Protecting your electronics in cold weather

The frigid temperatures can take a toll on our electronic devices like cell phones but here are some ways to prevent your gadgets from going dark.

What can happen if your smart phone gets too cold?

"Well, I was talking to someone and it just closed on me - couldn't close it, open it, couldn't do anything with it," said Regina Butler.

Consumers have complained about shorter battery life and software malfunctions.

"From the cold weather, my phone shuts down - I can't make no calls or nothing," said Flora Preston.

Both Apple and Samsung have reported temperature guidelines for iPhones and Galaxy phones.

It's best to operate your devices in temperatures 32 degrees and above.

When storing your devices, they should be powered off in temperatures -4 degrees or above.

There's also a maximum altitude guideline of 10,000 feet.

If your phone does shut down, do not restart it until your phone has warmed up. Re-starting it pre-maturely could shorten the battery life permanently.

And be especially careful if your phone already has a crack. Freezing temperatures can make the surface even more sensitive. Some consumers have complained about phones shattering.

The best advice? Don't leave your phones in cold places like a parked car, instead, put them in your pocket if you can.

And if you're counting on your phone in case of an emergency - make sure to keep a back-up power source with you.

A number of companies also sell texting gloves and mittens. There are also a number of cases that claim to be winter-proof.

For more information check out:

-Salt Cases

-Life Proof

-Touchscreen gloves