24
votes
Accepted
How can I use my cell phone's light as a reading light?
Your question includes a solution too, and that is the wrong solution.
Using the phone's light as a reading light is definitely an unfortunate idea in the long run, because it will enforce faster ...
- 2,850
14
votes
Accepted
How to recover swollen battery?
A battery, once it starts to expand or leak, cannot be safely "restored". A leaking battery will, at the least, corrode the phone and it also may catch fire. If you cannot change the battery yourself, ...
- 6,128
11
votes
What to do with old contacts on phone that aren't used anymore?
Although it would take time, you could prefix all your older contacts with the word "OLD". For example:
First name "OLD Joe"
Last name "Blow"
That way, you would keep the old contacts, but they ...
- 11.6k
7
votes
Accepted
Does pressing "9" on a phone actually put my number on an internal "Do not call" list?
Short answer: no.
Pressing "9" by itself while in dial-pad simply stores a 9 to be dialed along with whatever other numbers are entered afterward when you press "Send".
Of course, this and the ...
- 9,832
6
votes
Accepted
What domestic glue to put back a phone's LCD?
Replacement screens, event rebuilds, may come with an adhesive strip already attached. This is also how these screens were mounted in the first place.
If that is not the case we may use double-sided ...
- 4,756
6
votes
How to recover swollen battery?
The battery is unrecoverable. It must be disposed of carefully and safely.
You can possibly recover the phone. After removing the battery, you must carefully clean away any residue and liquid. ...
- 544
6
votes
Accepted
Protecting a smartphone from rain?
Use a condom!
Place your phone in a condom and tie the end. This works even if you submerge it in water. :)
- 260
6
votes
How can I use my cell phone's light as a reading light?
For the love of god, buy a lamp! A little table lamp or perhaps a standard lamp, depending on where you're reading. Or else if there's some special need for darkness, look into buying a torch, many ...
- 161
6
votes
What's an effective way to label cell phones?
You can use plastic zipper pouches with labels like the one below.
You can write the numbers in the labels and place the phones inside the pouches.
This acts as a protective cover for your phone as ...
- 401
5
votes
How can I use my cell phone's light as a reading light?
You can get a clip-on gooseneck mount for a cell phone or tablet that could be used to hold your phone in an appropriate position. I picked up one of these cheap one Black Friday and was very ...
- 151
5
votes
How do you clean your phone screen of breakout causing build up regularly?
In the spirit of an XY Problem
, let me offer an alternative solution:
You want to prevent breakouts caused by bacteria on the phone being transferred to your skin 1. The answer: Don’t let the phone ...
- 3,377
4
votes
Best way to mount a phone in the car
As I have already commented, a simple google search will provide you enough results, anyway, I am adding up a bit for you.
The following is most suited for you, as it neither does any harm to your ...
- 1,957
4
votes
Accepted
Convert smartphone charger into wireless
It's a joke. Doing that will not convert your charger into a wireless charger because the current in the wires of the USB cable is DC.
- 155
4
votes
Best way to mount a phone in the car
I use a magnet, like this:
It costs 10.99€
Pros:
Easy to install
flexible 360 Degrees
simple attaching
Cons:
price
fix on phone or case
A cheap alternative for tinkerer
You could simply stripe ...
- 141
4
votes
What to do with old contacts on phone that aren't used anymore?
Contacts
Smartphones have a Favorite contacts feature; marking all your current-in-your-life contacts as Favorite will allow you to have a smaller pruned list of people you regularly communicate with(...
- 2,794
4
votes
Accepted
What's an effective way to label cell phones?
permanent marker
3D printed phone case with the number embossed
vinyl stick-on letters
plastic phone case with Dymo tape glued to it using 2-part epoxy
Dymo Letratag printed labeling tape is available ...
- 6,344
4
votes
What's an effective way to label cell phones?
If the back of the phone is metal, it can be engraved. If it is glass, it can be etched.
- 592
4
votes
How do I stop 2FA pest attacks?
The obvious trick is to block the number used by the 2FA sender.
You then unblock it when you are expecting a code, then block it again after you've received it.
- 1,865
3
votes
Locked out of phone
There probably isn't a reliable solution to this problem. The whole point of security locks on phones is to prevent unauthorized use. If you've forgotten the unlock code (pattern, pin, password, ...
- 9,832
3
votes
3
votes
Does pressing "9" on a phone actually put my number on an internal "Do not call" list?
As a former telephone researcher and call center employee, probably not.
You have to consider that there are two basic types of calls you may be receiving from "telemarketers". There are real "...
3
votes
Accepted
Is there something I can lay on my phone's screen to emulate my finger?
Take about 12 inches of electrical wire and strip approx. 1/2" of the insulation from one end. Now wrap the exposed bare wire using a piece of aluminum foil and flatten the end of the foil a bit. ...
- 166
3
votes
using rubbing alcohol or vinegar to clean microUSB port on cell phone
Don't ever use vinegar on electronics.
The 'right' stuff here is contact cleaner - but lets be honest here, not everyone who isn't an electronics enthusiast would have them lying around. Rubbing ...
- 269
2
votes
How to recover swollen battery?
No. When a battery starts to swell, it is broken and CANNOT be used anymore. This is a fire waiting to happen - and Lithium fires are very difficult to extinguish.
it only addresses the symptom (gas ...
- 6,344
2
votes
How to improve the life of mobile phone battery?
in addition to the already mentioned things you can also turn off GPS and disable the automatically sync settings in your phone.
Also there is an option "restrict background processes" in settings, ...
- 21
2
votes
Accepted
Avoiding damage to phone screen
I have used about 3 phones in last 6 years. The first one was a Nokia, whose screen I broke for 6 times; after that I used a HTC, broke the screen 2 times; currently I'm using a iPhone and have broken ...
- 136
2
votes
What's an effective way to label cell phones?
HACK: Customize Each Cellphone Wallpaper/Lockscreen Design with the Phone Number.
(The number can't come off 'cuz it's electronically IN and ON each one.)
There are several different ways to do this ...
- 14.2k
2
votes
How to restore a rubberized coating on a smartphone after getting hand sanitizer on it?
You can try wiping with plain (medical) ethyl or isopropyl alcohol to remove the gooey additives in hand sanitizer, if that is what is making the phone feel sticky.
However, there's a chance that the ...
- 6,128
2
votes
How to restore a rubberized coating on a smartphone after getting hand sanitizer on it?
If there is contamination left on the rubber, you could use a dish liquid solution on a warm damp dish cloth. Use care and try it along a bottom edge to see if it cleans without extra damage.
- 481
2
votes
How to restore a rubberized coating on a smartphone after getting hand sanitizer on it?
Water + baking soda
The rubber might be permanently damaged but you can salvage it with water and baking soda.
I had a similar problem with my mouse. I used baking soda dissolved in water to wipe it ...
- 261
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible