How to Replace a Broken Cell Phone

The portable nature of cell phones means that these electronic gadgets are often the victim of handset problems, cracked screens and other types of equipment failure. However, a broken cell phone doesn't mean you must give up the flexibility and ease of always having a phone at your disposal. Learn how to replace a broken cell phone so you can get back to calling your friends and family after your original phone breaks.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Verify that the phone is actually broken. Sometimes, software problems or dead batteries may lead you to improperly believe that your phone is broken. Plug the phone into its charger and let it charge overnight to determine whether the fault lies in the battery. Attempt to reset the handset by holding down the power button. If neither of these troubleshooting hints work, continue to Step 2.

2. Check to see if your broken cell phone is still covered by the original manufacturer's warranty (typically, a 12-month period from the date the phone was first purchased). If it is, contact your cell phone service provider (e.g. Verizon or AT&T), not the brand of the actual phone handset. If your phone is covered by the warranty, you can have it replaced by your cell phone service provider. If the phone is not covered under warranty, continue to Step 3.

3. Remove the SIM card from your broken phone and place in a secure location. The SIM card includes your account information with your cell phone service provider, as well as your address book and other pertinent cell phone information.

4. Purchase a cheap, prepaid cell phone handset from Walmart or another local department store. These handsets are limited in features but can make basic calls and text messages while being significantly cheaper than a new handset from your cell phone service provider.

5. Locate the new handset's SIM slot, typically found on the horizontal side of the phone.

6. Carefully remove the cover for the SIM slot and insert your old SIM card. Your old address book, contacts and account information will now be displayed on the new phone. Use the phone as your regular phone. With your old SIM card installed, it will be able to access you original cell phone plan seamlessly.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your cell phone service provider to find the nearest cell phone recycling center for your broken phone because cell phones contain toxic metals that should not be put into the landfill.