Summer's in full swing, and with it comes a number of cellphone problems and dangers.
From overheating to a sweaty screen, summertime can bring out the worst side of your phone. Nip those digital pet peeves in the bud by preparing for what lies ahead this season.
Here are tips and tricks for eight annoying things your phone is capable of during the summer.
1. Your phone overheats.
You're not the only one who wants to soak up the sun this summer â€" your cellphone does too.
But when your mobile device becomes too hot to handle, you'll notice it tries to save itself. Your phone will alert you with a warning on your display screen and will automatically shut down.
Tip: Overheating can cause permanent damage to your phone. When your phone tells you it needs to cool down, it's best to store the phone in an area away from direct light and extreme heat.
In addition to the sun, heat can come from your battery. Two effective ways to prevent your phone from overheating are to turn it off when it's not in use and exit out of apps or features that could drain your battery.
If you often find your phone overheating, the battery could be weak. If this is the case, you may want to have a professional check it out.
2. Sweat gets on the screen.
Sweat from a day at the beach or a heavy workout has the potential to cause phone damage.
Tip: As soon as you notice your phone dripping with sweat, power down your phone immediately and take it out of its case. Soak up the sweat with a soft cloth or cotton swab. Take out the battery and SIM card if you can, and place your phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice over night or for a few days. The dry rice should absorb the leftover moisture from your phone.
Sweat isn't not the only thing that can dirty our phone screens this summer. Smudges from melted makeup or greasy fingers can build up, too. To remove these marks, use a soft lint-free or microfiber cloth to gently wipe down your screen.
3. Your camera lens fogs up.
You pull out your camera phone to snap the moment, and realize how cloudy your lens is.
Tip: Odds are, moisture or condensation found its way into the lens. You may feel the need to wipe it with your finger, but that will only leave you with a greasy, finger-printed lens. A quick wipe down with a soft, lint-free or microfiber cloth should do the trick.
If that doesn't work and your photos are still coming out blurry, the issue could be more serious. Turn off your phone, and place it in bowl or bag of dry rice overnight or for a few nights. This can absorb the moisture on the camera lens.
If your photos still aren't clear, look closely at the camera lens to see if there are any noticeable scratches, dust or dirt. Carefully take a guitar pick or use your fingernail to gently scrape the lens. If any obvious debris comes off, use the cloth to keep cleaning.
If not, have a professional take a closer look at the camera lens.
4. Sand seeps into the cracks and crevices of your phone.
Long after you leave the beach, you may find gritty sand stuck in hard-to-reach areas of your phone.
Tip: Before your beach getaway, cover the front and back of your phone with plastic cling wrap. Double check to make sure all the openings and ports of your phone are protected and you’re good to go.
If your phone is swamped in sand, turn it off before you start cleaning it. Use a small can of compressed air (you can purchase these at most tech and gadget stores, such as Best Buy) to blow out the sand. An alternative is to use a vacuum with a small crevice tool.
5. Your phone may decide to go for a swim.
Sometimes, instead of overheating, your phone does the complete opposite.
Tip: Before heading to the pool or beach, use a ziplock bag to protect your phone. If that's not reassuring enough, look into buying a waterproof case.
If your phone took a dip in the pool, power it down immediately and take a soft cloth or cotton swab to dry it out. Then, take it out of its case and remove the battery or SIM card if you can. Place your phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice over night or for a few days. The dry rice should absorb the moisture from your phone.
6. Your phone is synonymous with portable FOMO.
Thanks to social media, we get to see pictures of all the awesome places, concerts, vacations and cool things your friends are doing on our news feeds.
Tip: Temporarily unplug this summer to give yourself a much-needed break. Whether it's turning off your phone from time to time or deactivating Facebook, find a way to tune out those news feeds.
Studies show you'll feel less stressed, sleep better and get rid of negative feelings.
7. Screen visibility becomes a problem.
Your phone's display is crisp and clear indoors, but suddenly gets washed out when you're in the sun. You can jack up the brightness level in your settings, but that'll only drain your battery more.
Tip: Look into purchasing an anti-glare screen protector, which can improve your screen’s readability in daylight. These screen protectors are designed to block out the reflection of UV rays and cancel out irritating screen glares. You can find these online, through your wireless carrier, and at any gadget or tech store.
8. Camera Roll is full when you need it the most.
You're standing before a breathtaking sunset, and fire up your phone's camera to capture the moment. "Cannot Take Photo" pops up. Next thing you know, you find yourself scrambling to decide which photos you can live without to make space in your album.
Tip: If you're an active iPhone photographer, it may be a good idea to take advantage of the free Photo Stream feature.
Photo Stream is a cloud-based photo album that allows you to share photos across different devices. When connected to Wi-Fi, Photo Stream stores up to 1,000 images, and the iCloud service will keep 30 days worth of Photo Stream snapshots.
That way, you don’t have to worry about album space on your iPhone.
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