Even if you’re spending most of your time at home, accidents still happen. Knocked your mobile off the kitchen counter? Accidentally dropped it in the bath? A broken phone is stressful enough under normal circumstances. But breaking your phone during lockdown is the last thing any of us wants to do.
Although you may be spending more time at home, the chances are you’re using your phone more than ever. Whether you’re texting, on YouTube, or just racking up a few more hours on Candy Crush, your mobile phone is probably seeing a lot of use.
What happens if you accidentally break your phone?
The UK-wide lockdown means we can’t leave our homes except when absolutely necessary – such as going to the shops or going to work (if you’re a key worker). With social distancing in place , it’s not exactly safe for us to call into a local phone repair shop right now. But there are still plenty of ways to get your mobile phone fixed.
Will phone repair shops be open during lockdown?
The short answer – probably not. Most shops deemed ‘non-essential’ have been forced to close during the Coronavirus lockdown. Unfortunately, phone repair shops (and most other electrical stores) are classes as non-essential businesses.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t get your phone repaired.
Local Phone Repairs:
Even though you can’t call in to a local phone repair shop right now, some of them are offering a local pickup and delivery service. You’ll have to give your local shop a call, but they may be able to pick up your broken handset from your home, repair it, and then deliver it back to you afterwards.
Find a local phone repair company now with Get Phone Repairs.
Larger Mobile Phone Stores:
Most larger chain stores (such as Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse) have been closed down for the duration of the lockdown. That means you can’t take your device to them to get a repair. Most of their express repair services have also been temporarily closed and are only able to repair phones which are under warranty.
Mobile Phone Manufacturers:
Again, most manufacturers have closed their retail stores. This means it’s more difficult than ever to get your mobile phone fixed by Apple, Samsung, and Huawei amongst others. Some of them are still offering support via their websites, including long-distance repairs which involve sending your phone to a contact centre.
You’ll find details on each manufacturer below:
Note: Most manufacturers are experiencing a delay when it comes to their repair services. Check your manufacturer’s website for the latest information.
Of course, we still recommend using a local phone repair shop if you can. After all, you could save up to 60% compared to manufacturer repairs.
My phone has software issues – do I still need a repair?
Not all phone repairs are solved by replacing parts. Some common issues can actually be software related, so it’s worth finding out whether your issue can be fixed with a simple software update or change of settings.
Thankfully, you’ll find a raft of information on your phone manufacturer’s website.
Here are the Help & Support pages for most major manufacturers:
It’s worth looking up the help and support pages for your device and looking up your issue. You may find that a dodgy battery or intermittent shutdowns can be solved by updating the phone’s software or changing an appropriate setting.
If you can’t find anything specific to your issue, it may be worth trying a factory reset. The process to do this will differ depending on your handset but can usually be looked up online. Always make sure you backup your data first as this will be deleted when performing a reset.
You should check out our Phone Maintenance Guide too, for some tips on keeping your handset running smoothly.
Can I fix my phone myself during lockdown?
Phone repairs can be a very fiddly and very costly business. We usually recommend that you leave mobile phone repairs to the professionals – after all, they know what they’re doing and are usually insured. But if you can’t find a phone repair shop to fix it for you, it could be a workable alternative.
But you should make sure that:
- Your phone is out of warranty – Any home repairs will void your warranty, so we would suggest only performing repairs yourself on phones which are already out of warranty.
- You’re comfortable repairing small electronics – If you’ve never repaired electronic devices before, it’s probably best not to start with your mobile phone.
- It’s not an expensive handset – You wouldn’t want to make a mistake and permanently damage an expensive iPhone, would you?
- You have the parts needed – If you’re replacing your mobile phone screen, you can usually find a variety of suitable replacements on Amazon or ebay. Check with the sellers to make sure it’s an exact match for your handset.
- You have the right tools – Mobile Phone repairs are very fiddly and require very small tools. Make sure you get a good quality phone repair tool kit as regular screwdrivers will be way too big.
If you are going to repair it yourself, check out YouTube for repair videos that will walk you through the process. It’s a good idea to watch them a couple of times and follow along before you attempt your own repair.
However, we still recommend finding a local repair shop to fix it for you if you can.
How do I find a repair shop that’s working during lockdown?
Most phone repair shops are closed for the time being, but some are offering local pickup and delivery for their customers. This means you can book a phone repair, then they’ll send someone to your home to pick up your device.
Once the repair has been completed, they’ll drop the phone back to you – all the while, following social distancing measures to make sure you and their employees stay safe.
How do you find one of these shops? Right here at Get Phone Repairs, of course. We’re ensuring that all our phone repair companies are offering lockdown repairs. Just pop in your postcode or use your location and find a trusted phone repair shop near you. Then, you’ll need to get in touch with them to get a quote and to make sure they book in your repair.
