The Auckland Guide to Common iPhone Problems & What to Do About Them

iPhones are remarkable pieces of engineering — but they’re not indestructible, and they don’t last forever without a little attention. At Advanced Computers, we’ve been performing Apple repairs across Auckland since 1998, and iPhones are among the most common repairs we see at our Auckland workshops.

Our technicians are individually Apple-certified, and Advanced Computers is a verified Apple Independent Repair Provider — which means we’re authorised to use Apple genuine parts and follow Apple’s own repair procedures. We cover customers from the North Shore, CBD, East Auckland, Penrose, Henderson, Takapuna, Manukau, and across the wider Auckland region.

This guide isn’t a booking page. It’s a plain-English explanation of the most common iPhone problems we see, what’s actually causing them, how to spot them early, and what you can do before deciding whether to bring it in. If you’re already ready to book an iPhone repair, you can head directly to our iPhone repair service page.

1. Cracked or Damaged Screen

The short answer: A cracked screen isn’t always just cosmetic. If the display underneath is damaged, or if touch responsiveness has changed, it needs attention. A poor-quality screen replacement can also affect Face ID — which is one of the most important reasons to choose a certified repairer.

What’s Actually Happening

An iPhone screen is made up of two distinct layers working together. The outer layer is a protective glass — Ceramic Shield on newer models, or a toughened glass on older ones. Underneath that is the display itself: an OLED panel on most iPhones from the XS onwards, and an LCD on older and some SE models.

When you drop your iPhone, the glass and the display can be damaged independently. A cracked outer glass with a fully functioning display underneath is a different — and usually less expensive — repair to one where the display is also damaged. You can usually tell the difference: if you see black patches spreading from the crack, lines or colour distortion on the screen, or areas where touch isn’t responding, the display beneath the glass has been affected too.

What Causes It

Drops are the obvious culprit. The corner and edge of an iPhone bear the most impact force, which is why cracks typically start at a corner and spread inward. Glass thickness, drop height, surface hardness, and angle all affect the outcome — sometimes an iPhone survives a fall from a significant height, and other times a short drop onto concrete is enough to shatter the screen entirely. The physics is genuinely unpredictable.

We also see screen damage from:

• Pressure damage — sitting on a phone in a back pocket, or a heavy object in a bag
• Heat damage — leaving a phone on a car dashboard in direct summer sun can damage the OLED panel
• Manufacturing stress fractures — rare, but we see them occasionally on specific models

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Visible cracks in the glass, even hairline cracks near the edges
• Black patches or spreading dark areas on the display
• Lines, discolouration, or flickering on screen
• Areas of the touchscreen that don’t respond, or respond incorrectly
• The screen lifts slightly at one edge (this can indicate internal pressure from a swollen battery — see below)
• Face ID behaving erratically after a drop, even if the screen looks fine

What You Can Do

A screen protector won’t repair existing damage, but it can prevent a cracked glass from spreading further and protect the display from secondary damage. In the meantime, avoid applying pressure to the crack and keep the phone away from water — a cracked screen loses whatever water resistance the phone originally had.

Don’t ignore a cracked screen that’s changed how the phone behaves. A crack that’s purely cosmetic is one thing. A crack affecting touch response, Face ID, or display quality is worth addressing sooner rather than later, because the underlying damage can progress.

A Note on Screen Replacement and Face ID

This is important and not widely understood: Face ID relies on a component called the TrueDepth camera array, which is paired to your iPhone’s main board at the factory. An incorrectly performed screen replacement can interfere with this pairing and disable Face ID permanently — something that can’t be undone.

At Advanced Computers, our Apple-certified technicians follow Apple’s own screen replacement procedures, which preserve Face ID function. This is one of the most significant practical differences between a certified iPhone screen replacement and an uncertified one — and something we cover in more detail in the Apple certification section below.

2. Battery Degradation

The short answer: iPhone batteries degrade naturally over time. Once Battery Health drops below 80%, you’ll notice real-world effects. Battery replacement is a routine, affordable repair that can significantly extend your iPhone’s useful life.

