An iPhone is a big investment, so it’s important that you know how to take good care of it. Read on for some handy tips and tricks that can help your device stay in good condition and deliver optimal performance for as long as possible.
Keep it clean.
There’s no way around it: no matter how careful you are, your iPhone is going to get dirty from being carried around and handled all day. Making sure you clean your device regularly is therefore a critical part of keeping it in top condition.
To clean your iPhone, start by turning it off, then use a clean, non-abrasive cloth to wipe down the entire device. If your iPhone is super grimy, you can moisten the cloth with a light screen cleaning solution. However, be sure to avoid using products like cleaning chemicals or antibacterial wipes. They can damage the device’s screen or casing.
Use a toothpick, old toothbrush, or dry cloth to gently clean the charging port, the speaker and microphone, and the headphone jack. Carefully dislodge and wipe away any dirt or debris that may have become lodged in these openings.
Keep it protected.
Although the latest iPhone models are impressively sturdy and resilient, it’s still not difficult for a device to get damaged accidentally. Save your iPhone from a cracked screen, scratched casing, or worse by investing in a couple of essential protective accessories.
A good case will help protect your iPhone from everyday wear and tear. This can make all the difference if your iPhone is dropped or stepped on. There are a wide variety of protective iPhone cases available in all kinds of materials and styles, so it won’t be difficult to find one that suits your needs.
Another accessory to consider investing in is a screen protector. This is a removable, temporary cover, typically made of glass or plastic, that fits over your screen and shields it from scratches and cracks.
Keep it cool.
You may not realize it, but your iPhone was designed to function within a specific temperature range. According to Apple, the optimal ambient temperature for operating an iPhone is between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you use your device in higher temperatures, or if you store or leave it somewhere hot (like inside a parked car in the sun), you could risk permanently shortening its battery life or causing other system damage. To avoid this, don’t use your phone too much in hot conditions, and keep it stored somewhere cooler.
If your device is in danger of overheating, it will display a temperature warning. If you see this message on your screen, turn off your iPhone and wait for it to cool down before using it again.
Keep it charged correctly.
Following correct charging procedure helps boost your iPhone’s overall performance by prolonging battery life and boosting battery health. Most experts recommend keeping your device charged between 40 percent and 80 percent. This means you don’t need to worry about waiting till the battery is completely drained before you start charging (or waiting until it’s reached 100 percent before disconnecting).
Always use the charger that came with your iPhone. There are other, less expensive versions available, but these don’t always fit properly, they tend to charge more slowly, and they can actually damage your device. Finally, depending on the model of case you use, you may need to remove it during charging to prevent your iPhone from overheating.
Keep it updated.
Keeping your iOS system and your apps updated is an important part of ensuring peak iPhone performance. Updates always come with bug fixes for better performance, enhanced security, new features, and a more stable user experience. Normally, iOS will notify you whenever an update is available. You can also manually check for new updates in your Settings menu.
As for your apps, you can see if there are any pending app updates by opening the App Store and selecting Updates. You can enable automatic app updates by toggling the Updates option to On in your iTunes and App Store Settings.
Keep it clutter-free.
The more files, apps, and other things you keep on your iPhone, the slower it tends to run. To help keep overall performance high, don’t fill up your iPhone storage to the max.
Leave yourself some room by moving important files, like photos and videos, to the cloud. Additionally, get into a regular habit of going through your apps and deleting those you no longer need or that you use infrequently.
Keep it secure.
A final element of keeping your iPhone in good condition involves protecting it from security risks. Keep your device secure by using a lockscreen password, keeping iOS and your apps up-to-date, avoiding public or unsecured Wi-Fi connections, using antivirus software, and storing a minimum amount of sensitive data on the device.