These days, it seems like more and more of our lives are contained in our smartphones. These devices are incredibly versatile tools that we use for everything from social media and work emails to GPS and fitness tracking.

The more we use our phones for, the more important it becomes to ensure the security of the information they contain. To that end, manufacturers have come up with various and ever-evolving ways of checking users’ identity and locking out intruders.

Unfortunately, these vital safety measures can become a hassle if we forget our password, PIN or the pattern we use to unlock our phones. In such situations, there are a few things you can try before resorting to a full-scale factory reset.

The Android Smart Lock feature

Android phones have a Smart Lock feature that gives you the ability to set certain conditions that will cause your device to unlock automatically. Possible conditions include:

• On-body detection: Once you’ve entered your PIN or password once, your phone will stay unlocked while you’re carrying it around.
• Trusted devices: Select devices you trust that have Bluetooth connectivity (e.g. your car, laptop, fitness tracker, etc.). Your phone will remain unlocked while connected to these devices.
• Trusted places: Select locations you trust (e.g. your home or office) and your phone will remain unlocked while there.
• Voice match and trusted face: Voice and facial recognition used to be Smart Lock options, but they were discontinued with Android 8. Facial recognition is still available as a separate option.

Of course, there are drawbacks to the Smart Lock feature. First of all, it needs to be set up in advance, so if you forget your password before you get the chance to activate it, you’re out of luck. Furthermore, you need to enter your current password in order to change the Smart Lock and password settings, so if you’ve forgotten it, there’s a limit to what you can do.

How to unlock a Samsung phone 

People who own a Samsung phone will be glad to know that the manufacturer provides an easy, effective way for you to change your password. As long as you’re signed into your Samsung account on your device, you can use the Samsung Find My Mobile website to sign in and unlock your phone, which will delete all previous unlocking methods (password, PIN, pattern, biometrics) and allow you to create new ones.

Solutions for older versions of Android

There are a few ways to unlock your device that have been discontinued but will still work for older versions of Android.

Google’s ‘Find My Device’ service

Like the Samsung-specific method explained above, there are services meant for lost or stolen phones that you can use to unlock your device in some cases. If your phone is running Android 7.1.1 or lower, you can use Google’s ‘Find My Device’ service to unlock it, as long as it’s logged into a Google account.

Simply go to the website, sign into your Google account and select your device. You’ll see ‘Ring’, ‘Lock’ and ‘Erase’ options. Select ‘Lock’, and you will be prompted to enter a temporary password that you can then use to unlock your phone.

The ‘Forgot Password’ option

Phones running Android 4.4 and older come equipped with an easy way to bypass your password, PIN or pattern. Once you’ve entered an incorrect passcode 5 times on the lock screen, a ‘forgot password’ prompt will appear. If you tap it, you will be able to get in by entering the username and password of the Google account associated with your device.

How to avoid getting locked out of your phone

When it comes to forgetting your phone password, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It’s best to take preventive measures to ensure that you never find yourself completely locked out of your phone. Here are some strategies you can implement to avoid the situation:

• Set up biometric identification on your device for a reliable, forgetfulness-proof way of getting in.
• Have multiple ways of logging into your device.
• Enable at least one Smart Lock option.
• Keep a physical copy of your passcode in a secure place.
• Make sure you’re signed into your Google account (and Samsung account if applicable).
• Always back up your device so that you can recover your data if a factory reset ends up being your only option.

Great tips and even better phones from Recycell!

Recycell specializes in recycling, refurbishing and reselling used phones. Our experts know every trick in the book to get devices back in working order! Check out the blog section of our website for more helpful phone tips, and if you find yourself in need of a replacement, look no further than our used phone store!

With the astonishing pace at which technology is advancing, we have all lived through generations of models and entire categories of devices becoming obsolete. Technology that was considered cutting edge just a few years ago can’t keep pace with modern updates.

What happens to these devices when they have outlived their usefulness? Many sit in houses for years collecting dust, their owners unsure what to do with them. Eventually, most end up in the trash, which can have serious and unintended consequences.

In this article, the experts at Recycell present an overview of e-waste, its dangers, and how it can be mitigated.

What is e-waste?

E-waste, also known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), refers to electronics that are discarded because they are unwanted, not working, or no longer considered useful. The term includes almost any item that contains circuitry or electrical components powered by electricity or a battery. Examples include microwaves, fans, smartphones, computers, DVD and Blu-Ray players, video game consoles, TVs, fax machines and printers.

E-waste is increasing exponentially, with a record 53.6 million metric tonnes generated globally in 2019, according to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020. This presents a major problem, as e-waste leaches toxic materials when disposed of in landfills. Electronics contain valuable raw materials that could be reused, but only 17.4% of the e-waste generated in 2019 was recycled, leaving the grand majority of the US$57 billion worth of raw materials in landfills.

