Category Archives: DIY Fix

All of the DIY fix advise needed for Apple iPhone repair, iPad, iTouch and more!

DIY Fix, Repair, Repair Parts

Smartphone Repair Options

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Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives. They keep us connected with the world, help us stay organized, and provide entertainment when needed. But like all electronic devices, smartphones can break down or malfunction.

When this happens, it’s good to know your options for repair. In this blog post, we’ll explore different ways you can get your smartphone repaired and the pros and cons of each option.

DIY Phone Repair

If you’re handy and want to fix the issue, repair kits and replacement parts are usually available online. These kits often come with instructions and the necessary tools to repair.

You’ll only have to pay for the parts and the kit. However, it can be risky if you’re unfamiliar with phone repair. If you don’t properly fix the issue, you risk further damage to your phone.

Phones are becoming increasingly more complex to repair. iPhones have several different types of non-interchangeable screws. Samsung phones have delicate, expensive wrap-around screens. Unless you have the experience of an iFixYouri repair technician, phone repair can have a high degree of difficulty.

At iFixYouri, sometimes our customers buy the parts for a DIY repair, then decide the repair was above their skill level. We can repair phones with replacement parts brought in by customers, but there will be no warranty because we cannot guarantee the part’s quality.

Phone Repairs Performed by Carrier

Another option is to go to the manufacturer or the phone’s carrier for repairs. Consulting your carrier is a good option if your phone is still under warranty, as the manufacturer or carrier will typically cover the cost of repairs.

However, carrier repairs can be expensive if your phone has no warranty coverage. In addition, it can be time-consuming, as you may have to ship your phone off for repairs and wait for its return to you.

Additionally, some carriers and manufacturers will not perform some common repairs. In this case, they will suggest upgrading to a newer phone, a more expensive solution than the next option we will mention.

Phone Repair Shop

A third repair option is to take your phone to a third-party repair shop like iFixYouri! Independent repair shops often specialize in fixing smartphones.

At iFixYouri, we began with cellphone repair in 2010 but have since expanded our repair capabilities to tablets, computers, smart devices, and anything electronic. We can offer screen and battery replacements, plus some repairs a manufacturer may not, like water damage repair or charging port replacement.

These shops can often provide repairs at a lower cost than the manufacturer or carrier and may have a quicker turnaround time. However, you should research your options and choose a reputable repair shop. Is there a repair warranty? iFixYouri offers a one-year guarantee for all iPhone screen repairs. What is the wait time? Depending on the repair queue and part availability, most repairs at iFixYouri are while-you-wait.

Finally, you may consider upgrading to a new phone instead of repairing your current one. If your phone is old or the repair cost is high, it might be more cost-effective to purchase a new phone. Technicians at iFixYouri will let you know if your repair cost is nearing the replacement cost. We even can offer you a great deal on a certified refurbished phone if you are interested in replacing it.

Phone Upgrade

If your phone is no longer supported by the manufacturer or receiving updates, its trade-in value will be low. At a carrier or manufacturer, only new phones will be available. This means extra cost to you.

If you are looking to trade your phone in, iFixYouri offers cash for used devices through our sister company, Tech Reboot. You can get an instant cash value of your device through that website.

Conclusion

So these are the main options for repairing your smartphone. You can go to the manufacturer or carrier, take it to a third-party repair shop like iFixYouri, try to fix it yourself with a repair kit, or upgrade to a new phone. Each option has pros and cons.

The best choice will depend on your situation. Consider the phone’s value, the repair cost, and the time you’re willing to invest in the process. At iFixYouri, we are transparent about your options. Our goal is to help the customer. So please, stop by an iFixYouri location or contact us directly.

Accessories, DIY Fix, laptops, Repair

Four Unusual Keyboard Shortcuts You Didn’t Mean to Hit

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Modern keyboards have a total of 104 keys, meaning that there are hundreds of combinations that can result in a shortcut. Each shortcut serves a specific purpose but may seem bothersome in the times you don’t need them. With this being said, here are four unusual keyboard shortcuts you didn’t mean to hit. 

