Smartphone Troubleshooting: 15 Most Common Questions (With Answers)
Is your phone acting strange, not charging, or just not doing what you expect? You're not alone. At TechPals, we help people solve these everyday smartphone issues all the time — and most of them have simple fixes.
In this guide, we’ve collected 15 of the most frequently asked smartphone questions, with easy-to-follow answers. Whether you're using an iPhone or Android, you'll find practical tips to get your device back on track.
Need one-on-one help? Visit techpals.org to schedule a friendly support session or browse more tech tips on our TechPals blog.
1. Why Won’t My Phone Charge Even When Plugged In?
This is one of the most common — and frustrating — phone issues. If your phone shows a charging icon but the battery doesn’t go up, something isn’t connecting properly.
Try:
Switching to a different charging cable and wall adapter (the current one may be worn out)
Cleaning the charging port gently with a wooden toothpick or soft brush — dust and lint are common culprits
Plugging into a different wall outlet to rule out power issues
Restarting your phone to refresh charging recognition
Avoiding charging from a computer USB port, which usually provides less power
Related: How to Tell If Your Phone Is Charging Properly
2. Why Is My Phone So Slow?
A sluggish phone can make even basic tasks annoying. But in most cases, the cause is simple.
Try:
Restarting your phone to clear memory and background processes
Closing unused apps — especially ones that stay active in the background
Deleting apps you no longer use
Checking for software updates, which often include speed and performance fixes
Freeing up storage space if your phone is nearly full
Related: Why Is My Phone Acting Weird?
3. Why Does My Battery Drain So Fast?
Batteries wear down over time, but settings and habits also play a role.
Try:
Enabling Low Power Mode (iPhone) or Battery Saver (Android) when your battery drops below 30–40%
Turning off background app refresh to stop apps from using power when you’re not using them
Lowering screen brightness or enabling auto-brightness
Turning off location services for apps that don’t need it
Updating your phone’s software to ensure battery optimization features are active
4. Why Can’t I Copy and Paste?
Copying and pasting text on a smartphone should be straightforward, but the process often varies depending on the app you're using and the type of content you're trying to select. Some apps make it easy to highlight text with a long press, while others — especially banking apps or secured web pages — block text selection altogether. You might also run into issues if the text is in an image or a pop-up window. On top of that, if your finger slips or if the screen is unresponsive, the selection handles may not appear, making it seem like the function is broken. Knowing how the gesture works — and which apps support it — is the key to avoiding frustration.
Make sure:
You’re pressing and holding on text until the selection handles appear
You use the selection sliders to highlight what you want
You tap “Copy,” then go to the new field and press/hold again to “Paste”
The app or screen you’re in allows text selection — some don't (like certain bank apps)
Related: How to Use Copy and Paste on a Smartphone
5. Why Won’t My Flashlight Turn On?
Even though your phone’s flashlight is a basic feature, there are several reasons it might not respond when you try to use it. Sometimes it's simply a matter of the flashlight icon being missing from your Control Center or Quick Settings menu, which can happen after a software update or accidental removal. Other times, the flashlight won't turn on because the phone's software has glitched, the camera app is already using the flash, or the phone is overheating and temporarily disabling non-essential features. It's also possible the hardware itself — the LED — is malfunctioning, especially if the phone has been dropped or exposed to water. A quick restart often solves temporary glitches, but checking your settings is a good next step.
Try:
Restarting your phone to reset the hardware connection
Opening the Control Center (iPhone) or Quick Settings (Android) to make sure the flashlight icon is there
If it’s missing, add it back in your settings (iPhone: Settings → Control Center; Android: tap the pencil icon in Quick Settings)
Using voice commands like “Hey Siri, turn on the flashlight” or “Hey Google, flashlight on”
Related: How to Use Your Phone as a Flashlight
6. Why Is Auto-Correct Changing My Words Wrongly?
Auto-correct is meant to save time and catch typos, but it often becomes a source of frustration when it changes perfectly valid words into something completely different — especially names, places, or slang that aren’t in its dictionary. This feature uses built-in algorithms and your typing history to guess what you're trying to say, but it doesn't always get it right. If you find yourself correcting the same "corrections" repeatedly, it's a sign that your keyboard settings need a tweak. Fortunately, you can adjust or turn off auto-correct, add words to your personal dictionary, and disable other features like predictive text to make your typing experience more accurate and less annoying.