Planned obsolescence

The truth is that many of the electronics being sent to landfills don’t even need to be discarded—a lot of them still work! Technology is just evolving so fast that devices become outdated before they even have a chance to wear out. How many of us have anxiously awaited the end of our two-year plan before rushing out to buy the latest flagship phone from Samsung or Apple?

The issue of technological advances fuelling e-waste is further exacerbated by manufacturers using strategies such as software updates and ending support for older models to push consumers to buy new devices. Repair is portrayed as expensive, inconvenient, and less advantageous than buying a replacement with updated features.

Consequences of e-waste disposal

Health and the environment

While electronics are safe to use and be around, most contain toxic materials such as beryllium, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and lead. When the electronics are buried in a landfill, the toxins leach into the soil and can contaminate the groundwater. While each device only releases trace amounts of toxins, the amount of e-waste now being discarded results in significant accumulation.

In Canada, it’s illegal to export e-waste to developing countries. However, other nations are in the habit of shipping their e-waste to developing countries that lack the capacity to handle it appropriately, endangering the local environment and public health. Exposure to such toxic contaminants can have irreversible health consequences such as cancer, miscarriage and neurological damage.

Furthermore, mining for the raw materials to manufacture new electronics also releases contaminants into the environment.

Cybersecurity

The consequences of e-waste disposal on the environment are evident, but fewer people are aware that throwing electronics away can also pose dangers to data security and privacy. It might seem improbable, but hackers and identity thieves are perfectly willing to dumpster dive to acquire the treasure troves of data stored on old, discarded devices.

Even if you erase all of your sensitive personal information before throwing your old phone or laptop in the trash, the data is not completely eliminated from the hard drive and can be retrieved by skilled hackers. The resulting leaks can be financially and legally catastrophic for businesses and individuals alike.

Professional e-waste recycling companies have the expertise necessary to ensure that none of your sensitive data remains in the components of your device. In the end, recycling your old devices may prove just as important as securing your phone while it’s still in use!

How to reduce e-waste

Materials such as steel, glass, copper, aluminum, iron, plastic and precious metals can be recovered from obsolete electronics and reused to manufacture new ones. Companies like Samsung are starting to make environmentally-friendly phones out of recycled materials. Recycling has the double benefit of keeping e-waste out of landfills and reducing the need to mine new materials.

Recycling your old electronics may seem more complicated than simply throwing them in the trash, but there are many resources available to help you recycle your phone and other devices. Most phone vendors can take care of recycling your old phone when you purchase a new one. Canada has a free program called Recycle My Cell for recycling mobile devices and accessories. They can even provide you with a pre-paid shipping label to mail your device in for recycling! The Recycle My Electronics program provides drop off points for e-waste in nine provinces across the country.

Governments also have a role to play in creating incentives to reduce e-waste. They can push companies to offer buy-back systems for old devices and encourage repair as a viable option.

Help reduce e-waste by buying a used phone!

Another way for consumers to help reduce e-waste and minimize their ecological footprint is to buy a used phone. Buying a used phone reduces the demand for mining new raw materials and gives a second life to a device that might otherwise become e-waste.

Businesses that are looking to upgrade their cell phone fleets can also sell their old devices to a used phone retailer to prevent them from ending up in a landfill or in the hands of a cybercriminal.

If you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly way to upgrade your device, Recycell can help! We purchase phones from companies, refurbish them if necessary and sell them at unbeatable prices. Save money AND the environment—shop at Recycell today!

Most people are aware of burner phones because they are often used by spies and criminals in movies and TV shows. You’ll often see someone on screen concluding a dark deal on a burner, and then promptly smashing it to pieces or throwing it away. While it’s true that these types of phones are prized for their heightened security and anonymity, in the real world, regular law-abiding citizens can make use of them in a variety of ways. If you have concerns about smartphone security, want to protect yourself online or need a second phone for business use, a burner phone might exactly what you’re looking for!

Wondering whether a burner phone is right for you? The phone experts at Recycell have put together this article to answer all of your questions and explain everything you need to know about burner phones.

What is a burner phone?

A burner phone is a cheap, disposable cell phone that provides you with a temporary, unidentifiable phone number that can’t easily be traced back to you. Burner phones are usually feature phones, which means that they bear more resemblance to the cell phones that were popular in the early 2000s. They are generally limited to calls and text messaging and won’t have smartphone features like cameras and internet browsing. This makes them cheaper and harder to trace.

Burner SIM cards and apps

There are a few other options that can provide you with a temporary phone number for security and anonymity without the need for a completely separate phone. There are cheap, prepaid SIM cards available that you can insert into your smartphone to give yourself a temporary, untraceable phone number. There are also apps you can download that offer one or more additional phone numbers for a small monthly fee.

How does a burner phone work?

Most burner phones are prepaid. That means that you can walk into a store that sells them, pay with cash and leave with a phone that has a certain number of minutes loaded onto it. When you use them up, you can load more minutes onto the phone or simply stop using it.

It also means that you aren’t tied to a contract the way you are with a regular phone. You don’t need to provide your name or credit card information or submit to a credit check to get the phone, and you can stop using it at any time.