Everything You Type Erases One Letter at a Time 

Typing is the most basic function of a keyboard but it becomes an annoying task when what you have already typed is erased.  

This issue is happening because you have accidentally hit the Insert key. The insert key has two modes- insert and overwrite. 

You are used to the insert mode, which allows you to type one letter after the other without any conflict.

The overwrite mode is what causes your typing to overlap. 

To fix this keyboard issue, simply hit the insert button again. 

What is the purpose? 

The insert key does not serve a big purpose on the keyboard anymore. Unless you want to rewrite something you have already typed, the overwrite mode is only useful for pasting something (Shift + Insert). Even this shortcut could be argued because the more common way to paste something is Ctrl + V. 

Your Search and Task Bar Have Disappeared 

Your computer screen has a standard layout. The address bar is at the very top and the taskbar is at the very bottom of the screen.

So what happens when your laptop’s layout changes and there is just an enlarged screen with no taskbar or exit button in sight?

The reason why your screen appears this way is because you accidentally hit the F11 key. 

All you have to do is hit the F11 key again and your screen will return to its normal layout. 

What is the purpose? 

If you want a bigger screen for more workspace, then the F11 button will come in very handy. 

As a bonus, F11 has a symbol below it often related to the computer’s volume. To activate the key’s secondary function, just hold down Fn and press F11 at the same time. 

Your Screen Flipped 90°

Can you imagine working on your computer while tilting your head to the left or the right the entire time just to see the screen properly? 

Well if you hit Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys that is exactly what will happen as you will see your screen go from landscape to portrait mode. 

To reverse this shortcut and align your screen you just have to hit the Ctrl + Alt + Upward Key to bring the screen back to its original position. 

What is the purpose? 

Depending on the tasks you perform, working on a vertical screen is very beneficial.

A vertical monitor allows for more space and improves productivity. For example, developers who use coding can see almost double the number of lines on a vertical screen than on a horizontal screen. 

Your Screen Keeps Zooming In and Out

When you are browsing the web, it becomes very inconvenient when your screen begins to zoom in and out uncontrollably. 

In reality, you do have control of this situation and it is quite simple to resolve. If your screen refuses to stay put, it is because you are either pressing Ctrl +  or unknowingly pinching your laptop’s touchpad. 

To get your screen back to its normal size, just press Ctrl – or pinch the touch bar using two fingers. 

What is the Purpose? 

The purpose of the zoom in/out features is to get a better look at your screen when needed. If a website uses a font that is way too small for you to read, or there is a large image that takes up the entire screen, these features are handy. 

What is so great about these four unusual keyboard shortcuts you didn’t mean to hit is that they are all easily reversible. 

If you notice that you have a hard time using your keyboard, not because of a shortcut but because it does not work well, restart your computer then try using it again. If a restart does not work, you may have a broken keyboard.  

The shortcut to get your keyboard repaired is to send it to an expert tech repair company like iFixYouri. 

Four Unusual Keyboard Shortcuts You Didn’t Mean to Hit By iFixYouri.

DIY Fix, Repair, Tips

iPad Mini 1st Gen Glass Removal

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iPad Mini 1st Gen Glass Removal can be completed yourself if you have the right tools and know-how. It just takes a little care and following the steps detailed in this guide. If you have trouble, you can visit iFixYouri for professional iPad Repair services.

Before we begin, there are some tips to keep in mind to keep the repair going smoothly. The heat pad is required to loosen the adhesive. Take your time getting the spudger in and you can complete the removal pretty easily. Keep your screws organized.

The real challenge is removing the digitizer clip and flex. You have to angle your spudger in, along with the lines of the edge of the iPad, so you don’t damage the connector. Use the spudger, not your fingernails.

 

Tools Required

iPad Mini 1st Gen Glass Removal Instructions

  1. Loosen adhesive with the heating pad (10min @ 75°C)
  2. Pry with metal spudger slowly and gently.
  3. Lift glass from bottom to avoid damage to the flex cable.
  4. Unscrew screen from the body with a Phillips head screwdriver. Keep your screws organized.
  5. Be extremely careful while removing the screen. Go gently around all the edges to loosen the LCD.
  6. Unscrew metal shield with your Phillips head screwdriver. Keep your screws organized.
  7. IMPORTANT: Disconnect the battery.
  8. Disconnect the LCD Flex.
  9. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. Separate the backside of the digitizer flex from the housing.
  10. Then, USING A PLASTIC SPUDGER, remove the digitizer clip evenly from the logic board.
  11. If the end of the flex cable is still attached, align your spudger with the side of the iPad and disconnect it.