What’s Actually Happening

iPhone batteries are lithium-ion cells, and like all lithium batteries, they lose a small amount of capacity with every charge cycle. Apple defines a charge cycle as using 100% of the battery’s capacity — not necessarily one full charge from 0% to 100%. Two charges from 50% each count as a single cycle.

After around 500 charge cycles — typically one to two years of daily use — Apple states that an iPhone battery will have retained approximately 80% of its original capacity under normal conditions. In practice, this varies depending on usage patterns, temperature exposure, and charging habits.

You can check your battery’s current health at any time: go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. The Maximum Capacity percentage shown there tells you what proportion of the original capacity remains. At 80% or below, iOS will display a recommendation to replace the battery.

What Causes Faster Degradation

Beyond normal wear, a few things accelerate battery ageing:

• Heat — leaving your iPhone in a hot car, using it in direct sun for extended periods, or running it very hard (gaming, video recording) while charging all generate heat that accelerates degradation
• Charging habits — keeping the phone at 100% charge consistently, or regularly running it down to near-flat, both add stress to the battery over time
• Cheap or uncertified chargers — unregulated charging current stresses cells; Apple’s own chargers and MFi-certified alternatives regulate this properly
• Wireless charging — convenient, but it generates more heat than wired charging and can accelerate degradation when used as the primary charging method

Warning Signs to Watch For

• iPhone shuts off unexpectedly at 15–30% charge — the phone’s battery gauge is inaccurate because the cell can no longer hold a consistent charge
• “Service Recommended” or reduced performance warning in Battery Health settings
• The phone runs noticeably warmer than it used to, even during normal use
• Battery percentage jumps or drops suddenly rather than declining steadily
• The phone barely lasts through a half-day of normal use
• iOS has automatically enabled “Performance Management” — a feature that throttles processor speed to prevent unexpected shutdowns; this appears in Battery Health settings

What You Can Do

Turn on Optimised Battery Charging in Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. This feature learns your charging routine and avoids holding the battery at 100% overnight, which meaningfully slows degradation.

Avoid leaving your iPhone in direct sunlight or in a hot car. Even a short period at high temperature does more damage to a battery than weeks of normal use.

If your Battery Health has dropped below 80% and you’re experiencing real-world effects, iPhone battery replacement at Advanced Computers is well worth considering — particularly if the rest of the phone is in good condition. A new battery can feel like getting a new phone, and it’s significantly more affordable than an upgrade.

3. Liquid Damage

The short answer: iPhones are water resistant, not waterproof — and that resistance weakens over time. If your iPhone gets wet and starts behaving strangely, bring it in promptly. Do not put it in rice.

 iPhone just got wet? Do this now:

1. Get it out of the water and dry the exterior with a soft cloth.

2. Do NOT charge it — putting power through a wet phone can cause immediate short-circuit damage to the board.

3. Do NOT put it in rice — this is a myth. Rice does nothing useful for moisture inside an iPhone, and attempting to “dry it out” wastes critical time while corrosion develops.

4. Turn it off if it’s still on — hold the power button and slide to power off.

5. Bring it to Advanced Computers as soon as possible. Same-day is significantly better than next-day.

For a more thorough explanation, read our guide on what to do when your iPhone is liquid-damaged.

What “Water Resistant” Actually Means

Most iPhones from the iPhone 7 onwards carry an IP rating — IP67 or IP68 depending on the model. This is a widely misunderstood rating, and the misunderstanding leads to a lot of preventable damage.

IP67 means the phone can withstand submersion in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes under controlled, laboratory conditions, with a brand new seal. IP68 (on iPhone 12 and later) extends this to 6 metres.