What is a burner phone used for?

In addition to the illegal activities depicted in movies and TV shows (which we in no way recommend), there are plenty of perfectly legal uses for burner phones.

To protect yourself online

It can be tough to judge when it’s safe to give out your personal information to people you encounter online. The last thing you want to do is give your main phone number to someone who turns out to be a creep. With that number in hand, they can harass you or look up information about you online that you may not want them to have.

Whether you’re online dating or trying to buy or sell something on a virtual marketplace, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to communicate with a stranger but don’t feel comfortable giving them your main number. A burner phone provides anonymity while still allowing you to communicate.

To prevent spam

Many of the forms we are asked to fill out online require a phone number, which in some cases ends up getting used for spam calls and texts. A burner phone gives you a temporary phone number that you can use in these situations and then discard if need be.

For business

Burner phones can be used to separate your business from your personal life. If you need an additional phone number, particularly for contract work or a temporary job, a burner phone can be a useful tool to have.

Burner phones can also be used in business settings to protect against sensitive data breaches and corporate espionage. Employees with access to confidential information might swap their usual phone out for a burner phone when going on a business trip to a high-risk destination, for example.

For emergencies

Burner phones are great for use in emergencies. They are usually small and lightweight and have a very long battery life. They can be charged up, turned off and left in an emergency survival kit until they are needed.

Furthermore, the law requires all mobile phones to be able to call 911, even if they are deactivated. That means that even if your burner doesn’t have any paid minutes left, you can still call for help in an emergency.

What are the pros and cons of burner phones?

Burner phone benefits

Since burner phones don’t come with a contract, you can use the phone for as long as you need to and stop at any time, only paying for exactly what you need to use. With normal contracts, cell phone carriers are allowed to collect your data and use it, usually to analyze your habits and interests for the purpose of targeted advertising. With burner phones, your data is not collected. The phone number you use is disposable, so no one will be able to trace it back to you and it will disappear after you’re finished using it.

Burner phone drawbacks

Of course, the fact that the number is temporary and disposable means that it cannot be transferred to a new device. If you’re going for anonymity, this works to your advantage, but it can prove problematic if you use the number for business purposes.

It’s also important to note that prepaid minutes expire after a certain period of time—if you don’t use them, you lose them. Fortunately, minutes aren’t very expensive, but it can still be frustrating to pay money for no reason.

How much are burner phones, and where can I buy one?

In the U.S., burner phones are available for as little as US$10. Unfortunately, in Canada, prices tend to start quite a bit higher, around CA$45. Remember that you’ll also need to pay for the minutes you load onto the phone.

You can find prepaid SIM cards and burner phones at most convenience stores and electronics stores. Cheap phones are also available at big-box stores such as Walmart, although they may not be as inexpensive as you would hope. If anonymity is not your main concern, your best bet might be to shop for a phone online.

Recycell: your online destination for reasonably-priced phones

If you are looking for something that’s truly temporary and untraceable, there’s no doubt that a burner phone is your best bet. But if your goal is to have a second number for work or online use, you may want to consider buying a used or refurbished phone that has more features and will last longer while still being very reasonably priced.

Recycell is an online store that sells used and refurbished phones at unbeatable prices. Our phones are purchased from major companies, carefully inspected and refurbished by experts, and assigned a rating for transparency. Our wide selection includes phones associated with every major carrier as well as unlocked devices. Come pick out your phone today!

Every year brings a new cohort of smartphone models equipped with an array of performance-enhancing updates. Despite these updates, accessories are sometimes needed to take full advantage of your phone’s features. There are inexpensive accessories that can augment your phone’s photographic capabilities, make it more durable and increase its portability.

In this article, Recycell presents a handy guide to the 8 best phone accessories for 2022 to help you assess the options.

1. A protective case

When buying a new phone, the first accessory you should always invest in is a protective case. There are a variety of models available, from rubber shells to leather cases. The main thing is to choose one that hugs the edges of your phone to absorb any shocks or physical damage it might sustain.

Despite their high price tag, smartphones are fragile and in danger of breaking every time they are dropped. Buying a waterproof, shock-absorbing case will protect your investment and prolong the lifespan of your device.

2. A tempered glass screen protector

Is there anything more annoying than a scratch or crack right in the middle of your screen? Buying a tempered glass screen protector for your phone is a great way to prevent this type of problem.

Your phone screen may be made of sturdy material, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely immune to scratches, cracks and other damage. Investing in a screen protector seems like a small price to pay to avoid spending hundreds of dollars to repair your broken phone screen.

3. A phone mount for the car

To promote road safety, Quebec has implemented strict laws governing cell phone use while driving. Did you know that just touching your phone while driving can result in a steep fine?

However, you are still allowed to use certain phone functions in the car as long as the device is mounted on a holder rather than being handled directly. Investing in a simple, inexpensive car mount can save you from demerit points and hundreds of dollars worth of tickets, so respect the law and get yours today!