You can:
Turn it off entirely in your keyboard settings (iPhone: General → Keyboard; Android: Keyboard settings → Text Correction)
Add your most-used words to your personal dictionary so they’re not corrected
Toggle other related options like “Predictive Text” or “Auto Capitalization” for better accuracy
Related: How to Turn Off Auto-Correct
7. Why Won’t My Voice-to-Text Work?
Voice-to-text, or dictation, is a fantastic accessibility tool and time-saver — but when it fails to pick up your voice or types the wrong words, it can be incredibly frustrating. There are a few common causes: your phone might not have permission to access the microphone, the microphone might be blocked or dirty, or you might be trying to use the feature in an app that doesn’t support it. Sometimes, a weak internet connection can also interfere, especially on older phones that rely on cloud-based processing. A quick restart or checking your settings usually resolves the issue, and trying it in another app can help determine if the problem is device-wide or app-specific.
Try:
Making sure your microphone is clean and not covered by a case
Restarting your phone to refresh microphone access
Checking that dictation/voice typing is enabled in your keyboard settings
Trying the feature in different apps to see if it’s app-specific
Related: How Do I Use Voice-to-Text?
8. Why Won’t My Phone Connect to Wi-Fi?
When your phone won’t connect to Wi-Fi, it can disrupt everything from checking emails to using apps. The issue might be on your phone, your router, or both. Sometimes, your phone gets stuck trying to reconnect to a network that’s no longer working properly, or you might have accidentally enabled Airplane Mode. If you recently changed your Wi-Fi password or network name, your phone may be trying to use old login credentials. Fortunately, toggling Wi-Fi off and on, forgetting the network and rejoining it, or restarting your device and router often clears up most connection problems quickly.
Try:
Toggling Wi-Fi off and back on in your settings or control panel
Restarting your phone and your router
Forgetting the Wi-Fi network and reconnecting (you’ll need to re-enter the password)
Making sure Airplane Mode is off
9. Why Does My Phone Keep Dropping Calls?
Frequent dropped calls can be incredibly annoying, especially if they happen during important conversations. This issue is often tied to a weak cell signal, but other factors can play a role — including SIM card issues, outdated software, or even interference from your phone case. Some calls may drop due to network congestion, especially in busy areas or during peak hours. In rare cases, your phone might be switching between towers or trying to connect to a weak 5G signal instead of a stronger 4G one. Removing and reinserting your SIM card or checking for a software update can help, and moving to an area with better reception is always worth a try.
Could be:
Weak cellular signal or temporary carrier outages
Your SIM card is loose or damaged — try removing and reinserting it
A case or accessory interfering with antenna performance
Software bugs that require a system update
10. Why Won’t My Apps Update?
When your apps won’t update, it’s usually because of a few specific causes: your phone may not be connected to Wi-Fi, your app store account might be logged out, or there may not be enough free space on your phone to complete the update. Low Power Mode or Battery Saver settings can also pause background updates to conserve energy, and outdated system software may prevent compatibility with new app versions. In some cases, you might need to manually refresh the app store or clear its cache to get things working again. Start by checking your network and account, then restart your phone for good measure.
Try:
Connecting to a strong Wi-Fi network
Checking your App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android) account — make sure you're logged in
Restarting your phone
Ensuring your phone has enough free storage space
Turning off Low Power Mode, which can pause updates
11. Why Do I Keep Getting Spam Texts?
Scam messages are on the rise — but you can fight back.
You can:
Block the sender in your Messages app\n- Report the text by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM)\n- Avoid replying or clicking any links\n- Turn on spam protection in your messaging app settings
Related: E-ZPass Scam Text Warning
12. Why Does My Phone Overheat?
Phones heat up for several reasons — most are preventable.
Possible causes:
Using power-heavy apps (like games or video calls) for too long
Leaving your phone in a hot car or under sunlight
Charging while using high-powered apps
Faulty or cheap charging cables
13. Why Does My Camera Look Blurry?
Blurry photos usually have a simple fix.
Try:
Cleaning the camera lens with a soft, dry cloth (finger smudges are common)\n- Tapping the screen to refocus manually\n- Closing and reopening the Camera app\n- Removing any case or lens protector that might be blocking the lens
14. Why Can’t I Hear People on Calls?
If audio is muffled or silent, try this:
Try:
Turning up the in-call volume using the side buttons\n- Making sure Bluetooth isn’t connected to headphones or a speaker\n- Plugging in and removing wired headphones to reset the audio system\n- Restarting your phone to refresh all sound settings
15. What Should I Do If I Get a Scam Text or Email?
Scammers rely on speed and fear — don’t fall for it.
Don’t click links. Instead:
Delete the message immediately\n- Report text scams by forwarding to 7726\n- Report phishing emails through your email provider’s tools\n- If you clicked something, change your passwords and run a security scan
Related:
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone — And Most Fixes Are Simple
If your phone is acting up, chances are it’s something you can fix — or something we can help you fix.
Save or bookmark this guide for the next time something goes wrong. And remember, TechPals is here to make technology less stressful and more useful.
Need extra help? Visit techpals.org to get one-on-one support or explore our full blog archive.
