7 Free Online Technical Support Tools

There comes a time in your life when you can't afford to buy new gadgets and appliances or take them to a repair shop. That's when the internet becomes your best friend. The internet is filled with amazing resources for fixing just about any gadget you can think of, and best of all, most of them are completely free.

 

7. AI Chatbot

For basic issues, many people often try using AI chatbots. ChatGPT is especially good for this because it feels like talking to a virtual customer support assistant. The conversation also happens in real time, making it easy to get the information you need when you want it.

If you can't solve the problem with ChatGPT's basic advice, you can use the tool to dig deeper. It's usually best to fix the problem before it's too late. If needed, the AI ​​can find you online resources to fix the problem.

 

Perplexity is also great for troubleshooting. It's not like a human like ChatGPT, but more like reading an article with a list of possible solutions, including videos it finds on the web. So it's good for more technical problems. Many people use both ChatGPT Plus and Perplexity Pro together to help troubleshoot almost any problem.

6. Reddit

Reddit is often where people go to solve easy-to-solve problems. For example, it's a goldmine when you need help with your smartphone and computer, or if you're having trouble with household appliances like your coffee maker.

To find what you're looking for, type "[issue] reddit" or "site:reddit.com [issue]". This will bring up a list of threads related to your query. This usually works, but if it doesn't, use the Reddit search bar. Given Reddit's sheer size, you'll find specific posts for almost any topic, and often entire subreddits dedicated to specific hardware.

While Perplexity has a social search feature, it's not worth using in this case. Most people also don't use Quora, as it doesn't usually help with device repairs.

5. Greg Salazar on YouTube

Greg Salazar's YouTube channel is a great resource for computer repair. He has a lot of videos of himself fixing gaming PCs, which can be especially helpful since this is a fairly difficult problem to solve.

 

While not all of Greg Salazar's videos are specifically related to computer repair, the ones that are are particularly helpful. You'll still need to consult a technician for more complex issues, but at least the videos on the channel will give you a good idea of ​​where to start. In addition to gaming PCs, Greg Salazar has a number of videos of him fixing other types of devices.

Note : Some issues, such as high CPU usage while playing games on Windows, can be fixed without watching YouTube videos.

4. Guidebooks and blogs

Many people prefer reading over any other form of content consumption. They often find reading manuals and blogs more enjoyable than watching YouTube videos. There's no need to put on headphones, crank up the volume, or constantly rewind content.

For more technical issues, consult your product manual to see if you've missed anything. Some brands have knowledge bases and resource centers that can also be helpful. Apple, for example, has an extensive problem catalog that you might not find on Reddit.

Blogs have always been a good way to find answers to your problems.

3. Tool Dude Tony on YouTube

Tool Dude Tony has a comprehensive catalog for repairing all kinds of things, including electronics. While some of the videos are quite old, they are useful reference points.

 

When looking for technical advice, basic videos are not random. This is one of the things people like about Tool Dude Tony. His content is simple and easy to understand. By watching this type of content, indirectly it is the ideal way to get better recommendations on YouTube .

2. Official Community Forum

Some brands, like Dyson, have official community forums. If you can't find the answer you're looking for on Reddit, head over to the official community forum to try to find what you're looking for. For more niche products that need repair, this is often your best bet.

Some community forums require registration before you can access topics, but this is not always the case. When using these communities, you will often receive support from an official member of the group, which can be helpful in determining the root cause of the problem.

1. iFixit

iFixit is one of the best free sources for repair guides, and while the site's name suggests it only deals with Apple products, you can use it to fix a lot of other things as well. For example, the site has repair guides for game consoles and refrigerators.

iFixit has step-by-step guides for repairing just about any device, making the instructions you get more specific. While comprehensive, everything is also easy to read and navigate.

If you can't solve your problem with iFixit's recommendations, you can explore additional resources at the bottom of the page. However, you'll almost always find what you need before then.

In some cases, a repair technician is the only option, but the Internet offers a wealth of great resources for troubleshooting almost any hardware problem. It's also useful for troubleshooting more technical issues. Don't do anything you're not confident in, but overall, these resources are incredibly helpful.