Top Three Problems With MacBooks

We get it. A laptop is very important for work, school, and personal activities. It can be incredibly frustrating when your computer malfunctions, isn’t charging, or just doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. And while you might turn to Google for a quick solution, some issues can require professional help.

With over 200 million MacBooks in circulation, problems are bound to happen. If they’re serious issues with the screen, hardware, or software, it feels like your whole life grinds to a halt. While MacBooks are generally reliable, a few problems happen more often than others. Here are the three most common problems that you may experience with a MacBook (and how to fix them).

Unresponsive keys

One of the most common problems with older MacBooks is sticky, unresponsive keys. This tends to happen when dust, dirt, and other particles build up under the keys and disrupt their function. If you’re experiencing this issue, there are a few steps that you can take to troubleshoot it yourself.

First, use compressed air to blow out any dust, hair, or other particles from underneath the keys. This may help resolve the problem without you needing professional assistance. Second, you can try to remove the keys for deeper cleaning. Make sure you do it gently to not break them.

Problems with your display

Whether your screen is blank, blue, gray, or starts to flicker, it can get bothersome quickly. You may have to take it to a professional if the problem persists. However, before you do that, try these tips to troubleshoot the display issue yourself.

First, reset your System Management Controller (SMC). This can be done by pressing and holding the power button and the control + option keys simultaneously for 8-10 seconds. It’ll reset the SMC which might help fix any minor issues with your displays. If this doesn’t work, check your video settings in System Preferences. Make sure they are set correctly so the display is clear and bright. Finally, make sure your computer is up-to-date by running Apple diagnostics.

If these don’t work, you might want to seek iPhone, iPad, and Mac repair to get your computer fixed by experts.

The battery isn’t charging or the computer suddenly dying

It’s bad enough having your laptop run out during an important conference call or presentation. It’s even worse when it won’t charge. If your MacBook’s battery isn’t charging or dying suddenly, you should check the charger and ensure that it’s properly plugged into the wall socket and computer.

Then, do a hard reset on your computer by shutting it down, letting it reload, and restarting it once more.

If that doesn’t work, try resetting your SMC (as mentioned above). This can sometimes fix power issues with a laptop. If neither of those works, it may be time to take it to a professional Mac repair shop for help. They’ll run diagnostics on your machine and replace any damaged hardware that needs replacing. Sometimes it’s a faulty battery, and you don’t want to spend money on a new computer if all you need to replace is a battery.

The bottom line

While you can troubleshoot some of these problems yourself by following the tips provided above, sometimes it’s best to leave the job to a professional. At the end of the day, having an expert look at your laptop can help to identify and fix the core problem. So if you’re experiencing any of these problems with your MacBook, don’t hesitate to contact Orlando’s best iMac repair shop for a consultation today!

Three Things in an iPhone Repair Service

Your phone is one of your greatest assets. After all, many people use their mobile devices interchangeably for both business and personal use, making them essential devices for our day-to-day lives. And, of the many cellphone users in the world today, most opt for the iPhone due to its ease of use and annual upgrade options.

Need an ambulance? Rideshare service? Is a work client needing assistance ASAP? Addressing each of these situations is made easier with a well-functioning mobile device. If your device isn’t running up to par, however, you’ll want to consider a reputable iPhone repair service to come to the rescue.

Let’s look at a few things to consider before selecting a repair company.

Apple repair service: key considerations

Many iPhone repair companies expand their services to include:

  • Macbook repairs
  • iPad repairs
  • iMac repairs

However, repair services vary from one to the next. You’ll want to make sure the company you choose can handle each of your concerns and ultimately fix the device in question. On that note, make sure the company provides the specific service(s) you’re looking for (e.g., screen replacement, unlocks, water damage repair, diagnostics, etc.), especially if you have multiple concerns related to your device.

Reviews

A quick check of online reviews is typically a good indicator of a company’s ability to meet your expectations. Nothing is more nerve-wracking than finding a company that appears to have the proper expertise but ends up lacking in other areas like quality, communication, timeliness, transparency, or fair pricing.