4. Additional lenses for your camera

In addition to accessories that protect your phone and save you money, there are those that boost performance, such as camera lenses. Smartphone cameras are becoming more and more sophisticated. Today, the quality of smartphone pictures is almost comparable to those taken with professional cameras.

For several years now, additional lenses that attach to a smartphone camera have been available for purchase. These lenses give you the ability to experiment with different camera angles, adjusting the focal length, aperture and zoom. These accessories are a great choice for photography enthusiasts!

5. Good quality wireless earphones

If you’re looking for decent audio, the earphones that come with your phone may leave you disappointed. Instead, you might want to invest in good quality wireless earphones that will completely change the way you listen to music and communicate with friends and family.

The wireless earphones currently available on the market come in all kinds of styles and have all sorts of useful features. Some are designed for athletic use, some have excellent noise-cancelling capabilities, etc. Regardless of which kind you choose, these discreet accessories will quickly become an essential part of your everyday life!

6. A stand for virtual meetings

With the surge in remote work caused by COVID-19, having the tools to stay in contact with your colleagues virtually has never been more important. Phone stands have become essential accessories for virtual meetings.

Rather than holding your phone up throughout your meetings, prioritize your comfort and free up your hands for note-taking by investing in a phone stand. Opt for an adjustable model that can hold your phone vertically or horizontally to keep your phone centered on your face. Whether it attaches to your desk or has a flexible arm, a phone stand is the perfect companion for remote work.

7. A wireless charger to avoid extraneous cables

Tired of seeing wires all over your house and your desk? Many of the phones on the market today have wireless charging capabilities, so why not treat yourself to a wireless charger?  Once the charger is plugged into a power outlet, you can simply place your phone on it to charge.

Wireless chargers are also compatible with smart watches and wireless earphones. You can even kill two birds with one stone by purchasing a phone stand for your virtual meetings that also has wireless charging capabilities!

8. A portable power bank for charging on the go

Due to their many built-in features, newer cell phone models tend to run out of power quite quickly. There’s nothing more stressful than finding your battery at 5% when you still have calls to make or need your GPS to get to an appointment.

Even though smartphones are coming out with more and more powerful batteries, user habits often push them to the limit. Having a portable power bank means you can keep using your phone even if it runs out of battery. Remember to bring it with you when you’re out and about so that you can keep making phone calls or watching movies with peace of mind.

Recycell: used phones and accessories at great prices!

That concludes our list of the top 8 essential phone accessories for 2022. With these accessories, you can protect your phone and perfect some of its features without needing to purchase a new device.

However, if upgrading your phone becomes imperative, don’t hesitate to check out our online store. At Recycell, we restore and refurbish used smartphones of all brands in order to offer high-quality devices at low prices! Buying a used device also helps protect the environment by limiting your carbon footprint. It’s a great way to fight digital pollution AND save money!

Today’s cell phones are filled with photos, videos, contact information, personal information and a host of other data. We often mistakenly assume that this data is completely safe, until one day our phone becomes unusable and it appears to be lost forever.

If you have broken your phone or one of its critical components and are worried that you have lost all the content stored on your device, don’t panic too quickly.

There are actually different ways to recover data from a broken cell phone, whether it is an iPhone or an Android device. Check out the most popular ones in this article.

Useful tips for broken phone data recovery

Before taking any of the data recovery steps explained below, there are some things you should know.

First, if your mobile device’s hard drive or SD card was damaged by water or suffered physical damage, the data might not be accessible. However, with basic data recovery tools and techniques, chances are you can recover data from most devices, especially if the storage functions have not been affected.

Before trying anything else, it’s worth checking the iCloud or Google account associated with your cell phone. Automatic backups are always better than data recovery, and most devices automatically back up items like photos, videos and other personal files to a cloud. All you might need to do is go to Google Drive or iCloud using a computer, log in and search for the data you want to recover.

That said, if the data you need has not been backed up automatically, your best option is data recovery using a technique appropriate for the problem plaguing your phone.

Different methods of phone data recovery

Not all common phone problems will affect your device in the same way.

For instance, if you’re just having trouble with your screen or home button, finding another way to access the device will usually be enough to recover your data. On the other hand, if your phone is completely unresponsive, you will need to use a computer or a second phone to remotely recover the remaining data. In short, the recovery method you choose should be prioritized based on the problem.

Recover data from a broken phone

To recover data from a broken phone with a non-functional screen, you will need to use a second device to extract the data from the SD card or a third-party application.

Recover data from an SD card

Android devices such as Samsung, Motorola and Google Pixel cell phones can hold an SD card where music, videos and photos can be saved. However, depending on the version of your Android system and the settings you have chosen, you may even have applications and other data saved.

