Phone-chilling weather: Uswitch tips to avoid getting a frosty reception from your tech as the temperature drops

Charge before you go: The biggest toll that chilly weather takes on your handset is how it affects battery life. The lithium-ion batteries found in smartphones are known to struggle in cold temperatures. Be aware of this and give it a full charge before you take it outdoors, as you may find the battery drains quicker than normal. 

Don’t leave your phone in the car: This can cause permanent water damage to your phone when you eventually bring your phone in from the cold. If you do leave your phone out in the cold for a prolonged period, be sure to allow it to come back up to room temperature before you charge it again. 

Put a jacket on it: When we brace ourselves for the cold weather outside, we turn to coats, hats and scarves to keep us warm - why should our phones be any different? One of the best ways you can keep your phone warm and avoid battery drain is by keeping it in a protective case that’s insulated from the elements. Keeping it in a secure pocket can also help, as it will benefit from your body temperature.

Box clever: If your router is placed in an unheated area like a garage or on a window sill, be mindful of condensation in or around the device, which could seep into the unit. Consider putting it in a small box for insulation with holes for airflow, so it can keep it running smoothly.

Prepare for busy networks: When the mercury drops, people tend to stay indoors, which leads to a lot more strain on broadband networks, as bandwidths are stretched by large numbers logging on. So, particularly if we’re in the middle of a cold snap, it’s worth avoiding peak times for data-heavy activities like movie or game downloads.   

Check the forecast before you get comfy: Harsh weather can put a strain on any external antennas, such as a Sky dish or a mobile broadband router, so be prepared for the occasional drop in signal. Don’t be surprised if you encounter buffering during an HD film. And, although it’s rare, you may find your TV signal will cut out from time to time, particularly if there are strong winds involved or snow covering the dish.. 

Power down: When your devices are working even harder to fight off the effects of the cold weather, you can make their battery lives easier by turning down the power. If you’re going to be exposed to sub-zero temperatures, turn on low power mode, turn off location services and close down apps running in the background that you’re not using. You could also put it on Airplane Mode to conserve battery, which will still give you access to apps that don’t require an internet connection.

Get them backed up: Most laptops are designed to operate at temperatures between 10℃ and 35℃. So if they are exposed to colder temperatures than this, ensure your data is backed up to avoid any loss or damage to the battery life.