Location

Where is the repair company located? You shouldn’t have to travel far and wide to find a good repair service.

If you live in Orlando, conduct an online search for “iPhone repair Orlando.” If your location settings are enabled, you can simply type in “phone repair near me” to find the nearest service provider regardless of where you are.

Timeliness

Last, be sure to check on the repair company’s turnaround time. Once you go in to drop off your device, ask how long the repair will take. Sometimes, additional parts must be ordered, and the device won’t be ready as quickly as you might expect.

Do you live near Orlando?

If so, you have the fortunate choice of using iFixNSell for all of your iPhone repair needs. Choosing iFixNSell ensures that you’re getting a wallet-friendly service with the most experienced technicians available. Even if you don’t have an Apple device, we may be able to help as we service Android-related issues.

Contact us today for your repair needs!

Should I Repair or Replace my iPhone?

As humans, we’re much better at adaptation than prevention. We’ve all been there — you drop your iPhone, go to pick it up, and pray that it’s not cracked. Most of the time, you’re safe.

But when your iPhone screen is cracked, there are a few options you have for fixing it. You can replace the entire phone, repair the screen yourself, or take it to a professional to have it repaired. This article will explore the pros and cons of each option so that you can make the best decision for your needs.

Should I replace my iPhone?

There are a few instances where replacing an iPhone is 100% needed. If your iPhone is water damaged beyond repair, if the battery won’t hold a charge, or if the phone doesn’t turn on, then you’ll need to replace it.

If your issue is with any of these three things, replacing your iPhone is really the only option you have. But if you’re dealing with a cracked screen, there are a few things you should take into consideration before making your decision.

The first thing to think about is cost. A new iPhone can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,300, depending on your model and whether you’re buying it outright or getting it on a payment plan.

And in many cases, a repair will work much better than a replacement.

So what instances would work better for repairing your iPhone?

Should I repair my iPhone?

A repair is generally going to be much cheaper than replacing your entire iPhone. For example, if you have an iPhone XR, a screen replacement will cost you around $170.

And, in many cases, a repair will work just as well as a replacement. If your cracked screen is the only issue you’re having with your phone, then a repair is the way to go.

Plus, there are tons of other issues your phone might have that require repairs that aren’t screen related. If your power button is jammed, your microphone isn’t working, or your speaker is crackling, taking it in for a repair is going to be the best option.

So how do you get the repair done?

Well, if you’re local to Orlando, look no further. We can take care of any Macbook, iMac, iPhone, and iPad repair in the greater Orlando area.

However, if you’re from somewhere else, you’ll need to seek a different repair shop. Worst case scenario, you can ship your device to a repair shop, and they’ll ship it back. You’ll just have to cover shipping.

The great news about repair shops is that they’re much more affordable than buying a new iPhone.

The Bottom line

Replacing or repairing an iPhone can be a costly decision, but it’s one that you’ll have to make at some point. By weighing the pros and cons of each option, you can make a more informed decision about what to do with your broken device. If you’re local to Orlando, we’re here to help you get your phone repaired quickly and affordably.

Keep It Clean: How to Disinfect Your Smartphone

Your smartphone is one of your most steadfast companions but unfortunately that means it carries around just as many germs as you do. Your hands touch just about everything and your phone does too, collecting dirt even when sitting on your desk. When your hands pick up that phone, the device becomes a hot-spot for bacteria.

You probably don’t have phone cleaning on your list of essential priorities but starting today, you should. In this post we’ll take you through some quick hygiene tips on what to do and what not to do when it comes to disinfecting your phone.

What Not to Do

Wiping your phone down with a damp cloth will most likely be the common suggestion you come across. While a simple wipe may temporarily do away with fingerprint smudges it won’t kill the germs on your phone, which is why you’ll need a more involved cleaner. Hopping on bleach or another harsh disinfectant is a bad idea, however, because it destroys the protective coating on your phone screen over time.

