Common Causes of Phone Damage

We depend on our smartphones. They allow us to stay connected, informed and updated during the hectic daily life. For many of us, these smartphones have become more than just a tool, so we should probably take better care of them than we do. Instead of treating them like toys that can be replaced on a whim, we should treat smartphones like they contain sensitive data and our jobs depend on it.

What steps can you take to ensure you don’t damage or destroy your mobile device? I have a list of nasty things that can be dangerous to the health of your smartphone or tablet.

Expose it to the elements

Heat and cold can bring this smart device to the land of devastation. Leaving your phone in a car in the heat of summer or overnight in the cold of winter is a surefire way to say goodbye and have to return to your carrier for a replacement. Studies have shown that Android devices are more resistant to cold than iOS devices, but at around -40 degrees Fahrenheit, both platforms will stop working.

SEE: 10 Common Misconceptions About Mobile Device Batteries

The heat is worse. At 113 degrees Fahrenheit, devices will be affected. The best way to avoid the effects of heat is to turn off the device. The moral of the story: don’t leave your phone in your car (and if you find yourself in the desert, turn it off).

Improper rooting

There are a number of users who want to take as much control over their devices as possible. To do this, they root their smartphones. There are many reasons to root a device and one reason not to. There is always a small chance that incorrect rooting can brick a phone. That’s why, on every set of rooting instructions you find, you’ll see warnings that should make average users shy away from the act.

In fact, in many cases, there are tools that make rooting much simpler. But even with this simplicity, you might end up with a device that refuses to work. Root carefully.

Ignore Malware

Malware isn’t just for desktop computers. The threat of malware could cause even more serious damage to a smartphone. For what? Because smartphone malware can track your location (no matter where you are) and retrieve highly sensitive data, among other things. Zscaler’s ThreatLabz witnessed a 29% increase in mobile banking malware compared to 2024with banking malware accounting for 20% of the total Android threat landscape.

Loïc Guézo, Senior Director of Cybersecurity Strategy at Proofpointsaid: “Scams, smashingand mobile malware has increased exponentially in recent years. This is a trend that started before the pandemic and is continuing. The trust in mobile messaging communications makes it a very attractive platform for business and marketing activities; it also makes the mobile channel ripe for fraud and identity theft by cybercriminals.

SEE: Cybercriminals Deploy New Malware to Steal Data via Android Near Field Communication

You should exercise caution when installing apps on your smartphone. I recommend users to install an app like Malwarebytes to keep their phones as malware-free as possible. Don’t ignore the threat of malware. Install enough malware-filled apps and your phone will become useless until it’s removed.

Fill it completely

Smartphones have very little storage space. Unless you’re using an Android phone and use SD cards smartly, you can quickly fill these devices until they no longer work. My wife didn’t know she was working without SD card until the device begins to malfunction. I discovered he had no space left, so I added an SD card and transferred all his photos from the main storage. Everything was fine.

Without enough storage space, the device simply won’t work. Monitor the space on your device and, if possible, use SD cards.

SEE: How to free up storage space in Android 11

Leave it on…always

Our smartphones work, work, work and work. In fact, in many cases, these devices perform better than our desktops and laptops. The fact is that even these remarkably stable moving platforms need rest. At least once a week, restart this device or (better yet) turn it off for about 30 minutes.

This will ensure that caches are cleared and subsystems are properly restarted. Shutting down the device once a week will help the longevity of the device’s RAM and allow some diagnostics to run at startup.

Botched SIM card lock

There’s a good reason to lock your SIM card: so that other people can’t use it. However, the SIM card lock and this SIM card are toast. I understand it’s not the device itself, but until you replace the SIM card your phone won’t work. If you feel the need to lock the SIM card, do it VERY carefully. You don’t know how to proceed? Read my article here: Protect your Android SIM card with a SIM PINlock.

Plug it in carelessly

These micro USB connections aren’t as bad as USB connections (there’s still a 50/50 chance you’ll get it right the first time), but they can still be a little difficult to connect. When frustration sets in, it’s tempting to force things. Fight this urge at all costs. With a single press, the micro USB port is destroyed. If you break this, the phone will disappear (at least when the battery finally runs out).

Trust me, I’ve known a few people who did this and had to shell out for a new device. Always use caution when connecting the device.

SEE: Apple pulls iPhone 14 and SE from EU member states ahead of USB-C deadline

Flash the wrong ROM

There are many read-only memory, or ROM, options for Android devices – ROMs that bring all sorts of amazing features or even just minimal functionality. But if you flash the wrong ROM on your device, it will be toast. Flashing an incorrect ROM could even make the cellular radio dead. Make sure you are flashing a ROM designed for your specific device. You have been warned.

SEE: How to know which Android apps are using the most memory

Wet it

I left the obvious for last. You might be surprised to learn that the slightest drop of water can irreparably damage a smartphone. This means that if you use your device for outdoor activities, like running or cycling, be sure to put the device in a waterproof case or bag. Just make sure it’s not too hot or you risk heat damage.

If your device is exposed to water, the first thing to do is turn it off and remove the battery (if applicable). And you can always use the “rice trick”: immerse the device in dry rice to remove all the moisture. I did this and it works (if the humidity hasn’t already destroyed the device).

How to ruin a phone battery?

There are several ways to damage your phone battery. The most common is overcharging, because continually leaving a phone plugged in after reaching 100% generates heat and stress, degrading its capacity. On the other hand, letting the battery drain down to 0% frequently can cause chemical imbalances in lithium-ion batteries that shorten their lifespan.

As mentioned above, keeping the phone in very hot environments, such as under direct sunlight, accelerates chemical reactions inside its battery, leading to irreversible damage. Cheap or uncertified chargers may also provide inconsistent or excessive voltage that will stress or potentially overheat the battery. Likewise, fast chargers can gradually wear out their internal components as they generate more heat and stress.

Avoiding these practices can extend the life of your device’s battery, but if it’s already too late, check out the ten best gadgets to increase your iPhone battery life.

What causes a phone screen to crack?

Smartphone screens are very fragile, often made of aluminosilicate glass. Although this material is chosen because it is scratch resistant and looks expensive, it will still crack under blunt force. This risk may be increased if the device is exposed to sudden temperature changes between hot and cold, as this can cause the glass to expand and contract, weakening it and making it more prone to cracking. Consider a high-quality screen protector and phone case to protect your device from impacts that damage the screen.

Fiona Jackson updated this article in January 2025.