That may not be everything you want to recover, but it’s often a good start and it only takes four quick steps to recover the data:

1. Remove the SD card – You can usually find your SD card with your SIM card, either in a tray on the side of your device or behind the battery.
2. Insert SD card into another device – You can use a microSD adapter to put your SD card into a laptop or you can transfer it to a new Android device and connect it to a computer with a USB cable.
3. Explore the contents of the SD card – Open Windows File Explorer and find the new drive that contains the data on your SD card.
4. Find the files you need to recover – Search for the folders you need and copy them to your computer for easy access at any time.

Use a third-party application

There are many data recovery applications and software that can help you recover your data. Here are several options:

• Fone
• Enigma Recovery
• DroidKit
• And many more

However, before you start, keep in mind that the capabilities of these applications are limited and you may lock your phone if the operation is not done correctly. So be careful!

Recover data from a phone with a broken screen

A cracked screen that prevents touch controls from working can render a smartphone basically useless. However, there are ways to get around this and recover your data.

Using software

There are applications that allow you to control your phone through a computer. Once you have control of your damaged phone, you can copy the files to a new safe location.

We recommend the Droid@screen software or the Vysor extension for Chrome. Vysor is convenient because it works for both iPhone and Android devices.

Using a mouse in OTG

If your screen no longer works with touch but still lights up, you may not be able to unlock your phone unless you use an OTG (USB On-The-Go) computer mouse!

The procedure is simple and works for Android devices. You need to connect an OTG mouse to your smartphone, enter your password or recreate your unlock pattern.

Next, disconnect the mouse and connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable. Then simply open Windows File Explorer and copy and paste the files and folders you want to recover into a folder on your PC.

Recover data from an iPhone with a broken home button

Considering the importance of the home button on the iPhones that preceded the iPhone X (iPhone 8, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, etc.), it only makes sense that Apple has a built-in way to use their devices even when the button is broken.

This mode is called “assistive touch” and works by giving you a fixed menu with various options. You can add all sorts of custom settings, but a button to access the home screen will be present by default. Activate this mode and your broken home button will no longer be an issue.

Take steps to avoid emergency data recovery

In conclusion, there are several methods and techniques you can try if you ever need to recover important data from a broken or damaged phone.

However, why not do everything in your power to make sure you won’t have this dilemma? You can avoid these data recovery headaches by making backups on a regular basis.

And if you ever decide to replace your damaged phone, you can avoid paying an exorbitant price for a new device by choosing refurbished phones or used cell phones. At Recycell we offer models as recent as a used iPhone 12 so you can quickly replace your phone without breaking the bank or having to use an outdated device!

You may have heard of someone who has had their credit card cloned and the problems that came with it.

Unfortunately, the experience is just as bad if you find that your phone has been cloned. Becoming a victim of this illegal practice can be extremely inconvenient and require a number of steps to resolve the issue.

In this article, find out what phone cloning is, how to detect this type of fraud and what can be done to prevent it.

A short overview of phone cloning

Generally speaking, phone cloning is the practice of hacking a cell phone to associate its identity data with another device.

This technique enables fraudsters to make calls anonymously, since the calls will be mistakenly assigned to the wrong recipient. It also enables the scammers to make free calls, since the bill will of course be sent to the person who owns the device that has been cloned. Both iPhones and Android phones like Samsung and Motorola are vulnerable to being cloned.

However, there are some latest generation devices, such as the Google Pixel that have proven to be more difficult to clone.

Phone cloning is considered a type of fraud in most countries. It is therefore an illegal activity, which can result in severe penalties.

However, you should be careful not to confuse illegal phone cloning with the function of copying the contents of one phone to another device.

How is a phone cloned?

To be able to clone a phone, a criminal has to have access to two particularly important pieces of data:

• The electronic serial number (ESN)
• The mobile identification number (MIN)

These two numbers allow mobile phone carriers to identify a device.

However, some fraudsters manage to illegally get their hands on these two pieces of data and then reprogram the chip of another phone so that it transmits this information to the provider when it is used.

When done properly, phone cloning can be used to conduct illegal activities anonymously or simply to make calls anywhere in the world without having to pay any fees.

How to tell if your phone has been cloned

If you suspect that your phone has been cloned, look out for various signs that someone other than you is using your cell phone service. Here are the signs that your phone has been cloned:

Receiving an unexpected text message asking you to reset your device

Rebooting your device gives the attacker a window of time during which they can load their phone with your cloned identity.

Unknown calls or texts appearing on your cell phone bill

If your phone has been cloned, all outgoing calls and texts made by the fraudster will appear on your bill. Keep an eye on your monthly payments and see if you are paying more than usual or notice any suspicious activity.

No longer receiving calls or SMS

If someone else has illegally gained control of your phone number, calls and texts may be diverted to the cloned device or you may lose your cellular connection entirely.

Receiving a message from your cellular provider indicating that your SIM card has been updated

If your credentials have been activated on a new device, your wireless phone service provider will likely send you a message confirming that your contact information has been updated. Consider this a major red flag if you did not initiate the change.

What to do if your phone has been cloned

If you are concerned that your phone has been cloned, you should call your mobile service provider as soon as possible.

