What should I do before sending a device for repair?

Most repair disputes come down to two things nobody did beforehand: a backup, and a record of what the device looked like when it was handed over.

Safety

Step by step

1. Back up completely, first.Before anything else. A repair can legitimately involve wiping or replacing storage, and data recovery is rarely part of the quote. Verify the backup actually restores something.
2. Photograph the device all over.Every face, the screen powered on if it works, and any existing scratches or dents, with the date visible. It is your evidence if new damage appears.
3. Note the serial number.Photograph it or write it down. It confirms you got back the same device, which occasionally matters.
4. Turn off the activation lock.Find My on Apple devices, Find My Device on Android, the equivalent on Windows. A device still tied to your account cannot be tested or reset and will usually come back unrepaired.
5. Sign out of your accounts.Apple ID, Google, Microsoft, and any password manager. This is both a privacy measure and what makes the device workable for the repairer.
6. Remove the SIM and memory cards.They are small, easily lost, and hold data. Take them out and keep them.
7. Remove cases, screen protectors and accessories.Unless the fault involves them. They get lost, and a screen protector may be destroyed during a screen repair anyway.
8. Decide about wiping it.For a device that still powers on and where the fault is not data-related, a full reset before handing it over is the safest option. Only after a verified backup.
9. Describe the fault precisely and in writing.When it happens, what triggers it, whether it is constant. 'Sometimes' is not diagnosable. A written description also prevents disputes about what you asked for.
10. Get the quote and terms in writing.Diagnostic fee, whether it comes off the repair, what happens if the fault is different from expected, turnaround, and the warranty on the repair itself.
11. Ask about parts and warranty implications.Third-party parts are often fine and cheaper, but on some devices they disable features or flag a warning. Ask before agreeing, particularly while under manufacturer warranty.
12. Get a receipt with the device described on it.Make, model, serial, condition and the fault. A receipt saying 'phone' is worth very little if something goes wrong.
13. Ask what happens to the old parts.Particularly a replaced drive. If storage is being swapped, ask for the old one back or for written confirmation it has been destroyed.

Tips

• Turn off the activation lock before it leaves. It is the single most common reason a device comes back untouched.
• Photograph every face of the device with the date visible. Two minutes, and it settles any argument about new damage.
• Verify your backup by restoring one file. An unverified backup is a hope, not a backup.

Common mistakes

• Sending a device still signed into your account — Activation locks prevent the repairer resetting or testing it, so it is commonly returned unrepaired with the diagnostic fee still charged.
• Handing it over without recording its condition — Any dispute about a new scratch or crack becomes your word against theirs. Dated photographs remove the argument.

If it doesn't work