We are heavily dependent on our smartphones. Whether it’s to watch the news, check the weather or just mindlessly scroll our social feed, we rely on them for just about everything. So, when something goes wrong and you face phone problems, it can feel like the end of the world… No jokes!
Before you start panicking and eating your phone, or even think about taking your wonky mobile phone to the repair shop, take a deep breath. Check out this list of the 11 most common mobile phone problems and their quick fixes you can use to help yourself, right on the spot.
Also read: What is the Difference Between A Smartphone and Android Phone
11 Most Common Phone Problems And Their Quick Solutions
1 – Phone Is Running Mad Slow
This is one of the most common problems people have with smartphones, especially as their phone gets older. Now there can be multiple reasons why your phone is running slow. Still, the most common is the installation of unnecessary apps. These apps consume your phone’s RAM in the background even when you’re not using them.
Quick Fix – Clean Up Your Phone
To fix this problem, you need to perform a full clean-up. Remove any unnecessary apps you no longer use and remove any large files such as videos etc. You can shift all the important large files to a fast external SSD to keep them safe and clear up your phone’s memory. You can also use junk clean-up software like CCleaner or Cleaner Pro to remove cache, unused files, and other junk.
2 – The phone’s Battery life Has Taken A Hit
Another common problem is that your phone’s battery life has been severely hit. You are not doing anything extra on the phone. Yet, the battery keeps on draining faster than a normal battery. Usually, this starts happening as your phone gets older. Still, it can also be due to bad apps, hardware malfunction, or a virus.
Quick Fix – Check For The Problematic Apps
The first thing you need to do is to check for any problematic apps. Go to your phone’s settings and then click on battery. There you will be able to see a list of all the apps consuming more battery than usual. If you see any such app, then delete it immediately. Also, dim your brightness, remove any location permissions to less-frequently used apps and enable the battery-saving mode.
If all of the above solutions fail, there might be a hardware or software problem. In that case, you will have to take your phone to the service center.
3 – The Storage Space On Your Phone Is Full
This is another very common phone problem that people face with their smartphones. As you keep on using your phone, the storage space starts getting full. Now, this can be because of large files such as videos and photos or due to a lot of apps being installed on the phone.
Quick Fix – Clean Up Your Phone To Free Up Some Space
To fix this phone problem, you need to free up some space on your phone. Go to your phone’s settings and then click on storage. There you will be able to see how much space is being used by different types of files. Delete any large files or any unnecessary apps that you no longer use. I also suggest transferring all your images to the Cloud and videos to an external SSD.
4 – An App Keeps Crashing, OR Your Phone Keeps Restarting
This is one of the most frustrating phone problems, as it can happen anytime and without warning. Usually, an app crashes for two main reasons. First, it occurs when there is some sort of conflict between the app and the phone’s software. Second, it happens because your phone is running out of space. It can also be caused by a virus, software bug, or hardware problem. Particularly, when your phone keeps restarting without any apparent reason, it is a sign of a hardware problem.
Quick Fix – Clear App Data From App Manager
If an app keeps crashing, the first thing you need to do is to clear its data from the App Manager. To do this, go to your phone’s settings and click App Manager. You will see a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Click on the crashing app and then click on the Clear Data button. If this doesn’t solve the problem, close all the other apps that might be running concurrently. Similar apps can also give rise to conflict. If you’re still unable to solve this problem, you need to delete and reinstall the app.
5 – The phone Keeps Overheating No Matter What You Do
This is a very common phone problem and usually happens during the summer months. Excessive smartphone usage leads to overheating even when there’s no problem with the software or hardware. Gaming apps can also lead to this problem as they utilize more phone resources, leading to quick battery discharge and overheating. However, if your phone keeps overheating even when you’re not using it, it’s a sign of some underlying problem.
Quick Fix – Restart Your Phone And Put It Down For A While
When you notice a higher-than-normal phone temperature, the first thing to do is put it down. Let it cool for some time, preferably for half an hour. You can also restart it to flush any cache files that might be consuming resources in the background and causing this problem. Moreover, try not to use your phone when it’s charging. It can also lead to overheating of the circuits.
Related: Everything You Need To Know About CPU Overheating Error
6 – The phone Is Unable To Connect With Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Cellular Network
This is one of the temporary phone problems that people face once in a while. You try to connect your smartphone to a Bluetooth device or a new Wi-Fi connection, and it doesn’t work. Sometimes, the Cellular Network gets disconnected, and you have no idea why. It can be due to many reasons, such as hardware damage, outdated software, or some sort of conflict between the phone and the network.
Quick Fix – Restart Your Phone And Check The Settings
To solve this phone problem, the first thing you need to do is restart your phone. Sometimes, a glitch in the software leads to this problem, and a restart can fix it. If this doesn’t work, then you need to check the settings. For example, if you’re trying to connect to a Wi-Fi network, go to your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and check if the network is visible. If it is, then try connecting to it again. If you’re trying to connect to a Bluetooth device, go to your phone’s Bluetooth settings and check if the device is visible. If it is, then try connecting to it again.
