The Complete iPhone Repair Guide

Start here: know which iPhone you have

Almost every repair question starts with the same detail: your exact model. Screens, batteries and charging ports differ from one generation to the next, and even the Pro and non-Pro versions of the same year use different parts.

To check, open Settings > General > About and look at Model Name. If the phone won't turn on, the model is printed on the original box, and you can also find it in your Apple Account's device list on another Apple device or on the web. Having the model ready makes any quote quicker and more accurate.

Common iPhone problems by symptom

Use this table to match what you're seeing with the most likely cause. It isn't a diagnosis, but it helps you decide whether a quick fix at home is worth trying before you book a repair.

If your symptom isn't listed, or several things went wrong at once after a drop, it's worth having a technician look at the whole phone rather than guessing. Our main iPhone repair page covers the full range of what can be fixed.

iPhone screens: OLED, LCD and what actually breaks

Which screen does your iPhone have?

iPhones use two kinds of display. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and the iPhone SE models use an LCD screen with a backlight. The iPhone X and most models since, including every iPhone in the current lineup, use an OLED screen, where each pixel makes its own light. OLED screens give deeper blacks and are thinner, and they're also more involved to replace.

Glass damage vs display damage

On modern iPhones the front glass, touch layer and display are bonded together into one assembly. That means even a crack that only seems to be in the glass is usually fixed by replacing the whole screen. The difference matters for urgency, though:

• Glass only: the picture and touch still work normally. You can usually wait a short while, but cracks tend to spread and they let moisture and dust in.
• Display damage: black blotches, coloured lines, flickering, a green or purple tint, or parts of the screen not responding to touch. This usually gets worse, so it's best to book soon.
• Ghost touch: the screen taps or swipes by itself. This can come from a damaged touch layer and can open apps or send messages, so treat it as urgent.

What to ask about replacement screens

Replacement iPhone screens vary in quality. An OLED replacement keeps the look and battery efficiency of the original, while lower-cost LCD-style replacements for OLED models can look dimmer, show less accurate colour and use more power. Ask your technician which type she's quoting so you can choose with the full picture. Two features to mention when you book: True Tone, which needs the screen's data carried over to work after a replacement, and Face ID, whose sensors sit at the top of the screen and need careful handling.

For a deeper walk-through of cracks and your options, see our cracked screen guide and the post on how long an iPhone screen replacement takes.

Batteries and Battery Health

Every iPhone battery is a lithium-ion cell that slowly loses capacity as it ages. You'll notice it as shorter battery life, the phone feeling sluggish, or sudden shutdowns in cold weather or under heavy use.

How to check Battery Health

1. Open Settings > Battery.
2. Tap Battery Health (shown as Battery Health & Charging on some models and iOS versions).
3. Look at Maximum Capacity, which compares your battery today with when it was new.
4. Read the note under Peak Performance Capability. If iOS has slowed the phone to prevent unexpected shutdowns, or recommends service, it says so here.

Newer models also show the battery's cycle count and when it was manufactured. A lower Maximum Capacity on its own isn't a reason to panic. What matters is whether the phone still gets you through your day.

Charging settings that help

iPhones include charging optimization in the same Battery section. Optimized Battery Charging learns your routine and holds the charge partway overnight, finishing just before you usually unplug. Recent models also offer a charge limit option. Leaving these on is one of the simplest ways to slow battery wear. Our phone battery guide covers charging habits, heat and when replacement makes sense.

Charging problems

iPhone 14 and earlier models use a Lightning port, and the iPhone 15 and later use USB-C. Most iPhones from the iPhone 12 onward also support MagSafe magnetic charging, and models since the iPhone 8 support standard wireless charging, which is handy if the port stops working.

Quick checks before booking

1. Try a different cable and a different power adapter you know works.
2. Shine a flashlight into the port. Pocket lint packs down at the back and stops the plug seating fully.
3. If you see lint, a wooden toothpick or a soft brush can loosen it gently. Never use pins, paper clips or anything metal.
4. Restart the phone and try again.
5. If you see a liquid-detected alert, unplug and let the phone dry before charging again.

If none of that helps, the port itself may be worn or damaged. Our post on iPhone charging port fixes goes step by step, and our charging port repair page explains the fix.

Cameras

iPhone camera problems usually fall into two groups. The first is the lens cover, the small sapphire or glass window over each camera on the back. A crack there makes photos hazy or adds streaks of light, even though the camera itself is fine. The second is the camera module inside, which can be damaged by a hard drop and shows up as a black viewfinder, a lens that buzzes or rattles, or focus that hunts constantly.

