Smartphones are a constant companion. They go everywhere with you. A constant fixture in your pocket or purse, smartphones are always within your reach, if not already in your hand. They help you stay connected, informed and entertained no mater where your day takes you — until they act up.

Let’s face it. Smartphones are vulnerable to certain issues. They overheat, die unexpectedly, crash and are slow to respond. When this happens, it can be tempting to start daydreaming of getting a new one — but have some patience. With a little troubleshooting, you can learn how to get your trusted device up and running again smoothly.

Overheat No More

One common issue iPhone users face is overheating. This is natural, to a degree; after all, your smartphone is an electronic device that contains certain components that generate heat. To cool off, the phone is designed to dissipate the extra temperature through its casing, making the entire device feel hot. Your iPhone could feel hot while charging, running lots of apps, downloading music, playing games, streaming video, listening to music and more because those actions use the phone’s processors. Learn to control the burn by turning the screen off when you aren’t looking at it and closing as many apps as possible.

Stop Slow Internet

Some smartphone users also complain about difficulties connecting to the internet or experiencing a slow internet connection. While this can happen when there is not a strong network available (check your carrier’s coverage map just to be sure), you can do more than walk around, trying to find a signal. First, make sure that you have at least two signal bars. This will ensure you are in a position to get a signal for your iPhone to connect. Second, look at your settings. You should have your network in auto mode. If you still aren’t connecting, you can also try turning off your Wi-Fi to make sure you are connecting on your carrier’s network. Finally, try resetting your iPhone. You can do this by erasing your content and settings under Settings/General/Reset, Just make sure you have a recent backup so you don’t lose anything.

Stop the Drain on Your Battery

You might be frustrated by battery drain as well. One minute you look at your phone and have 80 percent battery, the next minute you are at 20 percent and your charger is nowhere to be found. Next time, stop the drain on your battery by following a few simple steps. For one, keep in mind that the more often your screen is on and the brighter your screen, the more battery you are using, so keep the brightness down and the screen off when possible. Also, you should know that many apps run in the background and that can sap your battery. Make sure Background App Refresh is turned off and reduce how often your apps update. Turning off notifications and connection options like Bluetooth and GPS will help, too.

Avoid Freezes and Crashes

You can also prevent your iPhone from freezing and crashing. While it is normal for your smartphone to slow down when performing a task like downloading something or opening an app, it is not normal for your device to freeze. Although your iPhone will never be as fast as your computer, there are things you can do to avoid freezes and crashes. Your best defenses are to make sure that your iPhone is updated and to restart it regularly to clear the memory.

Sometimes technology can really bog you down, but it doesn’t have to keep you down for long. By adjusting your settings and restarting your iPhone often, you can avoid most smartphone frustrations.