Conclusion

Did you make it? Congratulations. If pulling off this repair was troublesome for you, please contact a professional iPad repair shop for help.

iPad Mini 1st Gen Glass Removal video screen shot

DIY Fix, iPhone

Dealing With an iPhone Black Screen

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Most iPhone users freak out at their first encounter with the iPhone black screen. This often occurs unexpectedly and has been known to strike even brand-new phones. After all that money spent, most users don’t want to see their phone display pitch black. It’s important to know what to do when this problem occurs. If any of tips fail to bring your device back to life, send your phone in for a free diagnostic and our expert technicians will diagnose the issue and iFixYouri will offer to repair it (or buy it from you for cash!).

How to Deal With an iPhone Black Screen

If your iPhone screen blacks out, there’s no reason to worry. Several methods can get rid of the black screen. Below you will find some of the most common ways of dealing with this issue.

Hold the Home & Wake Buttons

  1. Press and hold the Lock/Wake button on the right side of your iPhone.
  2. Simultaneously, press and hold down the Volume Down button on the left side. Keep the Lock/Wake button pressed.
  3. Continue holding the buttons until the screen goes black and the Apple Logo is displayed.

Also known as a hard reset, this is the first solution that you try since it is fairly easy. The screen should come back on. If it doesn’t try a full restore.

Do a Full Restore in iTunes

If the first solution does not work, a full restore is your next best bet. The restore returns your phone’s data to its original settings according to the settings on the backup. This is often done to transfer data from a defective device to a new and working device but also works to restore all data from a blacked-out iPhone.

  1. Open iTunes on the Mac or PC used to back up your device.
  2. Connect your device to your computer with a USB or Lightning cable. If prompted for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps.
  3. Select your iPhone when it appears in iTunes.
  4. Choose Restore Backup in iTunes.
  5. Review the date and size of each backup. Choose the most relevant option.
  6. Click Restore and wait for the restore to complete. Enter the password for your encrypted backup if asked.
  7. Keep your device connected after it restarts. Wait for it to sync with your computer. You can disconnect after the sync finishes.

 

What to Do When the iPhone Black Screen Won’t Go Away

If none of these options work for you, you should contact the nearest Apple store and have your phone looked at by the technicians at the Genius Bar. If you try to do any repairs yourself, you’ll end up voiding your warranty. If your phone suffers from simple software problems, they can easily make quick fixes for you. If your phone is still covered by the warranty, the people at the bar can open it up and see what is wrong. If a visit to the Genius Bar reveals that you have a defective unit on your hands, you may get a replacement iPhone.

Other Options Available

If the warranty period for your iPhone ended, you can have it repaired by professional technicians. At iFixYouri, we have some of the best technicians in North America, with lots of experience fixing the black screen on iPhones as well as any other issue under the sun.

DIY Fix

How To Fix Scratched iPhone Screen

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How To Fix Scratched iPhone Screen

Few things in life are more frustrating than purchasing a new touchscreen phone only to have it damaged and rendered difficult to use.  That moment, frozen in time, when your phone slips from your grip and tumbles towards hard cement or wood, while you can only stand and watch, is a sad moment in every phone owner’s life.  Luckily, there are a few ways that allow you to fix a scratched iPhone screen without having to purchase a brand new phone.

 

 

 

Use Your Warranty to Fix Your Scratched iPhone Screen

Since Apple’s warranty program is one of the best in the entire tech business, you should always check to see if you can get your phone taken care of under the protection program.  This is the easiest way to fix it, but not always possible for those with an expired warranty.  Since Apple prides themselves on customer service, however, you may get lucky and take it to a licensed Apple store with a more flexible approach to warranty.  This is no guarantee, but many store owners want their customers to have a positive experience with Apple products.