Apple has noted that strong vibration, such as from mounting a phone on a high-powered motorcycle, can affect the image stabilization in iPhone cameras over time. If your camera began shaking after a ride, mention that when you book. Before calling, clean the lens with a soft cloth, close the Camera app fully and restart. If the problem stays, our camera repair page explains what can be fixed.

Face ID

Face ID uses the TrueDepth camera system at the top of the screen. If Face ID stops working after a drop, it's often the result of damage near the top edge of the phone. Some causes are simple, such as a dirty or cracked area over the sensors, or a screen protector covering them. Others involve the Face ID hardware itself.

Because Face ID components are paired to each individual iPhone, a damaged Face ID module generally can't be swapped for a part from another phone. That's why a careful screen replacement matters: the sensors at the top must be handled properly so Face ID keeps working afterward. If Face ID was already failing before your screen broke, say so when you request a quote.

Water and liquid damage

Recent iPhones are water resistant, not waterproof, and that resistance weakens as seals age or after the phone is dropped or opened. If your iPhone gets wet:

1. Take it out of the liquid and dry the outside with a lint-free cloth.
2. Don't plug it in, and don't charge it wirelessly, until it's thoroughly dry.
3. Tap it gently, port facing down, to let water drain.
4. Leave it in a dry spot with some airflow. Skip hair dryers and other heat.
5. Skip the rice. It doesn't pull water out of a phone and leaves dust and starch behind. Our post on the wet phone rice myth explains why.

Salt water, pool water and sugary drinks are harder on a phone than fresh water because they leave residue that corrodes connectors. In those cases, getting the phone looked at sooner gives you better odds. Read more in our water damage guide or on the water damage repair page.

Parts and Service History notices

On supported models, iPhones keep a record of replaced parts. You'll find it under Settings > General > About, in a section called Parts and Service History, which only appears once a part has been replaced. Each replaced part is listed either as an Apple part or as an Unknown Part, depending on where the part came from and whether it has been paired to the phone.

Back up before any repair

A screen or battery repair shouldn't touch your data, but backing up first protects you if anything unexpected happens, and it's simply good practice.

• iCloud: connect to Wi-Fi, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.
• Computer: on a Mac, connect the iPhone and use Finder. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app or iTunes.
• Photos: if you're tight on iCloud storage, check that iCloud Photos is syncing or copy your photos to a computer.
• Passcode: make sure you know it. You'll need to unlock the phone to test the repair.

We've written a full checklist in how to back up your iPhone before a screen repair.

Repair or replace?

Fixing the iPhone you already have is often the sensible choice, but not always. Run through these questions:

• Is the phone still receiving iOS updates? If it's no longer supported, that tips the scale toward replacing.
• Is it one problem (a screen, a battery) or several at once?
• Apart from the damage, does the phone still do everything you need?
• Would a new phone mean moving all your data, apps and accounts?
• Is the phone paid off, and does a repair make more sense than a new contract?

If the phone is still supported and the problem is a single part, repair usually wins. Our post comparing cracked screen repair vs a new phone works through the decision, and our used phone buying guide helps if you decide to replace it. If you're switching carriers, our phone unlocking page and post on phone unlocking in Ontario explain your rights under the CRTC Wireless Code.

How at-home iPhone repair works

Woman Wireless On The Go has no storefront. A certified woman technician comes to you, whether that's your home, workplace, parked car or condo lobby. Here's how it goes:

1. Request a repair online, by phone or on WhatsApp, with your model and the problem.
2. Get a free quote before any work starts.
3. Confirm a time. Online requests book into morning, afternoon or evening windows, and the exact time is confirmed by phone or WhatsApp.
4. The technician comes to you and does the repair on the spot.
5. Test it together before she leaves: touch, Face ID, cameras, charging and anything else that matters to you.

The technician confirms timing for your specific repair when she quotes. To compare this with taking your phone to a store, read walk-in shop vs mobile phone technician or our at-home phone repair guide.

Need a hand?

If your iPhone needs more than a quick fix, we'll come to you. We cover Milton, Oakville, Burlington, Halton Hills, Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto. Tell us your model and what's wrong, and you'll get a free quote before any work starts. Call or WhatsApp (365) 351-4247, message us on WhatsApp, or book online.

Frequently asked questions