What this does not mean:

• The phone is safe to take swimming or in the ocean (salt water, chlorine, and pressure from swimming movement are different to static lab conditions)
• The protection lasts forever (seals degrade with age, and after a drop or screen replacement, the original seal is compromised)
• The warranty covers water damage (Apple’s warranty explicitly excludes liquid damage regardless of IP rating)

The liquid contact indicators inside iPhones (small strips that change colour irreversibly when wet) tell us immediately whether moisture has entered. We find that many “water resistant” iPhones arrive with those indicators triggered — from rain, condensation, sweat, or a brief splash — because the real-world protection is lower than people assume.

Why Speed Matters

As with laptop liquid damage, the clock starts running the moment water enters the device. Corrosion begins developing on the circuit board within hours, particularly on connections and small components. An iPhone brought to us within a few hours of a significant spill or submersion has a much better outcome than one that’s been sitting for two or three days.

We’ve had iPhones brought into our Rosedale and Penrose workshops that recovered fully after prompt professional cleaning. We’ve also had phones arrive that looked fine after a day or two “drying out” — but where corrosion had already spread across key board areas, turning a straightforward fix into a complex repair.

Warning Signs After Liquid Exposure

• Speaker sounds muffled or distorted (water in the speaker grille, which usually clears on its own within an hour, but if it persists, moisture has gone further)
• Charging port showing a “liquid detected” warning in iOS
• Camera lens fogged or showing condensation
• Screen behaving erratically — touch not responding correctly or registering phantom touches
• Face ID failing
• The phone won’t turn on

4. Charging Problems

The short answer: The most common cause of iPhone charging issues is lint packed into the charging port — and it’s often mistaken for a hardware fault. Before assuming something is broken, check the port.

What’s Actually Happening

iPhone charging problems have several potential causes, ranging from something you can fix in 30 seconds (debris in the port) to something that requires board-level repair (a damaged charging circuit). Identifying which is which before assuming the worst saves a lot of unnecessary anxiety.

The Lint Problem (More Common Than You’d Think)

The charging port on an iPhone sits at the bottom of the phone and faces downward when the phone is in a pocket. Over months and years, pocket lint, dust, and fabric fibres get packed into the port by the repeated insertion of a cable — until eventually the cable can’t make a solid connection. The phone may charge intermittently, only at certain angles, or not at all.

This is, in our experience, one of the most frequently misdiagnosed iPhone issues. Customers come in convinced they need a new charging port or a new phone — and the fix takes us a few minutes with a fine non-metallic tool to carefully remove the compacted debris. The phone charges perfectly afterwards.

Do not try to clean this yourself with a metal pin or needle — you’ll damage the port contacts. A soft wooden or plastic toothpick can work carefully, or bring it in and we’ll sort it.

Other Causes of Charging Issues

• Cable quality — non-MFi-certified cables can cause intermittent charging, error messages, or simply stop working with iOS updates. Using Apple’s own cables or MFi-certified alternatives matters.
• Charging port damage — physical damage to the port from forcing a cable in at an angle, or from a drop that bent internal pins
• Battery fault — a significantly degraded battery may refuse to accept charge or show erratic charging behaviour
• Charging circuit damage — less common, but the charging circuit on the main board can be damaged by liquid, power surges, or faulty chargers
• Software issue — occasional iOS updates affect charging behaviour; a force restart often resolves this without any hardware work at all

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Phone charges only at certain angles, or with the cable held in a specific position
• Cable feels loose or doesn’t click into place properly
• “Charging Not Supported With This Accessory” message with a cable that previously worked
• Phone charges very slowly even with a fast charger
• Wireless charging works but wired doesn’t (or vice versa)
• Battery percentage doesn’t increase despite being plugged in for hours

What You Can Do

Try a different cable and a different charger first — ideally Apple’s own or MFi-certified accessories. If that makes no difference, visually inspect the port with a torch; if you can see compacted material inside, bring it in rather than attempting to clear it yourself.

Try a force restart (see the software vs hardware section below) — this resolves software-related charging anomalies more often than you’d expect. If all of the above don’t work, bring your device to Advanced Computers for iPhone charging port repair.

