What to do With Your Broken iPhone

The Web Scribbler
Aug 8, 2017 · 2 min read

Apple can fix your hardware, restore a faulty OS, or even replace your broken iPhone altogether, but they cannot replace those precious memories — you can’t put a price on photos and videos. If your iPhone breaks and you want to ensure all your sentimental data is safe, follow these steps.

Back Up Your Data

Back up all of your content to iTunes or iCloud before you take your device in to a store for repair. If you’re unable to access your data and want to retain it, make sure you inform the engineer at the repair shop.

To back up your device plug it into a PC or MAC with iTunes installed and simply press the “Backup” button inside the device’s summary screen.

To use iCloud navigate to “Settings > iCloud > Storage and Backup or Backup (depending on your OS), and then press Backup Now” If you don’t have enough storage, pay for more. While this may seem like an unnecessary expense, it’s better than risking your content.

Don’t Fix it Yourself

There are countless Youtube videos and instruction manuals on the Internet explaining how to fix a broken iPhone. But the reality is, unless you have the exact tools required, as well as an understanding of electronics, it’s not worth the hassle. Chances are, you’ll only make it worse. What’s more, it could be dangerous.

We’ve all seen the horror stories of smartphones spontaneously combusting when tampered with. Apple created the battery without a protective shell in order to save space. If you puncture it your device could burst into flames as lithium-lon batteries can be extremely volatile. And this might not even occur until long after the fix, when everything seems to be working fine.

Don’t Use Apple’s Repair Services

Apple’s repair costs are extortionate. Even for minor issues, such as cracks and scratches, they can charge hundreds of pounds. Sometimes it’s better to accept that your phone is broken (if it still works) than to shell out on a repair, especially if your contract is nearing the end.

You will be told time and time again not to use external services. You will be told that it will void the warranty. However, a third party repair shop does exactly the same job as an Apple engineer, but at a mere fraction of the price.

Consider Selling Your Phone

Sometimes selling is the most cost effective option, especially if you have a device that’s broken with an expired warranty. If taking this route, use a reputable service such as Rapid Phone Buyer. According to their website they offer instant payment on broken mobile phones. They also deal with Blackberry, Nokia, HTC, Samsung and Sony devices, and offer free delivery.

Additionally, if you have any old broken iPhones that are simply gathering dust in a drawer, or would like to get rid of your current phone and buy a new one, this option is one of the fastest and most cost effective as payments will be made within 24 hours.

The Web Scribbler

Written by

Freelance writer

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade