But we’ve created a rough guide on what to do next when your gadget breaks.

Avoiding Danger

So, you’ve broken your gadget.

(ensure you’re wearing closed-toed shoes!)

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The other majorly dangerous component in most modern electronics is the battery.

If you have time, move it outside or onto a non-flammable surface.

Try not to breathe if the battery is smoking or popping—it’s emitting dangerous gasses.

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If you’re able to’t put out the fire immediately or if it spreads, call emergency services.

Once a malfunctioning battery is safe, remove it from the unit if possible.

Wear protection for your hands and eyes while cleaning up.

Woman is sitting and holding a broken smart phone with a cracked screen

you could then connect it to another computer and wipe the drive.

Other times it’s not so easy.

We have to be fairly general here.

exploded battery

(May we suggest our sister site,How-To Geek?)

Repairing

Repairing your own gadgets can be a daunting task, but it’s not impossible.

Computers range from easy (especially desktops) to difficult, depending on the part you want to replace.

Removing a hard drive from a laptop

If you’re intimidated by any of this, I recommend taking your gadget to a repair shop.

Alternately, it’s possible for you to always ask the gear’s manufacturer for a repair.

This will be more expensive and time-consuming, especially if it’s out of warranty.

Repairing an iPhone 11

It usually requires you to ship an item in and wait for it to be shipped back.

Keep in mind, attempting to repair a broken gadget is always a gamble.

It might be that a repair is impossible, or that you cause more damage in the attempt.

Best Buy’s recycling page.

Once you’ve gone through the steps above, recycling might be the best option.

Usually, they’ll pick up larger items for free!

Again, they’ll attempt repairs if possible, and take them to a bulk electronics recycler if not.