5. Face ID & Touch ID Issues

The short answer: Face ID and Touch ID are security components that are paired to your device at the factory. A failed repair can permanently disable them — which is one of the strongest arguments for choosing an Apple-certified repairer.

What’s Actually Happening

Face ID uses a system called the TrueDepth camera, which projects over 30,000 invisible infrared dots onto your face to map it in three dimensions. The dot projector, infrared camera, and flood illuminator that make this work are located in the notch or Dynamic Island at the top of the screen.

This entire system is paired cryptographically to your iPhone’s main board. If any of these components are disturbed or replaced incorrectly during a screen repair, Face ID will stop working — and this cannot be fixed after the fact. The pairing is permanent and specific to the original components.

Touch ID (the Home button on older iPhones and iPhone SE models) works similarly. The button itself is paired to the device and cannot be replaced by a third party; if the original Home button is lost or damaged, Touch ID is permanently unavailable regardless of what replaces it.

Why This Makes Repairer Choice Critical

A screen replacement on an iPhone with Face ID is not a simple swap. Done correctly, using Apple’s own procedures (which our Apple-certified technicians at Advanced Computers follow), Face ID is preserved. Done incorrectly — with uncertified parts, incorrect procedures, or without the right tools — Face ID can be permanently disabled.

We see this regularly. Customers come to us after getting a cheap screen replacement done elsewhere, and Face ID is gone. In most cases, there is nothing we or anyone else can do to restore it. The only resolution is replacing the phone or living without Face ID — neither of which is a good outcome for what should have been a straightforward screen repair.

Other Causes of Face ID or Touch ID Failure

• Physical damage from a drop — the TrueDepth components are delicate and can be damaged even when the screen itself looks fine
• Liquid damage — moisture reaching the front-facing camera system
• Software glitch — occasionally, Face ID stops recognising you due to a software fault rather than hardware; a face reset in Settings → Face ID & Passcode usually resolves this
• Gradual drift — Face ID may need to be re-enrolled if your appearance has changed significantly (new glasses, facial changes)

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Face ID fails consistently in conditions where it previously worked
• “Face ID is Not Available” or “An iPhone Restart Is Required” messages appear repeatedly
• Home button works but Touch ID won’t respond or enrol
• Face ID stopped working after a drop, even without visible screen damage
• Face ID was working before a screen repair and stopped working after

What You Can Do

Try resetting Face ID in Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Reset Face ID, then re-enrol. This resolves software-related recognition failures.

Ensure the notch area and your face are clean and unobstructed. A screen protector that covers the TrueDepth camera area can interfere with Face ID.

If Face ID has failed after a drop or after a repair done elsewhere, bring it in to Advanced Computers for a proper assessment. We’ll tell you honestly what’s resolvable and what isn’t.

6. Camera Problems

The short answer: iPhone camera issues range from a simple software restart fix to hardware damage requiring component replacement. Many “broken” cameras resolve with a force restart before any repair work is needed.

What’s Actually Happening

Modern iPhones have sophisticated camera systems — multiple lenses, optical image stabilisation (OIS), LiDAR sensors on Pro models, and computational photography happening in real time. With that complexity comes more that can go wrong. But in our experience, a surprisingly large number of iPhone camera repair at our Auckland workshops turn out to have software roots, not hardware ones.

Common Camera Problems We See

Shaky or unstable video The OIS system uses a tiny motor to stabilise the camera lens. If this motor is damaged — typically from a significant drop — video will appear shaky or the image will drift erratically. This is a hardware repair: the camera module needs replacement.

Black or blank camera screen You open the camera app and see only a black screen. This is one of the most common camera complaints we hear, and it’s frequently a software issue. A force restart resolves it a large proportion of the time. If it persists after a restart, it can indicate a loose camera connection (sometimes caused by a drop) or a failed camera module.

Blurry photos on one lens The wide, ultrawide, or telephoto lens produces blurry images while the others are fine. This usually indicates a problem with that specific camera module — either physical damage to the lens itself or a focusing mechanism fault.