They should be able to detect and block the cloned device, as each phone has a unique radio fingerprint, independent of the serial number you originally owned. They will likely also give you a new SIM card to fix the problem.

You can also report the incident to the authorities, who may decide to investigate the matter. As far as getting reimbursed for the phone charges incurred by the fraudsters, you may be able to get compensation by contacting the right people.

Recycell: your best resource for cell phone usage tips

In conclusion, even though phone cloning is not the most common cell phone problem, the serious consequences it can bring make it important to raise awareness.

If you want to get more tips on how to use your cell phone safely, please visit the blog section of our website.

You can even take a look at our used and refurbished cell phones that are on sale!

Let’s face it—nowadays, we depend more and more on our smartphones. They have become essential to performing our daily tasks and have replaced devices such as cameras and video recorders.

With so much of our lives dependent on our phones, lag and glitchy apps or features can be a real problem. Fortunately, many common phone problems are easy to fix.

In this article, find out about the 10 most common cell phone problems and how to fix them.

1 – Short battery life

A short battery life is a common problem that can make you feel like you barely get to use your phone at all before it needs to be charged.

The phenomenon is completely normal for older phones—batteries become less efficient over time. However, if your phone is relatively new, ask yourself if anything you’re using it for requires a large amount of energy.

Ways to increase your phone’s battery life

First of all, try lowering your screen brightness and disable GPS tracking, WiFi and Bluetooth if you aren’t using them.

You can also turn on low power mode and see if that helps your battery last longer.

Finally, you can go into your settings to check which of your apps are using up the most battery. That way, you can turn off any that are non-essential but require a lot of energy.

2 – Overheating

It’s completely normal for your phone to get hotter when you use it for long periods of time. However, you need to remain on the lookout for overheating problems that stem from overusing your phone’s hardware resources.

Power-hungry apps such as games can increase the temperature of your phone enough to affect battery performance and damage some of its more fragile components.

Ways to prevent your phone from overheating

If your phone tends to overheat while charging, it’s best not to use it during that time. If possible, you should also try to keep it in a room-temperature environment while charging.

Make sure not to use apps that overwork the processor for hours on end. If you love mobile gaming, take breaks regularly to give your phone a chance to cool off.

Finally, check to make sure you haven’t accidentally left a bunch of apps running in the background.

If the problem persists despite your best efforts, you may need to have a technician look at your phone.

3 – Lack of storage space

People are taking more photos and videos with their smartphones than ever before. Consequently, storage space is becoming a real problem for many users.

Apps, downloads and operating system updates also take up memory on phones. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to free up storage space.

Ways to free up storage space

Did you know that you don’t need to rely solely on your phone’s internal memory to store data and photos?

There are a variety of cloud-based storage options like iCloud and Google Drive. You can also transfer content to external hard drives or a computer and then delete the larger files from your phone.

Another way to free up storage space is to purchase a microSD card to give your device additional memory. However, your phone must have a microSD slot (most Samsung phones including the earlier Galaxy models can take a microSD card, while iPhones cannot).

4 – Bluetooth connectivity issues

As phone accessories that connect via wires gradually disappear, you might expect connectivity issues to decrease. Unfortunately, Bluetooth pairing can come with its own set of problems.

When you have trouble connecting devices such as Bluetooth speakers or headphones, it can be difficult to figure out what the problem is. However, if you try the following solutions, you may find a way to connect your wireless device.

Ways to fix Bluetooth connectivity issues

First, check to make sure your Bluetooth device is compatible with your phone. The device you’re trying to connect may not be using the same version of Bluetooth as your phone.

You can also try placing the two devices next to each other to make sure that the problem isn’t being caused by an obstruction. For example, Bluetooth signals don’t travel very well through thick walls.

If you’re out of ideas, try restarting your phone and the Bluetooth device.

5 – A cracked screen

Everyone has accidents. It’s very common for people to drop their phones on the ground or on other hard surfaces. Even though smartphone screens are made of durable materials, they’re not drop-proof.

Dropping your phone can result in a cracked screen that affects the display. The glass shards and sharp edges can even cause finger injuries.

Fortunately, a cracked screen doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get a new phone.

What to do about a cracked screen

There’s no way to repair a cracked screen, but it can be replaced. The procedure is complex and requires great attention to detail, but it is possible to do it yourself. If you aren’t confident in your ability to replace your screen, you can have a professional do it for you.

Remember that when it comes to cracked screens, the best solution is to prevent the problem from happening in the first place by equipping your device with a sturdy protective case.

6 – A phone that has fallen in water

Even the most dextrous people sometimes drop their phones. Dropping your phone in water can be particularly problematic, whether it occurs while cooking, in the bathroom or during outdoor activities near pools or bodies of water.

Water and electronics don’t mix well. Any liquid that gets into your phone can cause a lot of damage and even render it unusable. However, if you act quickly after dropping your phone in water, you may be able to limit the damage and save the device.

