Before you call IT, try these 10 easy steps. They’re written for people who feel frustrated with technology and want clear, gentle instructions. Do only the steps that feel comfortable \u2014 and if none of them help, call IT and tell them which steps you already tried (that helps a lot).<\/p>\n
Try one step at a time. Don\u2019t press lots of buttons.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
If something shows an error message, take a photo of the screen and save it. That helps IT.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Want a printable checklist? Download the one-page checklist below and keep it by your computer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Write down what happened<\/strong> \u2014 One short sentence that says what you clicked, what you expected, and what went wrong. Example: \u201cClicked email \u2192 white screen \u2192 nothing loads.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on<\/strong> \u2014 Power cycle your device. This fixes many problems.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Check the power and cables<\/strong> \u2014 Make sure cords are plugged in and not loose.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Look at the Wi-Fi<\/strong> \u2014 Try another device to see if the internet is down. Restart the router if needed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Check your password & Caps Lock<\/strong> \u2014 Make sure Caps Lock isn\u2019t on and re-type the password slowly.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Close and reopen the program or tab<\/strong> \u2014 If an app is frozen, close it fully and reopen it.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Try another browser or device<\/strong> \u2014 If a website won\u2019t load in one browser, try another or your phone.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Take a clear photo of the error or screen<\/strong> \u2014 A photo is often faster than typing an explanation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Check the time and date on your device<\/strong> \u2014 If the clock is wrong, websites and logins can fail.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tell IT what you already tried<\/strong> \u2014 List the steps you took when you call or email IT.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Why it helps:<\/strong> A single sentence saves time \u2014 IT can start troubleshooting faster. Why it helps:<\/strong> Restarting clears temporary glitches. Windows PC:<\/strong> Click Start \u2192 Power \u2192 Restart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mac:<\/strong> Click the Apple menu (\uf8ff) \u2192 Restart<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Phone\/Tablet:<\/strong> Hold the power button and follow the on-screen option to power off, wait ~10 seconds, then turn it on again.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Why it helps:<\/strong> Loose power or data cables are surprisingly common. Why it helps:<\/strong> If the internet is down, many things won\u2019t work. Why it helps:<\/strong> Typing mistakes and Caps Lock cause many login issues. Why it helps:<\/strong> Apps sometimes freeze. Restarting the program often fixes it. Why it helps:<\/strong> The issue might be specific to one browser or device. Why it helps:<\/strong> A photo shows the exact message and saves time. Why it helps:<\/strong> An incorrect clock can cause websites and logins to fail. Why it helps:<\/strong> IT will avoid repeating steps and can get to the real problem sooner. Grab the one-page checklist PDF below to keep by your computer. It\u2019s large-font, easy to read, and has checkboxes for each step so older adults can tick them off.<\/p>\n [Download the one-page checklist PDF \u2014 Before You Call IT<\/em>]<\/strong> (attach your PDF file or link here)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Before you call IT, try these 10 easy steps. They’re written for people who feel frustrated with technology and want clear, gentle instructions. Do only the steps that feel comfortable \u2014 and if none of them help, call IT and tell them which steps you already tried (that helps a lot). How to use this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1180,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7,5,6,1],"tags":[21,22,20,23,16,17,18,19],"class_list":["post-1173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-business-continuity","category-cybersecurity","category-it-management","category-uncategorized","tag-business-management","tag-business-protection","tag-business-tips","tag-cyber-protection","tag-cybersecurity","tag-it","tag-it-tips","tag-what-to-do-before-calling-it","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Things-to-Try-Before-Calling-IT-1.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1173"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1178,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173\/revisions\/1178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.solutionsunlimitedsc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/h2>\n
Full instructions (step-by-step)<\/h2>\n
1) Write down what happened<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> On a notepad or your phone, write one short line: what you clicked, what you expected, and what happened instead. Add the time and the device you were using (phone, laptop). Example: \u201cClicked calendar app \u2192 app froze \u2192 9:02 AM \u2192 laptop.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n2) Turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
3) Check the power and cables<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> Look behind your computer or router. If a cord looks loose, push it gently but firmly until it clicks. If a power strip is switched off, flip it on. Don\u2019t force anything \u2014 if a plug won\u2019t go in, ask someone for help.<\/p>\n4) Look at the Wi-Fi \/ Internet<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> Try loading a website on another device (phone\/tablet). If that device also won\u2019t load pages, your internet is likely down. To restart your router: unplug it, wait 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Wait a minute for it to reconnect.<\/p>\n5) Make sure you\u2019re signed in \/ password typed correctly<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> If a password won\u2019t work, check if Caps Lock<\/strong> is on. Retype the password slowly. If it still fails, use the \u201cForgot password\u201d link if available \u2014 but tell IT if you use that so they know what happened.<\/p>\n6) Close and reopen the program or browser tab<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> Close the window, or swipe the app away on your phone, then open it again. If the app still won\u2019t open, move to the next step.<\/p>\n7) Try a different browser or device<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> If you\u2019re on Chrome, try Safari or Edge. Or open the same website on your phone. If it works elsewhere, note which device failed and tell IT.<\/p>\n8) Take a clear photo of any error message or the screen<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> Use your phone camera and hold steady. Make sure the text is readable. Attach the photo to your email or show it to IT when you call.<\/p>\n9) Check the time and date on your computer<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> Click the clock on your computer or go to Settings \u2192 Date & Time<\/strong> and make sure it\u2019s correct. If it\u2019s wrong, update it or toggle \u201cSet time automatically.\u201d<\/p>\n10) Tell IT what you already tried<\/h3>\n
How to do it:<\/strong> When you call or email, list the steps you tried, the device you used, and attach any photos or notes you made.<\/p>\n
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Printable checklist (quick)<\/h2>\n