Green tint on photos or in low light A known issue on certain iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models under specific lighting conditions. Apple released software updates that largely addressed this for software-related cases; if yours persists after a full iOS update, it may be a hardware component issue.

Camera lens crack A hairline crack in the outer camera glass doesn’t necessarily affect image quality immediately, but it will worsen over time and allows moisture to reach the lens and sensor. Camera glass replacement is a relatively minor repair.

Foggy or hazy images Condensation inside the camera lens, typically after liquid exposure or repeated temperature changes (bringing a cold phone into a warm environment). In minor cases this clears on its own; persistent fogging means moisture has reached the sensor.

Warning Signs to Watch For

• Black screen when opening the camera app
• Photos or video noticeably blurrier than they used to be
• Shaky or drifting video despite the phone being held still
• Camera switches lenses unexpectedly or only one lens works
• Flash not firing or firing incorrectly
• Front camera (selfie) producing distorted images

What You Can Do

Force restart your iPhone first (see the next section). This resolves a significant proportion of camera software glitches.

Check that iOS is fully up to date — some camera behaviour issues have been addressed in software updates.

Close the camera app completely (swipe it away in the app switcher) and reopen it. Check whether the issue occurs in third-party apps (Instagram, Snapchat) but not in Apple’s own Camera app, or vice versa — this helps identify whether it’s a software or hardware issue.

7. Software vs Hardware: How to Tell the Difference

The short answer: Many iPhone problems that feel like hardware faults are actually software issues — and a force restart fixes them immediately. Try this before assuming the phone needs a repair.

Why This Matters

One of the most useful things we can share from years of iPhone repair experience: the line between a software problem and a hardware problem is blurrier than most people assume. iPhones run an enormously complex operating system, and occasionally things go wrong in software in ways that mimic hardware failure — cameras that won’t open, touchscreens that stop responding, phones that restart constantly.

The good news is that software issues are usually free to resolve and take a matter of minutes.

Signs It’s Likely a Software Problem

• The problem started after an iOS update
• Multiple unrelated things stopped working at the same time
• The phone behaves differently in different apps
• The problem is intermittent and unpredictable
• A force restart temporarily fixes it (even if the issue returns later)

Signs It’s Likely a Hardware Problem

• There was a physical event — a drop, a spill, pressure damage — before the problem started
• The problem is consistent and predictable, every time, under the same conditions
• A force restart makes no difference
• There is visible physical damage

The Force Restart — Try This First

A force restart is not the same as a normal restart. It bypasses the operating system entirely and can resolve software issues that a normal restart won’t touch. It causes no data loss.

iPhone 8 and later (including all Face ID models): Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone 6S and earlier: Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

When to Try a Software Restore

If a force restart doesn’t resolve the issue and there’s no obvious physical cause, a software restore via a Mac or PC (using Finder or iTunes) can resolve deeper software corruption. Be aware this will erase the phone, so ensure your iCloud backup is current first.

If you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, or if a restore doesn’t resolve the issue, that’s a strong signal the fault is hardware — and it’s time to bring it in.

Is It Worth Repairing My iPhone?

The same honest framework we apply to laptops applies here.

If the iPhone is under three years old and the repair costs less than half the price of a comparable replacement model, it’s almost always worth repairing. A cracked screen, degraded battery, or damaged charging port on an otherwise healthy iPhone is a small problem with a straightforward solution.

If the iPhone is significantly older and needs multiple repairs simultaneously — screen, battery, and a hardware fault — the maths shifts, and replacement may be more sensible. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in.

One thing we’d always say: don’t replace an iPhone just because it’s slow. In many cases, a battery replacement is all that’s needed to restore snappy performance. iOS deliberately manages performance when battery health is poor, and a new battery reverses this immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my iPhone battery draining so fast?

