Author: adminfix

Battery life is the number one complaint about smartphones. These tips help in two ways: they make each charge last longer, and they slow down long-term battery wear.

Get more from each charge

1. Lower screen brightness or use auto-brightness. The screen uses more power than anything else.
2. Use dark mode on phones with OLED screens.
3. Check which apps use the most battery in Settings and limit background activity for the worst.
4. Turn off location access for apps that do not need it.
5. Use Low Power Mode or Battery Saver when you need to stretch the day.

Keep your battery healthy for longer

1. Avoid heat. Do not leave your phone in the sun, on a car dashboard or under your pillow while charging.
2. Turn on optimised or adaptive charging, which limits time spent at 100%.
3. Avoid regularly running to 0%. Topping up during the day is fine.
4. Use good-quality chargers and cables.
5. Keep your software updated, as updates often improve battery management.

Apple explains how heat and charging habits affect batteries on its batteries page. Pixel owners can find battery tips in Pixel Phone Help.

When tips are not enough

No setting can fix a worn-out battery. If your phone still struggles after these changes, check its battery health. iPhone owners can follow our iPhone battery health guide. We replace batteries for iPhone, Samsung and Google Pixel, most on the same day.

Apple Watches take knocks every day, from door frames to gym equipment. A cracked screen is one of the most common Apple Watch problems, and acting quickly can stop the damage getting worse.

What to do straight away

• Stop wearing it if glass is loose or sharp.
• Keep it away from water: a cracked screen means it is no longer water-resistant.
• Do not press on the damaged area.
• Make sure your health and activity data is synced to your iPhone.

Is it the glass or the display?

• Cracked glass, display still clear and touch works: get it repaired before it spreads.
• Lines, dark patches or no image: the display underneath is damaged.
• Touch not responding: the touch layer is affected.
• Screen lifting away from the case: this can be a swollen battery. Stop charging it. See our swollen battery guide.

Your repair options

Apple offers service through its Apple Watch support pages. Independent repairers like MrFix can also repair many Apple Watch models, often more quickly. We check your watch first and tell you the price before we repair.

Find your model, from Series 1 to Ultra, on our Apple Watch repair page.

Protecting your Apple Watch

• A slim bumper case protects the edges, where most cracks start
• A screen protector can take the impact instead of the glass
• Take it off for heavy gym work or DIY

Most of us have an old phone sitting in a drawer. Whether it works or not, it is worth more out of the drawer than in it. Here is how to deal with it safely.

Step 1: Back up your data

Move your photos, contacts and messages to your new phone or to the cloud first. Our phone backup guide shows how.

Step 2: Sign out and wipe it

iPhone

Turn off Find My, sign out of your Apple Account, then erase all content and settings. Apple lists every step in what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone.

Android

Remove your Google account (and Samsung account on Galaxy phones), then do a factory reset from Settings. Removing accounts first stops the next owner being locked out.

The National Cyber Security Centre also has simple advice on keeping your accounts secure.

Step 3: Choose sell, trade in or recycle

• Sell it: working and even broken phones often have value for parts or repair.
• Trade it in: against a new phone or a repair.
• Pass it on: to family, after wiping it.
• Recycle it: if it really has no value left.

Selling a phone to MrFix

We buy used and broken phones, tablets and laptops. Visit our phone buy and sell page or use our sell your device form for a quote, or bring it into one of our Edinburgh stores.

Recycling in Edinburgh

Never put phones or batteries in your household bin. Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires in bin lorries and recycling centres. Check the City of Edinburgh Council’s bins and recycling pages for where to recycle small electricals.

Could it be repaired instead?

A cracked screen or tired battery does not mean the end of a phone. Read repair or buy a new phone? before you decide.

An iPad that will not charge, charges very slowly or shows “Not Charging” in the status bar usually has a simple cause. Work through these checks in order.

1. Use the right charger

iPads need more power than phones. A small phone charger or a computer USB port may not be enough, especially while you are using the iPad. Use the charger that came with it, or one with a similar power rating.

2. Try another cable and socket

Damaged cables are the most common cause. Try a different cable and wall socket before anything else.

3. Check the port

Shine a torch into the Lightning or USB-C port. If you see lint, power the iPad off and remove it very gently with a wooden toothpick. Never use metal.

4. Restart and update

Force restart the iPad and make sure iPadOS is up to date. Apple’s iPad support pages have model-specific steps.

5. Let it charge for an hour

If the battery is completely flat, the iPad may show nothing for a while. Leave it on a known-good charger for at least an hour.

Battery or charging port?

• Charges but drains fast or dies suddenly: likely the battery. See signs your iPad battery needs replacing.
• Cable is loose or only works at an angle: likely the charging port.
• Nothing at all with several chargers: needs a diagnosis.

Getting it repaired

We repair iPad charging ports, batteries and screens. Find your model on our iPad repair page.

Lithium-ion batteries can swell as they age or if they are damaged. A swollen battery is not something to ignore. It can crack your screen or back glass, and in rare cases it can become a safety risk.

