lose power over time. This can cause issues with charging or transferring data through USB cables. And it’s not the cable that’s at fault. In most cases, this damage is mainly physical, resulting from regular use. Replacing charging ports requires you to open up your phone again and disconnect the old port from its connection point before connecting a new one in its place.
Many smartphone repairs can be done on your own. If you’re not sure whether or not what you need to do is DIY-friendly, try looking up the repair online and seeing if there’s a YouTube video about it. You’ll not only find lots of information about the repairs but also reviews from people who have completed the task before. Remember, with any phone repair project – proceed carefully! It may take some trial and error to get used to opening up your device to replace hardware components like screens or batteries. However, if at any point you realize you don’t know what you are doing, don’t probe further. Take it to a professional instead.