5 common iPhone issues you can easily repair yourself

If you have an iPhone, you know how great it can be at times, but you also know it is not hard to damage. Even if the iPhone 12 and 13 have a ceramic shield that’s four times stronger, there’s still a chance of cracking the screen. Not only that but there are many other problems your iPhone can give you without warning.

The good news is, you can fix many of these issues yourself. Oftentimes you don’t need special tools or much knowledge about tech. However, you must be willing to dive in and learn how to fix your iPhone without resorting to professional help. If you’re an independent kind of person who likes to figure out issues on your own, read on to find out 5 common iPhone issues you can easily repair yourself.

1. Water Damage

Ever since the iPhone 7, all iPhones have been water-resistant. With that said, water can still damage them if the iPhone is exposed for too long. What's the difference? iPhone 7 or later can resist water splashes, and depending on your iPhone model, it can resist a maximum depth of up to 3 meters (around 9 feet) of water up to 30 minutes.

If you have an older iPhone or exceed the time or depth, you need to act fast. I'm sure you've heard of the rice trick before, but that's actually not the best option because rice can get mushy and enter your iPhone's lightning port.

The best thing you could do is turn off your iPhone and leave it somewhere where it can dry up fast. Using a blow dryer is a great way to speed up the process; just make sure it's set to a cold setting. Experts also recommend using silica gel packs that come with new shoes and placing them in an airtight container with your iPhone.

After you're sure that your iPhone is dry, you can try to turn it back on. If everything goes well, your iPhone should be working perfectly.

2. Your iPhone isn't charging (and it isn't your charger's fault)

That mini heart attack you get when your iPhone doesn't charge is one of the worst. Especially when you try your charger and cable with another device, and it works just fine.

The first thing you might want to do is take your iPhone to a professional, which makes sense, but there's still a couple of things you can try beforehand. It's possible that your Lightning port isn't damaged. Instead, there's the possibility that it's just dirty.

There might be something blocking the pins where you connect the cable. If that's the case, you can try to remove it with a toothpick or a safety pin. You must be very careful and avoid using too much strength. If you're lucky, that'll fix your charging issues.

The good thing about newer iPhones is that they also come with wireless charging. You can switch from wires to a MagSafe charger while you decide what to do with the Lighting port.

3. Replace your iPhone's cracked display

Now, this isn't for the faint of heart. Changing your iPhone's display can be tricky, especially if it's your first time doing it. But, that said, it can also be easier than you think. And, in some cases, it's way cheaper too.

Of course, you'll need the proper tools to do the job, including the screen replacement. Once you have that, we recommend you go to websites like iFixit and follow the steps on how to fix the cracked screen yourself.

4. Battery Replacement

Another common iPhone issue that you can fix yourself is changing the battery. If you have an older iPhone or feel like the battery on your iPhone isn't working as well as it used to, you might want to consider changing the battery yourself.

But wait! This might not be a hardware problem. If you have iOS 15, there are a few battery-saving tricks you can do to increase your battery life. If that doesn't do the trick, you can always try to change it yourself.

Again, you'll also need the right equipment, and then you'll be able to go to websites like iFixit and follow the steps. Afterward, your iPhone will be as good as new, and you'll save a few bucks too.

5. Clean your Speakers and Microphone

Are your speakers or your microphone starting to have a fuzzy noise? It's possible that you need to repair them, but first, make sure that they're clean.

If you're having issues, something like the dust may be blocking the noise. Before you take it to a professional, make sure to clean your iPhone properly and see if that fixes it.

You can use a Q-tip with a bit of alcohol to clean the bottom of your iPhone, the speakers, and even the Lightning port to make sure everything is in check. If your iPhone's old enough, you can also use the Q-tip to clean the headphone jack.

Another option is using compressed air in the area to blow out any blockage. After that, the sound should be better. If it's not, it's best if you take it to a professional.