Scary-Looking Device Problems That Are Often Simple (and a Few That Aren't)

It's Halloween, so let's talk about the device problems that look terrifying in the moment. A black screen. A phone too hot to hold. A warning about liquid in the port. A lot of these turn out to have simple causes you can check at home in a few minutes. A few really are warning signs, and those are worth knowing too. Here's how to tell the difference.

Often simple: the phone is completely black

A phone that won't light up is often just a phone with a fully drained battery. Apple says a very low iPhone may need to charge for up to 10 minutes before it can turn on, and the screen can stay blank for up to two minutes after you plug it in. Give it time on a known-good charger before assuming the worst.

Still nothing? Try a force restart. On a recent iPhone, press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until you see the logo. Most Android phones restart if you hold the power button (sometimes with volume down) for several seconds. Then charge for another half hour.

Often simple: it won't charge

Before blaming the phone, Apple suggests working through the basics: try a different outlet, a different cable and a different adapter, and check them for damage. Then look inside the charging port with a flashlight. Pocket lint packs into ports over time and can stop a cable from seating all the way. If you see an "accessory not supported" message on an iPhone, Apple notes that a dirty or damaged port can be the cause. If you clean it yourself, power the phone off and be gentle. Nothing metal, and nothing sharp.

Often simple: it's suddenly hot or shuts off in the cold

Apple lists the iPhone's comfortable operating range as 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. A phone in a hot car or running navigation in the sun can show a temperature warning and dim the screen or slow charging. Apple's advice is to turn it off, move it somewhere cooler and let it cool down. On the other end, a cold October night outside can make a phone shut off or refuse to charge until it warms back up. A phone that's uncomfortably hot while sitting still, though, is a different story (see below).

Often simple: the laptop fan sounds like it's about to take off

A roaring fan usually means the laptop is working hard or can't breathe. Check for an app or browser tab eating the processor, and make sure the vents aren't blocked by a blanket, couch cushion or bed. Laptops are happiest on a hard, flat surface. Restart it, give the vents some room, and listen again.

Often simple: the screen is frozen

Apps freeze. Phones and laptops freeze. A restart fixes more than people expect, and installing pending updates often fixes the rest. If one app keeps freezing, update it or remove it and reinstall it.

Sometimes simple: "liquid detected" in the port

Some phones warn you when they sense moisture in the charging port. Take it seriously, but don't panic. Unplug the cable, and don't charge while the warning is showing. Apple's guidance is not to charge an iPhone while liquid is present. Let it dry in open air, and skip the rice. If the warning keeps coming back after the phone has had time to dry, or the phone got properly dunked, it's time for a closer look.

Not simple: stop and get help

These are the ones that aren't worth troubleshooting at home:

• A screen that's lifting, or a case that suddenly doesn't fit. That can be a swollen battery. Stop charging, keep it away from anything flammable, and don't press on it.
• A burning smell, smoke, popping or hissing. Unplug it if you safely can, move away, and don't use it again.
• Too hot to hold while doing nothing. Apple says to stop using a device if you suspect damage to it or its battery.
• A hard drive that clicks or grinds. Turn it off and read our failing drive guide before trying anything else.
• A storage warning in Windows. Microsoft's advice is to back up your data right away.
• Repeated restarts or a boot loop that doesn't stop after charging and a force restart.
• Anything that got wet and is acting strange. Corrosion can keep working after the device looks dry.

When to bring it in

If you've tried the simple checks and it's still haunted, that's what we're here for. Phones, laptops, tablets, consoles and plenty of other electronics come through our Latham shop, which is a short trip from Troy. We'll tell you what we find and give you a free estimate before doing any work. And if it turns out to be lint in a port, we'll tell you that too.

Want us to take a look?

Tech Station is an appointment-only repair shop at 6 Northway Lane, Latham, NY 12110. We work on phones, consoles, computers, tablets and plenty of other electronics, so if your device isn't mentioned here, ask anyway. Pick whichever of these is easiest for you:

• Book online: choose a time that works for you on our online booking calendar.
• Call us: 518-900-1663 if you'd rather talk it through first.
• Text us: send a quick description (and a photo if you can) to 518-900-1663.

Estimates are free. Diagnostics are free, and we explain the repair and its price and get your okay before we start. Repairs come with a 30-day warranty, and we offer free pickup and delivery within 5 miles of the shop. We can't promise every device can be fixed, but we'll always tell you what we find.