If you are having trouble with the cellular network, turning on airplane mode is a reliable solution. Follow the instructions below to do just that:
- Find the Airplane toggle in your Phone’s Quick Settings pan.
- Switch it ON for at least one minute
- Turn it off again, and then try to reconnect to the network.
7 – The phone Won’t Charge or Turn On
Now, this is another worst-case scenario. Sometimes the phone won’t turn on or charge. No matter how many times you plug in the charger or press the ON button, your phone remains idle, feeling like a useless piece of brick. These phone problems can arise for many reasons, such as a faulty battery, a damaged charging port, or a software glitch.
Quick Fix – Clean Your Phone’s Charging Port
Get a toothpick and gently remove dust or debris inside the charging port. Sometimes the dust hinders a stable connection between the charger and the charging port. Once you’re done, try charging your phone again. If your phone’s battery ran to zero earlier, it would take a while for your phone to begin charging again. If this doesn’t work, try another charger and cable to ensure there’s no issue with these accessories. Finally, if the problem persists, there might be a hardware issue, and you should take it to the nearest service center.
8 – Apps Are Not Downloading On Your Phone
Sometimes you want to download a new app on your phone, but it just doesn’t work. The app gets stuck in the ‘Downloading’ or ‘Waiting’ state and never seems to move forward. Many people face this problem, and there can be many reasons for it, such as poor internet connection, insufficient storage space, or some sort of conflict with the Google Play Store.
Quick Fix – Check Your Internet Connection & Clear AppStore Cache
To fix these phone problems, the first thing you need to do is check your internet connection. If you’re trying to download an app over a cellular network, ensure you have a good signal. If you’re trying to download an app over Wi-Fi, ensure the network is working properly. Once you’re done, try downloading the app again.
If it still doesn’t work, go to your phone’s Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store, clear the cache, and delete any previous history. Make sure you’re using the latest version of the AppStore to avoid any bugs or software conflicts. Oh, and don’t forget to check your storage space. You cannot fill a cup twice!
9 – The microSD Card Is Not Working Anymore
If you have a phone with expandable storage, you’ve probably faced this problem at some point. You insert the microSD card into your phone, and suddenly it doesn’t work anymore. In some cases, working microSD Cards suddenly become unresponsive, and you don’t know what to do. All your files stored on the card are now inaccessible. This problem can be caused by many reasons, such as faulty cards, corrupted files, or an incompatible phone.
Quick Fix – Inspect The Card for Physical Damage & Insert It Again
The first thing you need to do is check the card for any physical damage. If it looks damaged, chances are it is, and you need to get a new one. However, if the card looks fine, try inserting it into your phone again. You can also try connecting it to a PC with the help of an SD Card reader to make sure there’s no issue with your phone’s SD Card slot. If it still doesn’t work, format the card to your phone’s settings.
This will delete all the stored data, so make sure you’ve copied everything on your computer beforehand. Also, make sure that you format the SD card to FAT32, as it’s most suitable for storing data on the phone.
10 – Blurry Camera When You Need Perfect Pictures
The Camera Blur issue is also a pretty common phone problem. You open the camera app to take a picture, and everything seems perfect through the lens, but it comes out blurry when you click the shot. In some cases, when you open the camera app, you notice the lens is showing blurring pictures even before clicking the shot. So, there are some simple solutions, whether it’s happening to your front camera or the rear one.
Quick Fix for these Phone Problems – Check for Any Damage & Clean The Lens
You first have to check the camera lens for any dirt, smudge, or fingerprints. A lot of times, these things can cause the pictures to come out blurry. So, clean the lens with a soft cloth, tissue, or cotton and try taking a shot again. If it still doesn’t work, there might be some dirt or dust particles inside the camera lens that you cannot see with the naked eye. In that case, you will have to open up the phone and clean it from the inside. But we advise you to take it to the nearest service center as opening up the phone can void your warranty.
Other solutions that have fixed the camera blur issue for people are:
- Turning off the default auto-focus feature
- Shuffling the in-camera settings to ensure no setting is messing with the focus
- Installing a third-party camera app to make sure there’s no problem with your phone’s camera app
- Removing the phone case
11 – Cracked Screen or Dropping your phone in the Water
This is probably the most common phone issue that people face. No matter how careful you are with your phone, there’s always a chance of it slipping from your hand and hitting the ground or falling into Water. After all, accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. And once that happens, all you can do is hope for the best.
Quick Fix – Take it to the Nearest Service Center
There’s not much you can do on your own when fixing a cracked screen or Water. In most cases, a cracked screen or water damage can ruin your phone completely, and there’s no coming back from that. But sometimes, you’re lucky, and your phone survives with just a few scratches or a minor crack. In that case, you can try to fix it yourself or take it to the nearest service center.
Final Thoughts
Mobile Phones can be a source of great joy, and they can also be a pain in the neck. If you’re experiencing any of the above 11 most common phone problems, try out the quick fixes mentioned in this article. If these solutions don’t work, you should consider taking your phone to the nearest service center.
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any other suggestions or questions, then please leave a comment below, and we’ll get back to you as soon.