Fast battery drain is usually caused by one or a combination of: degraded battery health (check Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging), background apps consuming power, screen brightness set too high, or a software issue after an iOS update. If Battery Health is below 80%, battery replacement at Advanced Computers will make a significant difference. If health is still good, check which apps are consuming the most battery in Settings → Battery.

Is my iPhone actually waterproof?

No. iPhones are water resistant, not waterproof. IP67 and IP68 ratings reflect controlled laboratory conditions with a new seal — not real-world swimming, surfing, or even prolonged rain exposure. The seals also degrade over time, meaning an older iPhone offers less protection than a new one. Apple’s warranty explicitly excludes liquid damage regardless of IP rating.

What should I do if my iPhone gets wet?

Dry the exterior, do not charge it, turn it off, and bring it to Advanced Computers as soon as possible. Do not put it in rice — it doesn’t work and wastes time. The sooner we can professionally clean the board, the better the outcome. Our Rosedale and Penrose workshops are open [add hours] — same-day is ideal.

Why does my iPhone keep shutting off even though the battery isn’t flat?

This is almost always a battery issue. When a battery degrades sufficiently, it can no longer supply consistent power under load — the phone shuts off to protect itself, even when the percentage gauge suggests charge remains. Battery replacement resolves this reliably. Check Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging to see if a service recommendation is shown.

Will getting my iPhone repaired at an independent repairer void my warranty?

Not if the repairer is an Apple Independent Repair Provider using Apple genuine or approved parts and procedures. Advanced Computers holds IRP status, which means our repairs are performed to Apple’s own standards. An uncertified repair using uncertified parts can affect your warranty — which is why IRP status matters.

What’s the difference between Apple genuine parts and OEM parts?

Apple genuine parts come directly from Apple’s supply chain and include software features like True Tone calibration and accurate battery health reporting. Quality OEM parts are manufactured to the same specifications, often in the same factories, but distributed outside Apple’s channel. At Advanced Computers, we use Apple genuine parts where they make a material difference to the repair, and quality OEM alternatives where they don’t. We’ll always tell you which applies to your repair before we begin.

Why did Face ID stop working after my screen was replaced?

Face ID components are paired to the iPhone’s main board at the factory. An incorrectly performed screen replacement — one that disturbs or replaces these components without following Apple’s pairing procedures — permanently disables Face ID. This can’t be reversed. Advanced Computers’ Apple-certified technicians follow Apple’s own screen replacement procedures to prevent this. If Face ID stopped working after a repair performed elsewhere, bring it in and we’ll assess what’s recoverable.

My iPhone screen is cracked but still works fine. Do I need to fix it?

Not urgently, but sooner is better than later for a few reasons: cracks spread over time, especially under thermal stress; a cracked screen loses water resistance; and if the crack reaches the display panel underneath, the repair becomes more expensive. A crack that’s currently cosmetic can become a functional problem. We can assess it and give you an honest view on urgency.

How long should an iPhone battery last before needing replacement?

Apple states that iPhone batteries are designed to retain 80% of their original capacity after 500 charge cycles under normal conditions. In real-world use, this typically means one to two years for heavy users and two to three years for moderate users. Once Battery Health drops below 80%, you’ll likely notice real-world effects and iOS will recommend service.

Do you repair all iPhone models?

Yes. At Advanced Computers, we repair iPhone models from the earliest generations through to the current iPhone 16 range. Parts availability affects turnaround time on some older models, but we’ll always advise you on this upfront. Our Rosedale and Penrose workshops handle the full range.

How long does iPhone repair take?

Common repairs — screen replacement, battery replacement, charging port cleaning or replacement — are typically completed within the same day or next business day. Repairs requiring parts to be ordered, or more complex faults, may take a few days. We’ll give you a realistic timeframe when you bring the phone in.

Ready to Get Your iPhone Repaired?

This guide is here to help you understand what’s going on with your device. If you’ve read enough and you’re ready to book, our iPhone repair Auckland service page has everything you need — common repairs, what to expect, and how to get in touch.