​Your smartphone isn’t working like it once was. But how can you tell for sure when to repair your phone? Here are four signs you may need phone repairs:

1. Your phone battery gets low fast

If you’re a power smartphone user, you know your devices may need more than one charging cycle per day. The notifications seem endless as apps keep alerting about the latest events happening in the world.

However, it may seem that your phone needs more charging cycles than before. For example, the device requires a fresh charge after four or five hours of continuous use. Now, a “Low Battery” notification appears after two hours of using the gadget.

Over time, the chemical components in smartphone batteries begin to degrade. Even if you’re not a power phone user, the mobile device’s battery will still deteriorate with time. The battery may lose a significant percentage of its ability to hold a charge after about two years of use.

If this scenario is happening to your phone right now, it might be time for a cell phone repair. If you’re unsure about the steps to repair or replace your phone’s battery, hire the services of an expert technician. Otherwise, you might increase the risk of causing additional damage to the gadget.

2. Your phone slows down

Buying a new phone can become a pleasurable experience. Each button press and app opening/closing procedure is snappy. But this time, it’s different, as it might take a while before your commands appear on the screen.

Phone lags can be a tell-tale sign of low storage space. Imagine a new cell phone as a clean hallway: if the path is devoid of clutter, you can travel to your destination quickly. Over time, you fill the hall with files and furniture. Now, it’s taking more time than before to reach your destination.

So, filling your phone with files and software might make the device slow down. An app might take over a few seconds to a minute before it opens. Otherwise, using the on-screen keypad becomes an uncomfortable experience as the inputs need a few seconds before they appear.

You can start repairing your phone by deleting unnecessary apps, files, and folders. Consider removing data you rarely use. Also, disable flashy motion effects to help speed up your phone.

If these methods don’t work, then it might be time to let an expert look at the device. Otherwise, it’s time to buy a new smartphone.

3. Your phone has sudden shutdowns or reboots

If your cell phone shuts down or reboots suddenly, then it might be protecting itself from mishandled files or several apps trying to access resources at once. Think of this as your phone telling you that it can’t handle several tasks at once.

But if the gadget shuts down or reboots without it handling several apps or files at the same time, then send the device for repair. An expert repair technician can use special tools to find the cause of shutdowns or reboots.

Still, if your cell phone is already a few years old, consider buying a new model instead. Mobile software crashes might be a symptom of the device being unable to handle the usual processes. At this point, phone repairs may only be a temporary fix.

4. Your phone camera isn’t working properly

The social media era might play an essential role in the evolution of cell phones. Before, people used their mobile phones to call or text to communicate. Now, you can use a smartphone to communicate with the rest of the world using images.

Your phone’s great camera might be the reason why you bought it in the first place. Before, this feature should deliver crystal-clear landscapes and selfies. Now, it’s showing signs of failure like slow capture speeds or blurry images.

If your phone’s camera isn’t working properly, let a mobile phone expert take a look at it. The lens of the camera might need cleaning or replacing. The camera should work well once more after a professionally-done repair job.

Summing up

These signs are only a few symptoms for when to repair your phone. But remember that there are instances when the mobile device might be beyond repair. Specific cases like dropping your non-waterproof phone in the pool — or if it isn’t turning on — may mean it’s time to buy a new phone.

But before you start phone shopping, it’s smart to take your finicky phone to a reliable cell phone repair shop — especially if you’re on a budget.​​ For a small amount of money, you can likely get your phone fixed and avoid spending big money on a new phone.