Last week the Apple has announced that is closing all of its stores outside China in order to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. This is an unprecedented move taking into consideration that the stores might be closed for the foreseeable future. What does this mean for their customers?
Well, if you experience any kind of problem with your device or you crack the screen, you will not be able to go to the nearest store and have it fixed. It may seem like you are left on your own, but that is not the case. In this article, we are going to discuss a few ways of how you can fix your iPhone without going to an Apple store.
Online support
If you are experiencing some sort of technical problems with your phone, you can always contact an Apple representative and ask them for help. In order to do this, firstly, you have to download the Apple Support app or visit the Apple Support website via your laptop.
Upon opening the app, you will be presented with the ‘Discover’ screen where you will find multiple useful articles on various problems but also special features. Go to the ‘search’ field and type in the keywords describing your issue. Now, once again, you will be presented by numerous articles that are supposed to help you solve the issue you are faced with.
If you can’t locate the solution here, go and find the ‘Get Support’ button at the bottom of the page. Assuming that you are signed in with your account, the display will show you all the devices you possess and you will have to choose the one you are having problems with. One piece of advice – before tapping on the device, you should check if it is still covered by warranty. You can do this by clicking on your icon and then going to the ‘Check Coverage’ page.
Once you have chosen the device, once again you will be presented with numerous options each one of them describing problems that can occur with the said device. You can use the ‘search’ button to find the one you need quickly, but if you are not sure how to describe it, you should scroll through all of these until you find the right one.
Upon clicking on the one that describes your issue, you will be able to communicate with the representative. In the past, this communication was only possible via phone call, but now, you can chat with them or even schedule a call whenever it is convenient for you.
Authorized repair centers
In normal circumstances, you have the option of going to the Apple store or one of the centers that are authorized by the company. Nevertheless, since their official shops are closed until further notice, you can go to some of these repair centers.
This is the best choice if your device is still under warranty. If you are not sure about these, once again, you can check it on Apple’s website or support app, whichever you are using. How to put in the request for the repair?
Firstly, you go to the Apple Repair website. Click on the button that says ‘Start a repair request’ and choose your iPhone. Then, the app will display some of the most frequent and general problems such as “Cannot lock or unlock phone” or “Unable to update or restore”. Upon choosing one of these, you will be asked: “How would you like to get help?” You will see a button ‘Find iPhone Repair Price’ and when you click on it, the next screen will show you to that cost for multiple models. Go back, click on ‘Schedule a Repair’ and put in details such as your device’s serial number of something else.
For the next step, you have to ensure that the location on your iPhone is on because you will see a map of all authorized centers. Type in your zip code or street address and choose one of these centers. Find an opening in the schedule and set up the date and time you want.
The final step is to take your phone on the said date to the repair center of your choice. However, considering the current situation, the better option might be to mail it.
A third-party repair store
In case you do not have AppleCare+ protection or your device isn’t covered by warranty, you can always find and go to a third-party repair center. For example, you can go with streettalkphonerepair.com.
When you visit their website, the first thing that you will see is the ‘Get an Estimate’ field. All you have to do is to choose the model of your iPhone and write a short description of the problem. Their representatives will contact you back soon. On the other hand, if you want to have in-person contact you can go to one of their two stores.
Let’s be honest, when something is wrong with your phone, you want it fixed as soon as possible, because well, nowadays, we rely on these devices too much. This company understands that which is why they stock a variety of parts in their store. This means that when it comes to some general problems like battery replacement or screen repair you won’t have to wait longer than 15 minutes.
Try to fix it yourself
If none of these suggestions work for you, we have one last one. Even if you are not a tech-savvy person, you can still try to solve the issue on your own. Right now, this might be the best option due to the quarantine and maintaining social distancing situation.
Try to figure out what is wrong with your iPhone, if it is something technical. There are numerous repair guides online that can help you fix the device. Just make sure to read them very carefully, and also, you should try to find the one that describes all the issues and solutions in great detail.