What to do when your phone falls in water

If your phone has fallen in water, do not check immediately to see if it still works. Instead, remove the battery if you can and place your phone on a towel in a dry environment. Let it dry completely before trying to use it.

Another common technique is to place a wet cell phone in a bowl of uncooked rice for 24 hours. Uncooked rice absorbs moisture, which is said to help the phone dry faster and prevent damage.

7 – A glitchy app

Apps can sometimes malfunction and make your screen freeze. If only one app is affected, it may not be optimized for your OS, or the version you’re using may just be buggy.

What to do about a glitchy app

Glitchy apps are quite common and can be very irritating, but they’re usually not too difficult to fix. When a malfunction happens, the first step is to try restarting the glitchy app through the Application Manager.

Other options that may resolve the glitch include restarting your phone and clearing your cache.

If the problem persists, try uninstalling and reinstalling the app.

8 – A defective charging port

Over time, a phone’s charging port can become less efficient, making charging more difficult. This problem can have a variety of causes, but the most common one is accumulated debris that prevents the electrical current from flowing properly between the power cable and the charging port.

What to do about a defective charging port

If debris is at the root of the problem, try using a new toothbrush or cotton swab to clean your charging port.

If the cable or wall adapter is defective, replace it. Unfortunately, if the charging port itself is broken, you’ll need to go to a cell phone repair shop to have the part replaced or to charge your device via electromagnetic induction.

9 – A screen that keeps freezing

It can be very frustrating to have your screen keep freezing. Frequent crashes are usually caused by insufficient storage space, excessive app usage or a virus.

What to do about a screen that keeps freezing

When your phone is completely frozen and even the home button isn’t working, the only thing you can do is force the device to shut down and restart.

If the problem keeps recurring, you most likely need to do some digital housekeeping. Close any apps that are currently running, clear the cache, delete any programs you no longer need and move some of your files to an external hard drive.

You can also take steps to protect your phone from viruses and malware.

10 – A lagging phone

Many smartphone users complain that their device seems to slow down over time. New OS updates and apps that keep running when not in use tend to be the main causes of lag, particularly on older phones.

That being said, if the age of your phone isn’t what’s causing the lag, there are a few solutions you can try.

What to do about a lagging phone

Start by closing the apps you aren’t using and change your settings to prevent non-essential apps from running in the background, because they can consume a lot of RAM.

Don’t hesitate to delete any apps you don’t need and free up storage space by moving your photos and other content off your phone.

If it’s the internet and not your phone that is lagging, try switching between data and WiFi to determine which has a stronger signal, and turn off any apps or GPS tracking services that may be using up bandwidth.

Got phone problems? Recycell can help!

If you’re experiencing one of the common cell phone problems listed in this article, there is a good chance that you’ll be able to resolve it yourself.

That being said, if your phone is too old to handle software updates or damaged beyond repair, it might be time to replace it!

At Recycell, we buy and refurbish used phones and sell them at a fraction of the original price. Check out our website to see which devices we have available, and take a look at our blog section for more tips on how to care for your phone!

Does your smartphone keep restarting by itself for no apparent reason? This is a common problem for iPhone and Android users alike.

In this article, find out why your phone keeps restarting and how you can break the reboot loop.

Why does my phone keep restarting?

It’s important to determine the cause of your restarting problem so that you can figure out which solution is most likely to work.

There are a few different issues that can cause your phone to keep restarting by itself.

A hardware problem

Sometimes, continuous rebooting is caused by a hardware problem, meaning that one or more physical components of the phone are at fault. Generally, this type of problem can be resolved by replacing the defective part.

For example, a defective battery can cause a phone to restart by itself every 5 minutes. In such cases, the device restarts because the battery cannot supply the amount of energy needed for it to function properly.

A phone may also restart continually if something is holding down its power button. This is a common problem for those who use a protective case that isn’t designed specifically for their device.

If your phone keeps restarting after you drop it in water or on the ground, the problem is most likely related to hardware components that have been damaged by moisture or shock.

A software problem

Software problems can also cause a phone to keep restarting by itself. These kinds of problems are less easily identifiable, but here are a few of the most common ones:

• An outdated operating system
• A malicious app
• Conflicting apps
• Corrupted cached data
• A lack of storage space

How to fix the problem

Whether or not you’ve determined why your phone keeps restarting, here are strategies you can try to break the reboot loop:

1 – Make sure your operating system is up to date

Sometimes an out-of-date iOS or Android operating system can cause a reboot loop.

If you’re able to use your smartphone between reboots, try checking to see whether your OS is up to date. If it isn’t, try installing the latest software update. It may well fix the problem, in addition to providing you with new features and protecting you from the latest security threats.

2 – Check your available storage space and delete data if necessary

Did you know that smartphones with too much memory usage can be affected by a variety of bugs? Specialists recommend keeping at least 10% of your space free for your phone to function optimally.