Warning signs of a swollen battery

• The screen is lifting away from the frame on one side
• The back glass or cover is bulging or cracked without a drop
• The phone rocks when placed flat on a table
• The phone gets unusually hot
• Battery life has suddenly become very poor

What to do straight away

1. Stop charging the phone.
2. Power it off if you can do so safely.
3. Do not press on the bulge or try to push the screen back into place.
4. Do not puncture or remove the battery yourself.
5. Keep the phone somewhere cool and away from anything flammable.
6. Book a check as soon as possible.

Why do batteries swell?

As batteries age, chemical changes inside can produce gas, which makes the cell expand. Heat, physical damage and low-quality chargers can speed this up. Apple’s batteries guide explains why heat is one of the biggest causes of battery wear.

Can it be fixed?

Yes. In most cases, replacing the battery solves the problem. If the swelling has cracked the screen or back glass, those parts may need replacing too. We check the whole phone and tell you before doing any extra work.

We replace batteries in iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel and MacBook devices. Laptops can swell too, which often shows as a trackpad that will not click. See our laptop overheating guide.

Samsung Galaxy phones use bright, sharp AMOLED displays. When they are damaged, the symptoms look different from a simple cracked screen. Here is what the most common faults mean.

Common Samsung screen faults

Green, pink or white lines

A single vertical line, or several, usually means the display panel or its connection has been damaged, often after a drop or pressure in a pocket. These lines rarely go away on their own.

Black spots or ink-like patches

Black areas that spread over time are a sign of a damaged OLED panel. Even if the glass looks fine, the display underneath can be broken.

Flickering or a green tint

Flicker can sometimes come from software or brightness settings, but if it continues after a restart and update, the display is the likely cause.

Touch not working in places

Areas of the screen that do not respond, or “ghost touches”, usually mean the touch layer is damaged.

Things to try first

1. Restart the phone.
2. Install the latest software update.
3. Turn off adaptive brightness and test the screen at different brightness levels.
4. Start the phone in Safe Mode to rule out an app causing problems.

Samsung has more troubleshooting help on its UK mobile support pages.

When to get a repair

If lines, spots or touch problems remain after these checks, the display needs replacing. Back up your phone first if you can, using our backup guide. On many Galaxy models the screen comes as one assembly with the frame, so the repair varies by model. We confirm the fault and price first.

See prices for your model on our Samsung screen repair page, or browse all Samsung Galaxy repairs.

Most repairs do not touch your data, but backing up first is always a good idea. If anything unexpected happens, such as a phone that was already failing, your photos, messages and contacts are safe. Here is how to do it.

How to back up an iPhone

Back up with iCloud

1. Connect to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup.
3. Turn on iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.
4. Wait for the backup to finish before disconnecting.

Back up to a computer

You can also back up to a Mac using Finder, or to a Windows PC using the Apple Devices app or iTunes. Apple’s full instructions are in its guide on how to back up your iPhone or iPad.

How to back up an Android phone

1. Open Settings and search for Backup.
2. Make sure Google backup is turned on.
3. Tap Back up now.
4. Check Google Photos is backing up your photos and videos.

Samsung phones can also use Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch. Google explains the steps in Back up or restore data on your Android device.

What if my screen is broken?

• If touch still works in part of the screen, try starting a cloud backup.
• On an iPhone, you may be able to back up to a computer you have used before and trusted.
• If the screen is black, a screen repair first may be the only way to reach your data. Tell us that your data matters before we start.

Before you hand over your phone

• Back up and check the backup has finished
• Make a note of your passcode or be ready to share it if the repair needs testing
• Remove any case and screen protector you want to keep
• Bring your charger if you are not sure the phone will power on

We never access your personal data during a repair. If you are selling or recycling instead, read our guide to selling or recycling an old phone safely.

A cracked screen often feels like the end of a phone, but in many cases a screen repair is the smarter choice. Here is how to decide whether to repair or replace.

Questions to ask yourself

1. How old is the phone?

If your phone is only a year or two old and still receives software updates, a screen repair usually makes good sense. Older phones that no longer get updates may be worth replacing, especially if other parts are wearing out.

2. Is anything else wrong?

Check the battery health, charging port and cameras. If the battery is also worn, doing both repairs at once can still cost far less than a new phone. Read when to replace an iPhone battery.

3. How bad is the damage?

• Cracked glass, display still works: repair soon, before the cracks spread or let in moisture.
• Lines, black spots or no picture: the display panel is damaged and needs replacing.
• Touch not responding: the digitiser or display needs repair.
• Phone bent or water damaged too: get it assessed before deciding.

4. What about your data?

Repairing keeps your phone, your apps and your settings exactly as they are. If you upgrade instead, a working screen makes transferring data far easier, so a repair can be useful even before you sell or trade in.

Why repairing is often better

• It usually costs much less than a comparable new phone
• Most screen repairs are done the same day
• You keep a phone you already know
• It keeps a working device out of landfill

When a new phone may make more sense

• The phone no longer gets security updates
• Several major parts are failing at once
• The repair cost is close to the phone’s value

If you do upgrade, you can sell your old or broken phone to us rather than leaving it in a drawer.

Get a clear price first

We check your phone and show you the price before any work begins, so you can make the decision with the facts. See our iPhone screen repairs, Samsung screen repairs and Google Pixel screen repairs.