How To Repair Your Phone in Canada

By Kevin Kearney

Last updated 30 November 2023

Contents

In this guide:

Repair Your Phone Under Warranty
Repair Your Own Phone
Repair Your Phone at a Shop
Looking for a New Phone?
Frequently Asked Questions

Damaging your phone is frustrating, but repairing it doesn’t have to be. Carriers like Bell, Rogers, and Telus offer extended warranties with their new phones, providing coverage for the most common cell phone repairs. Whether or not you’re under warranty, there are numerous ways to repair your phone and get on with your life.

In this guide, we break down how to repair your phone under warranty, whether or not you should attempt your own repairs, and how to find a reliable repair shop if you’d rather leave it to the professionals. If you’re considering tossing your broken device and finding something new, we’ve also got tips on finding the best cell phone deals in Canada.

Read on to learn how to repair your phone in Canada.

Repair Your Phone Under Warranty

If you’re looking to repair a broken phone, you should first understand the options provided by your warranty. Cell phones in Canada typically have two kinds of warranties: standard limited manufacturer’s warranties that come with new phones and extended warranties that can be purchased through your carrier.

Manufacturer's warranties

Any new cell phone you purchase through a carrier will come with a manufacturer’s warranty, which covers repairs on manufacturing defects up to one to two years. Manufacturing defects do not include damage caused by liquids, accidents, or normal wear and tear.

If your phone has a manufacturer’s defect and you’re still under the manufacturer’s warranty, follow the warranty’s instructions for phone repair. If you’ve misplaced your copy of the warranty, most carriers provide the terms of the agreement on their websites.

In most cases, you’ll be asked to mail your phone to the carrier for repair. Some carriers, like Telus, allow you to bring it to a physical location for same-day repair.

Extended warranties

When purchasing a new phone, we recommend enrolling in your carrier’s extended warranty, which provides coverage for common issues like cracked screens, water damage, and theft. The particulars of these packages depend on the carrier, but most of them operate like an insurance plan, with monthly payments and deductibles.

The Big Three carriers provide extensive coverage with their extended warranties. Bell’s Smart/Phone Care offers four different levels of coverage, ranging from $12/month to $21/month. Rogers’ Premium Device Protection is $6.99/month, which includes AppleCare. Telus’ Device Care Complete is $15/month and includes unlimited cracked screen repair and same day repairs through Mobile Klinik.

All of these warranties are available for the Big Three’s flanker brands, too, which means you can purchase extended warranties when activating phones through Virgin Plus, Fido, Koodo, and more.

#1	Chatr Wireless	Chatr Wireless $15 Nationwide Talk & Text plan 500MB data Deal: Get 500MB bonus data when you sign up with Auto-Pay $15 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$15 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go
#2	Lucky Mobile	Lucky Mobile $15 100 Minutes Canada-wide Calling Plan 500MB data at download speeds up to 150Mbps $15 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$15 Per 1 Month Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go
#3	Koodo Mobile	Koodo Mobile $15 Prepaid Base Plan 500MB data Deal: Receive 500MB bonus data per month with Automatic Top-Up $15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront Go	$15 Per 30 Day Top-up + $10 Upfront	Go
#4	Fido	Fido $15 Basic Plan with 100 Minutes + 250MB 250MB data $15/mth Go	$15/mth	Go
#5	Public Mobile	Public Mobile $15 Unlimited Canada-Wide Talk + Text + 250MB 250MB at 4G speeds up to 100Mbps Deal: Receive $0.75/mo. in points value with Public Points + Get a FREE eSIM or $5 off on a physical SIM with new activation on this plan $15 + $5 Upfront Go	$15 + $5 Upfront	Go

Repair Your Own Phone

Sometimes a damaged phone can be fixed without any professional help. Follow the steps below for basic solutions to these common problems.

Damaged battery

If your phone can’t hold a charge, you probably need a new battery. Here’s how to replace your phone’s battery on your own.

Look up your phone’s battery by finding the product specs in our phone finder.
Purchase a replacement from your phone's manufacturer.
Remove the back cover of your phone. Check your owner's manual if there's not a clear way to access the battery.
Replace the old battery with the new one.
Charge your phone until it reaches 100%.

Water damage

If you’ve ever dropped your phone in a sink, left it out in the rain, or spilled something on it, you know that the best way to save your phone is by acting quickly. Here’s what you should do when your phone is damaged by water.

Remove your phone from the water as soon as possible.
Do not attempt to turn it off or on. Doing so might cause further damage.
Get a two-kilogram bag of uncooked rice and place your phone inside.
Leave your phone in for three to five days. The rice will absorb the liquid from your phone.

Cracked screen

We do not recommend replacing a cracked screen on your own. Doing so requires you to disconnect the screen from the motherboard, which can damage your phone further if done incorrectly. We recommend saving screen replacement for professionals–it’s worth the repair cost.

Repair Your Phone at a Shop

If you have a more serious issue or aren’t particularly handy, you can bring your damaged phone to a mobile repair shop.

There are mom-and-pop repair shops throughout the country, though their prices and quality vary. Mobile Klinik, a smartphone repair chain owned by Telus, provides reliable service, offers affordable rates for Telus and non-Telus customers alike, and has locations across the country.

Looking for a New Phone?

If your phone is badly damaged, it might be time to find a replacement. We’ve collected the best cell phone deals in Canada, along with the best iPhone deals and the best cheap phones. You can also check out the most popular phones in Canada below.

Google

Pixel 8a 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 64MP, 13MP
Front Camera: 13MP

Choose

487 Plans from $5/mth + $689 Upfront

Choose

487 Plans from $5/mth + $689 Upfront

Apple

iPhone 14 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 12MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

524 Plans from $5/mth + $859 Upfront

Choose

524 Plans from $5/mth + $859 Upfront

Samsung

Galaxy S24 FE 5G 128GB

6.7 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 10MP

Choose

581 Plans from $5/mth + $930 Upfront

Choose

581 Plans from $5/mth + $930 Upfront

Google

Pixel 8 128GB

6.2 inch display
Rear Cameras: 50MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 10.5MP

Choose

71 Plans from $5/mth + $959 Upfront

Choose

71 Plans from $5/mth + $959 Upfront

Apple

iPhone 15 128GB

6.1 inch display
Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP, 12MP, 12MP
Front Camera: 12MP

Choose

568 Plans from $5/mth + $1,009 Upfront

Choose

568 Plans from $5/mth + $1,009 Upfront

How To Repair Your Phone in Canada: FAQs

Is it cheaper to repair or replace a phone?

It’s usually cheaper to repair your phone, but it depends on your phone and the damage. Typical repairs for cracked screens and damaged batteries cost under $200. Out-of-warranty repairs for more serious issues, however, can cost up to several hundred dollars. If your phone is a few years old, it is a better investment to buy a new phone.

Is it worth fixing a cracked phone?

Yes, it’s worth fixing a cracked phone. Cell phone repair shops like Mobile Klinik can replace cracked phone screens rather quickly for $100-$200, depending on the damage.

What are the most common cell phone repairs?

The most common cell phone repairs are for cracked screens, damaged batteries, and water damage.

Can my cracked phone be fixed?

Yes, your cracked phone can be fixed. If you have an extended warranty through your carrier, the repair will be handled by the carrier at no extra cost. If you do not have an extended warranty, you can take your phone to a repair shop, like Mobile Klinik, to have the screen replaced.

We do not recommend fixing a cracked screen on your own because doing so requires you to disconnect the screen from the motherboard and can damage your phone further.