# cell phone randomally turning itself off
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 15, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312 "2004-10-15T03:15:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/1 "2004-10-15T03:15:08Z")
ive been asking a lot of cell phone related questions lately… but i got a problem. Its a nokia, about 9 months old, and it randomally turns itself off. I know the battery is full, and it does this when its just sitting out so i know im not accidentally doing it in my pocket. any idea whats causing this?
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### Author:  [@Leonard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leonard)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/2 "2004-10-15T03:46:53Z")
No idea, but the same happened to me with a Nokia after a while. I trashed it eventually.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/3 "2004-10-15T03:49:13Z")
> [@Leonard](#):
>
> No idea, but the same happened to me with a Nokia after a while. I trashed it eventually.
Me too.
Haj
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/4 "2004-10-15T04:01:31Z")
IME, Nokias are notorious for having bad battery latches. They become loose after a while, and allow the battery contacts to momentarily disconnect if the phone is jostled the wrong way. Once this happens, you have to turn the phone on again. Sometimes, judicious use of duct tape can fix the problem over the short term.
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### Author:  [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/5 "2004-10-15T04:09:50Z")
damn alright thanks guys, ill see if i can get a new one.
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### Author:  [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/6 "2004-10-15T04:27:35Z")
It also can be caused by a short or loose connection within the phone. (My SO’s phone got to the point where pushing gently on one part of the phone, well away from the on/off button would instantly turn the phone off, much like taking the battery out will do.)
In any event, you’ll need a new cell phone to fix the problem long-term.
* * *
\<\< Blood is thicker than water. Adjust your recipes accordingly. \>\>
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### Author:  [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/7 "2004-10-15T05:23:48Z")
My Samsung turns itself off if it dosen’t get a signal for a while - like if I’m underground or something. It’s obnoxious because I don’t get my missed calls.
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### Author:  [@blinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinx)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/8 "2004-10-15T10:27:07Z")
I’ve had the problem with multiple nokia phones - fold a little piece of paper and place it between the phone and battery, that usually fixes it.
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### Author:  [@Asteroide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asteroide)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/9 "2004-10-15T10:36:40Z")
> [@blinx](#):
>
> I’ve had the problem with multiple nokia phones - fold a little piece of paper and place it between the phone and battery, that usually fixes it.
Same here, and not just Nokia - also, clean the contacts (alcohol + q-tip).
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### Author:  [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/10 "2004-10-15T11:03:36Z")
> [@vinniepaz](#):
>
> ive been asking a lot of cell phone related questions lately… but i got a problem. Its a nokia, about 9 months old, and it randomally turns itself off. I know the battery is full, and it does this when its just sitting out so i know im not accidentally doing it in my pocket. any idea whats causing this?
Welcome to the club 😃
I’ve had 1 Panasonic, 1 Erricson, 3 Nokia and 2 Motorola phones in the past, and all of them would exhibit this behaviour from time to time. The worst in this respect were the Motorolas (two different models), the best was the Panasonic.
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### Author:  [@InvidiousCourgette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InvidiousCourgette)
#### Post date: [October 15, 2004, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-randomally-turning-itself-off/269312/11 "2004-10-15T11:11:31Z")
Heh. I thought I was unlucky. My Motorola does it as well.