Buff Out The Scratch

Depending on the degree of the crack or scratch on the iPhone screen, you may be able buff it out in the same manner that you would for a scratch on a car.  To buff out the scratch, you will need:

  • a small drill (the smaller the better)
  • compound to attach to drill head
  • sandpaper

Using Wax to Fix Scratched iPhone Screen

Many wax products market their ability to take out any damage that can be done, whether it is by gravity or pets or clumsiness.  A coat of Turtle Wax, for instance, will eliminate the scratch but can leave behind a film of wax that makes it difficult to use the screen.  If you use wax, you have to clean meticulously around the scratch so that the wax residue does not complicate use.  You can use a plastic polish to speed up the cleaning if you decide to use wax.

Toothpaste

One of the oddest home remedies for cracked screen has proven to be toothpaste.  Anyone who has had a cracked watch face in the past may know about applying toothpaste.  This is because toothpaste (not tooth gel — be sure you have the right type) has abrasive within the mixture designed to wear away at bacteria on your teeth.  This abrasion, when carefully rubbed onto the surface of an iPhone, will smooth out a scratch.  Be sure you only use a small dot (not enough to coat the entire surface) and that you clean the entire surface carefully with a damp rag after you have applied it on.

Professional Help

If your warranty has expired and none of the methods mentioned above have worked, you should consider seeking professional help. That is where we at ifixyouri.com come in handy. Our specialists have been fixing cracked iPhone screens for years, and you can rest assured that your iPhone will be in good hands.

DIY Fix, News, Tips

What To Do If Your iPhone Touch Screen Isn’t Responding

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LCD Screen Repair at iFixYouriAn iPhone touch screen that is not responding can be a challenging problem. The device is quite costly, so any issue that requires repair is automatically frustrating. When it stops working, it means that your main line of communication is cut off from the world. It can even endanger your livelihood, if you rely on your phone for work.

Here are a few things that a person can do when the screen becomes unresponsive.

Troubleshooting Unresponsive iPhone Touchscreen

Certain applications take up a great deal of memory, which can cause the phone to freeze up. This is very likely to occur when several programs are being run at the same time. If the phone becomes unresponsive, it is best to force the application to stop. To do this, hold down the home button until the application stops and the screen once again becomes responsive.

Restart the iPhone

If you’re unsuccessful in stopping the application, it may be necessary to restart the entire phone. The on/off button should be held until the red slide bar appears. Power down the phone and turned back on. This should make the phone responsive again.

Resetting the iPhone

Under rare circumstances, an iPhone touchscreen will still not respond after a restart. In these cases, it will become necessary to reset the phone. This is different from the above restart; the phone will be forced to shut down without the normal closeout process. Resetting the phone involves holding the on/off button and the home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears and goes away. After the device is off, it can be turned back on in a few seconds. By this time, the phone should be working again.

Restoring with iTunes

If none of the above seem to work, the next step is to connect the phone to a computer and open iTunes. On the Summary pane, a person can select “Restore”. If the phone does not appear in iTunes, there’s not much you can do yourself at this point, but you can still get it fixed or salvage the value of the phone.

Professional Assistance for Unresponsive iPhone Touch Screen

If the iPhone screen is still not responding, it may be necessary to take the phone in for professional repair or sell your iPhone for cash. An experienced repair shop, like iFixYouri, will be able to evaluate and fix the problem with no hassle. This will avoid further damage or loss of data in the phone. iPhones are very expensive and sensitive. Getting the job done correctly will save a lot of headaches down the line.

DIY Fix, iPhone, News, Repair Parts

What To Do When Your iPhone Microphone Stops Working

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One of the most common problems that iPhone users encounter is the microphone not working during phone calls. The person you are speaking to can’t hear you while using the handset, but in some cases may still be able to hear while on speakerphone. It’s a frustrating problem that can make it difficult to use the phone on a regular basis. If you’re tired of shouting and asking people to “SPEAK UP,” consult the tips below or take it in for a professional diagnostic and repair.