Go into your settings and check to see whether you fall within the limit. If your internal memory is over 90% full, try deleting unnecessary files and cached data from your device—you may solve your rebooting problem. There are even “cleaner” apps that can help you free up space by automatically deleting unnecessary files.

If your device supports microSD cards, you can opt to add memory to your phone rather than deleting files to free up space.

Note that many apps (Facebook, for example) offer a lite version. They aren’t as comprehensive, but they take up much less storage space. Consider using lite versions of some of your apps to free up space on your device.

3 – Close apps you aren’t using

If an app is left open and isn’t working properly, it could cause your device to restart over and over again. Try closing all of your apps to see if it fixes the problem.

If you determine that one of your apps is causing the problem, you can try updating it or uninstalling and reinstalling it.

If you try these solutions only to find that the app is still causing bugs, it’s best to delete it permanently.

4 – Remove your accessories

Phone accessories like protective cases and portable chargers can cause restarting problems by covering sensors or holding down buttons on your smartphone.

Try removing them for a moment to see if your phone keeps restarting without them.

5 – Do a factory reset

This strategy is usually only recommended as a last resort, because it will erase all of the content saved on your phone. You’ll need to back up all of the saved media, contacts, apps and texts you want to keep before moving forward. Some of your device’s settings will also need to be reconfigured afterwards: mobile data blocking, APN, WiFi networks, Bluetooth, etc. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

The procedure for doing a factory reset depends on the type of phone you have.

If you have an iPhone, follow these steps:

Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings

If you have an Android (Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, Huawei, etc.), follow these steps:

Applications → Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset → RESET → DELETE ALL

No luck fixing your phone? Get a replacement from Recycell

If you’ve tried all of the tips listed above without success, you may need help from a professional to get your phone working again.

If your device is under warranty, great. If not, you’ll need to decide whether to repair or replace it.

If you decide to buy a replacement, you can avoid paying an exorbitant price for a new phone by opting for a used or refurbished one instead. At Recycell, we offer used models as recent as iPhone 12 Pro so that you can replace your phone without breaking the bank or resorting to an outdated device!

Android is the most popular smartphone OS in the world. However, like any electronic device, Android phones can sometimes experience technical issues.

Have you noticed minor recurring problems on your Android device? Our specialists present 6 common problems with this type of phone and suggest ways to solve them.

1. Apps you try to open close instantly

The first problem Android users often encounter has to do with opening apps. The problem appeared quite recently, at the end of March 2021. Affected users reported that as soon as they tried to open an app, it would close immediately.

The bug appears to come from the Android System WebView, a component that allows you to view web content in an app using Google Chrome.

If you are still having this problem, just update your Android OS and Chrome. You can find the latest updates in the Google Play Store.

2. The battery drains quickly

Some Android users notice that their phone battery is draining too quickly. Of course, a phone’s battery life degrades over the years, but the main reason for a battery dying quickly is the way you use your phone.

Making minor changes to the way you use your phone can make a big difference. Try lowering your screen brightness or closing apps when you’re done using them. Both of these measures will help save battery.

See our article on phone battery lifespan for more information about cell phone batteries.

3. Problems with the user interface

The user interface (UI) is the software that allows you to interact with your device. In other words, the UI is how you control your phone. Sometimes, the UI becomes unresponsive due to a problem with Android.

There are a few solutions available to fix this problem. If your device is running Android 9 or an older OS, clearing your cache is usually all it takes to restore the UI. You can do this by going into Settings > Apps. Then, make sure that System Apps is on the list. Finally, find UI System > Storage > Clear Cache.

4. Network connection problems

Have you noticed that your device automatically switches from using WiFi to data while in sleep mode? This problem has a very simple solution. Go to the advanced WiFi connection settings on your Android phone and disable automatic switching between networks while the device is in sleep mode.

If you’re having trouble connecting to WiFi, Bluetooth or data, try turning on airplane mode, waiting 30 seconds, and then turning it off. Sometimes, simply shutting down the connections can help them reconnect more effectively.

5. The device gets too hot

Have you noticed that your phone gets very hot when you use it? This is a common problem with several potential causes, such as watching a lot of videos or playing mobile games.

There are a few steps you can take to reduce the amount of heat the device generates. For example, you can lower your screen brightness or turn off apps that consume a lot of power. Removing your phone’s protective case can also help it cool off.

6. Inaccurate auto-correct suggestions

We’ve all had auto-correct replace words incorrectly. We’re not all major fans of ducks. This is pretty normal, but it can get frustrating when the suggested words and phrases are consistently inaccurate.

One solution is to delete all the words your device has learned or saved as frequently used. The problem can also be caused by a third-party keyboard app. Check for updates or delete the app altogether to eliminate the problem.

<H2> Get more advice on smartphone care from Recycell

Those were our quick and effective solutions to 6 common Android problems. Despite the minor issues that can occur, Android phones are still excellent, secure, and can perform an impressive number of tasks.

Want an Android phone from a brand like Samsung or Google Pixel at a great price? Check out our refurbished cell phone store to find your next mobile device!