How to Clean Your Phone

First and foremost, if you have a phone case you’ll want to give that part of your phone attention. You probably know what we mean when we say that surprising amounts of dirt can find their way underneath your case. So after separating your phone case from your phone give it a rinse in warm water. Of course, you should only do this if your case is silicone, hard plastic, or another safe-to-wash material. You should clean other exterior materials, like leather or faux fur cases, with the special care products they require.

Next, you’ll want to use Q-tips (cotton swabs) to swab the speakers of your phone and the ports, though be very careful around the charging port and make sure no Q-tip fibers get left behind. You can also use those same Q-tips to wipe away fingerprints and clean your camera lenses.

Since it’s the glass screen of your phone that you need to worry about, using cleaning wipes to wipe down the sides and back of your phone is perfectly okay and encouraged. For the front of your phone, you’ll want to bust out that all-purpose cleaner and give your phone a very light misting. Wait for no longer than 30 seconds and then use a microfiber cloth like you might use to clean glasses to give your phone screen a good wiping. After your phone cleaning wash your hands and put the phone case back on – though make sure the case is dry first.

Other Tips

  • Sanitize your hands before picking up your phone and wash your hands frequently in general.
  • Invest in a dust plug for your headphone jack (if you have one) to prevent it from clogging up with dust.
  • Purchase a UV phone bath. These are essentially boxes for your smartphone that bathe the device in UV light, which kills germs. We especially recommend bathing your phone and case separately for the most thorough phone cleaning.

If you think that phone hygiene isn’t crucial to your health, think again. It might seem like a lot of steps to take to keep your smartphone clean but you’ll be saving yourself from harmful germs at the end of the day.

Still don’t know if it’s safe to clean your phone? For information about keeping your phone clean, questions on how to keep your phone in working order, and any other phone or computer concerns you might have, contact us. We care about our customers and their devices, and we can help you out in whatever way you might need.

Common iMac Repairs That You Might Need

When the iMac you know and loves start to malfunction, your first response might be panic, especially if you aren’t technologically savvy. In this post, we’ll go over some common repair issues that may help you pinpoint the problem before you take it to an expert. Even if your current iMac computer isn’t necessarily giving you a hard time, it may be a worthwhile read to get an idea of some of the most fundamental problems that your laptop could encounter down the road.

Software Problems

If you notice the programs on your computer performing incorrectly, regularly, you may have a problem with the software or the programming of your computer. You might experience your computer freezing up or locking you out, or maybe your computer and its applications are taking an eternity to start up each time. Often, the underlying cause of these signs and symptoms may be a virus, a frequent culprit of many software issues. If you don’t have anti-virus software to combat these issues, you’re especially in for a bad day.

Hardware Problems

Your computer has many parts and pieces, so it isn’t unlikely a problem with your laptop might lie in one of its components. For example, your internal hard drive, which stores all of your computer’s data, may fail. Hard drive failure can be due to water damage, heat exposure, or only due to wearing down with age. If your hard drive fails, you might not be able to recover your data, making it essential to diagnose this type of issue as soon as possible.

Another grave issue may be a failing motherboard, which connects all hardware – such as the CPU and the RAM – and administrates power and communication exchange between them. Once the motherboard fails, your entire computer might as well be toast.

Lastly, your power supply may be the component at fault. Like hard drives, power supplies don’t last forever, but their inevitable failure can be sped up by power surges due to lightning strikes, general overheating, exposure to dust, etc. Fixing this issue could be as simple as purchasing a new power supply, but you may find that any of the factors mentioned above have also done damage to your charging port as well, which is when you’ll want to put it into the hands of an expert to fix.

Where to Get Repairs

Maybe you have one of the major issues listed above, or perhaps you have a minor problem, like a cracked screen, a faulty cooling fan, a malfunctioning trackpad, or an uncooperative keyboard. No matter what your issue, we at Computers Plus Cellphones can handle it. Our professionals tackle a variety of problems, screen replacements, keyboard replacements, virus removal, hard drive replacements, memory upgrades, data recovery, you name it. We offer an on-the-spot diagnosis and free estimates for the costs of repairs, so bring your iMac or other computer to our location.

To learn more about the repair services we offer, visit our repairs page or contact us today.