Thanksgiving kicks off the busiest travel stretch of the year. Whether you're driving down the turnpike, flying out of Philadelphia or heading to family a few towns over, your phone, tablet and laptop are coming with you. A little prep before you leave can save you from a dead battery at the airport, a lost device or a scramble to recover photos.
Here's the checklist we at We Fix Phones N More recommend to customers before the holidays.
Travel is when devices get dropped, left behind or stolen. Make sure your phone is backing up to iCloud or Google, and that your laptop has a recent backup to the cloud or an external drive. Our guide to backing up family devices before the holidays walks through it step by step.
Update your phone, tablet and laptop a few days before you leave, not the night before. That way, if an update takes a while or causes a hiccup, you have time to sort it out at home.
Make sure Find My (Apple) or Find My Device (Android and Windows) is turned on for every device you're bringing. Check that you know your Apple ID or Google password, since you'll need it to locate or lock a device from someone else's phone. If the worst happens, our post on what to do if your phone is lost or stolen can help.
If your phone barely makes it to dinner on a normal day, it won't survive a long travel day. If your battery is fading, it's worth taking care of before the trip. See the signs your phone battery needs replacing.
Airport, hotel and coffee shop Wi-Fi is convenient, but avoid banking or entering passwords on networks you don't trust. Using your phone's cellular data or personal hotspot is often safer. For charging, your own charger plugged into a wall outlet is a better choice than a public USB port.
The holidays bring a wave of fake delivery and travel alerts. If you get a text about a missed package, a flight change or a toll you owe, don't tap the link. Go straight to the company's app or website instead. Our post on holiday delivery scam texts explains what to watch for.
Don't leave phones, tablets or laptops in a parked car for long stretches. Freezing nights can drain batteries quickly, and a car heater blasting on a device can make it overheat.
If you're the go-to tech person in your family, holidays are a great time to help relatives update their phones, set up backups and turn on device tracking. It's also a good moment to check that a parent or grandparent's phone has a strong passcode and up-to-date contact info for emergencies.
A cracked screen or a phone that won't charge can wait until you're home, as long as you can still reach your data. Keep the device in a case, avoid pressing on cracked glass and bring it in when you're back.
Want a quick checkup before your trip, a new battery or a screen protector to keep things safe? Stop by We Fix Phones N More at 801 County Line Rd in Horsham, serving Bucks and Montgomery counties. We handle phones, tablets and computers. Visit us or call 215-323-4750, and travel safe this holiday season.
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