Right this moment, without realizing it, you could be making mistakes on your iPhone that are leading to all kinds of issues (and if they aren’t issues now, they may become issues down the road). Maybe the mistake is sucking up storage power that you could be using for all of those photos you want to take and files you want to download. Perhaps you’re making a slew of errors that wear your battery down — or worse — leave you wide open to hackers.
Whatever the outcome of these mistakes, the important thing to remember is that they can be solved and you can stop making them — but, first, you have to be aware of them. If tech experts had to put their money on four of the most common iPhone mistakes you’re probably making, here they are in all of their glory:
Not backing up your iPhone regularly
If you don’t back up your iPhone regularly, you risk losing all your important and meaningful data like your contacts, photos, and messages, warns Tech Expert Philip Bacon, the founder, marketing director and chief strategist of Bacon Marketing.
“This can be a huge problem if your phone gets lost, stolen, or damaged and it’s unlikely you’ll be able to retrieve all of this data if this does happen, meaning important memories could be lost forever,” Bacon says. “Make sure to regularly back up your iPhone by connecting your phone to your computer and using iTunes, or by using iCloud at least once a month — though it’s always a good idea to do it more frequently if you can. If you want, you can also set your phone to auto-sync your data, meaning your data like photos and videos will automatically be saved to the cloud, giving you peace of mind.”
Using non-Apple chargers
“While it may be tempting to use a cheaper, non-Apple charger for your iPhone, doing so can cause damage to your phone’s battery over a long time, and leave you out of pocket as this damage will not be covered by most warranties or insurance policies,” Bacon says. “While they will still work, non-Apple chargers may not be made with the same quality standards as official Apple chargers, which can lead to issues like overcharging or overheating as the voltage or current may be different to what the phone can handle – in some cases, using a non-Apple charger can even lead to your phone’s battery exploding.”
So, unless it’s an emergency, Bacon advises only ever using certified Apple chargers. “While the damage might seem small, it can build up over time and cause you problems in the long run,” he says.
Ignoring software updates
Apple releases software updates for a reason — they often include important bug fixes and security updates meaning ignoring these updates could leave your phone vulnerable to security threats, as well as lead to performance issues or app crashes that can be frustrating, according to Bacon.
“That’s why I always recommend installing software updates as soon as they’re available, or at least schedule them for later on the same day – like overnight when you are asleep,” Bacon says. “This will ensure that your phone is running the latest version of the operating system with all the important bug fixes and security updates right away, and help prevent any problems.”
Not securing your device
Last but not least, far too many iPhone users are failing to secure their devices by using a passcode or Touch ID, according to Tech Expert Jared Floyd. founder at Ajax Creative. “Your iPhone contains sensitive information that you don’t want others to access,” Floyd says. “If you don’t use a passcode or Touch ID, anyone can access your device and view your data.”
To avoid this mistake, Floyd says to make sure to use a passcode or Touch ID to secure your iPhone. “You can set up a passcode by going to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode,” he says. “To set up Touch ID, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Add a Fingerprint.”