Causes of iPhone Microphone Malfunction

  • Water exposure. Has your phone recently been dropped into water? Gotten wet in any way? Sometimes, even exposure to high levels of moisture, like steam, can cause the microphone to malfunction.
  • Mechanical malfunctions can sometimes cause the mouthpiece on the phone to stop working, like after a drop onto a hard surface.

How to Fix an iPhone Microphone Malfunction

  1. Allow the phone to dry. If the microphone is malfunctioning after being exposed to moisture, you can allow the phone to dry. Turning the phone off and placing it in a porous environment, like in a box of rice, can help to dry the phone effectively and hopefully get the microphone back to normal.
  2. Replace the microphone. If the problem persists, and you don’t want to buy a new phone, you can always have the microphone replaced by a professional.

Microphone Repair Cost

The costs can vary depending on the model of the phone, the damage and whether the mouthpiece can be repaired or needs to be replaced completely. Mechanical problems with the phone that have not been caused by the user are usually fixed under the warranty of the phone with no cost to the customer.

Keep in mind that phones less than one year old are usually covered under the manufacturer or carrier warranty, but there are exceptions. In addition, the warranty program on phones that have been tampered with or repaired outside Apple are often void under and the phones are ineligible to be repaired or replaced for free when the mouthpiece breaks.

The next best alternative is to ship your iPhone to our stores and we will fix it for you and send it back to you. iFixYouri has experts equipped with skills required to fix your iPhone’s microphone when it stops working. Alternatively, you could also sell your iPhone for cash.

DIY Fix, iPhone, News

How to Increase iPhone Processor Speed

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Your smartphone has certain benchmarks for processing that can be overcome, increasing the processing power of your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. By overclocking the internal processor, it is possible to boost the circuit boards and increase performance. This overclocking, however, greatly reduces the battery life of the iPhone and will rapidly drain it, even for programs that draw relatively little energy. The key to increasing iPhone processor speed lies in overclocking the processor through jailbreaking.

Benefits of Increasing iPhone Processor Speed

When you increase the processing speed of a phone, there are many benefits. Your apps take less time to power up and down, you can get better access to streaming internet content, and your wait times for pages to load is significantly reduced. One of the major criticisms of some iPhones is the amount of time they take to load content.

Secret to Increasing iPhone Processor Speed

Apple iPhones are “underclocked,” running at about half the capacity of their processor power. An iPhone 6S, for instance, can run at 1.4 megahertz but is set to run at only half that. Thus, overclocking the phone will boost processing speed by 50%, but will also drain the battery 50% faster. These safeguards put on the phone also prevent it from overheating. When you overclock an iPhone, it may heat up past the point of damage to the circuitry.

Jailbroken Phone Necessary for Increasing Processor Speed

An overclocked iPhone needs to be jailbroken, removing the limitations that Apple puts on their products. A jailbroken phone automatically violates Apple’s warranty process, meaning that overclocking your phone will make it impossible to get it fixed by Apple’s product services. It is best to jailbreak an iPhone once the warranty has expired or else you risk losing the phone in the event of damage. Using a cooling pad minimizes the damage that overclocking could present.

Overclocking 101

There are a number of protocols that you can download from the internet to overclock your phone. File-sharing sites and torrent distributors have the files needed to install overclocking software on your processor. It will be necessary to download and rename the file, however, since the device will automatically block any files do not have Apple configurations. Install it on your phone and reboot the processor. Your iPhone will utilize the program to run on a new processor configuration.

Overclocking Can Damage iPhone

In addition to boosting processor speed and heating up the phone, overclocking will reduce the lifespan of your phone’s computer processing unit. The best way to maximize CPU life and minimize heat is to close the apps you are not currently using and to check the temperature often. Anytime you jailbreak or overclock a phone, you do so at your own risk. Increasing the processor speed on a brand-new smartphone is not recommended, especially since some new devices (like the Galaxy Note 7) are subject to recalls and jailbroken iPhones cannot be recalled or replaced.

While it is possible to increase iPhone processor speed, it can end up causing you more issues with your phone.  Since you’ve voided the warranty by jailbreaking your iPhone, you’ll need to get it repaired by a third-party professional company, like iFixYouri.