Mobile technology has become pervasive, especially if you consider that approximately 9 out of 10 Australians own a smartphone or tablet. However, while smartphones are designed to last, they require adequate care from the elements, or else you will be replacing your devices often. This is why phone cases have become the go-to protective accessory because they protect the phone from liquids, dirt and even high drops. While protective phone cases function perfectly well, it is common for first-time users to fumble using them. This article highlights tips for operating your protective phone case and getting the most from it.

Test Port Covers Without Phone -- High-quality protective phone cases are waterproof, and some allow you to operate the phone while in water. However, phone cases are only as waterproof as the port covers allow. Therefore, you must test the waterproof ability of a case and its ports before usage. To do this, close the phone cover without the phone and dip it in a bucket full of water. Leave the case submerged for a couple of minutes, then take it out. Before you open the case and inspect the insides for signs of water, remember to dry the outside of the case first. This will prevent any water on the outside from getting inside the protective casing. If the insides are dry, then it is a sign that the port covers are waterproof.

Use The Case Key Provided -- When you buy a protective phone case, it will come with a small piece of plastic (key) that is used to separate the upper and lower cases. You should use this key when you want to open the protective case. Unfortunately, most first-time buyers usually cannot figure out what this piece of plastic is used for, and they end up using their fingers to open the casing. If you do that, you not only risk damaging the case, but you can easily injure your fingers in the process. Therefore, ensure that you carefully read the manual that comes with the protective casing and use the key to separate the phone case.

Open Case on a Soft Surface -- Most high-quality protective phone casings are designed to shut tight since it is the only way to guarantee water tightness. However, the design requires careful operation because the case snaps when opening and might send the phone flying to the ground. Ideally, you should open the case on a soft surface close to your lap so that when your phone pops out of the case, it will land on your lap and not on the ground. If you are at home, open the casing on a couch or the carpet.

To learn more, contact a retailer that carries products such as lifeproof cases.