CompTIA A+ Core 1 & Core 2 Exam 2026 – 190 Practice Questions
with Answers & Detailed Rationales, Hardware, Networking, Mobile
Devices, Virtualization, Cloud Computing, Operating Systems,
Security & Troubleshooting
Section 1: Mobile Devices (13% of Core 1 — approximately 25 questions)
Question 1
A field technician is replacing a failed battery in a corporate laptop. After removing the
bottom panel, the technician notices the battery is slightly swollen and the trackpad has
begun to protrude. Which of the following is the SAFEST course of action?
A. Press the battery flat and reinstall it to avoid ordering a replacement.
B. Remove the battery immediately and dispose of it according to local hazardous waste
regulations.
C. Puncture the battery to release internal pressure before disposal.
D. Reconnect the battery and continue using the laptop until it completely fails.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Swollen lithium-ion batteries present fire and explosion hazards; they must be
removed promptly and disposed of through approved hazardous waste channels.
Question 2
A user reports that their Android smartphone battery drains unusually fast after installing
several new applications. The battery health diagnostic reports 94% capacity. Which of the
following should the technician check FIRST?
,A. Replace the battery because health is below 100%.
B. Disable Bluetooth and NFC to conserve power.
C. Review battery usage statistics to identify apps consuming excessive background
resources.
D. Perform a factory reset to eliminate all third-party software.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Battery usage statistics reveal which apps consume disproportionate power,
allowing targeted remediation without unnecessary hardware replacement or data loss.
Question 3
A technician is configuring a corporate iPad for a sales representative. The organization
requires that if the device is lost, all data can be remotely wiped while preserving the ability
to locate the device. Which feature should the technician ensure is enabled?
A. Find My iPad with Activation Lock
B. Guided Access
C. Screen Time restrictions
D. AirDrop
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Find My iPad enables remote location, lock, and wipe; Activation Lock prevents
unauthorized reactivation after a wipe.
Question 4
,A user's laptop display shows faint, ghost-like images that persist even when a different
application is opened. The images gradually fade after several minutes. Which laptop
component is MOST likely failing?
A. The LCD inverter
B. The display panel
C. The video cable
D. The GPU
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Image persistence (ghosting) is a characteristic failure mode of LCD panels
where pixels retain previous charge states.
Question 5
A technician is installing a replacement Wi-Fi antenna in a laptop. The original antenna cable
was routed around the display hinge and secured with adhesive. Which of the following
should the technician do to ensure optimal wireless performance?
A. Route the new cable along the same path, avoiding contact with metal shielding and the
hinge mechanism.
B. Shorten the cable to reduce signal loss.
C. Route the cable directly across the motherboard to minimize length.
D. Coil excess cable tightly near the wireless card.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Antenna cables must follow manufacturer routing to avoid interference from
metal components and maintain proper impedance characteristics.
, Question 6
A user reports that their smartphone touchscreen responds erratically—sometimes
registering touches that did not occur and failing to register deliberate taps. The device has
no visible physical damage. Which of the following should the technician perform FIRST?
A. Replace the digitizer.
B. Clean the screen and remove any screen protector.
C. Perform a factory reset.
D. Update the device firmware.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Debris, moisture, or a poorly fitted screen protector can disrupt capacitive
touch sensing; cleaning is the least invasive first step.
Question 7
A technician needs to configure a mobile device to use a corporate VPN for secure email
access. The organization uses certificate-based authentication. Which of the following must
be installed on the device before the VPN profile can function?
A. A root certificate from the organization's certificate authority
B. A biometric authentication profile
C. A mobile device management enrollment token
D. A Wi-Fi calling configuration
Correct Answer: A
with Answers & Detailed Rationales, Hardware, Networking, Mobile
Devices, Virtualization, Cloud Computing, Operating Systems,
Security & Troubleshooting
Section 1: Mobile Devices (13% of Core 1 — approximately 25 questions)
Question 1
A field technician is replacing a failed battery in a corporate laptop. After removing the
bottom panel, the technician notices the battery is slightly swollen and the trackpad has
begun to protrude. Which of the following is the SAFEST course of action?
A. Press the battery flat and reinstall it to avoid ordering a replacement.
B. Remove the battery immediately and dispose of it according to local hazardous waste
regulations.
C. Puncture the battery to release internal pressure before disposal.
D. Reconnect the battery and continue using the laptop until it completely fails.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Swollen lithium-ion batteries present fire and explosion hazards; they must be
removed promptly and disposed of through approved hazardous waste channels.
Question 2
A user reports that their Android smartphone battery drains unusually fast after installing
several new applications. The battery health diagnostic reports 94% capacity. Which of the
following should the technician check FIRST?
,A. Replace the battery because health is below 100%.
B. Disable Bluetooth and NFC to conserve power.
C. Review battery usage statistics to identify apps consuming excessive background
resources.
D. Perform a factory reset to eliminate all third-party software.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Battery usage statistics reveal which apps consume disproportionate power,
allowing targeted remediation without unnecessary hardware replacement or data loss.
Question 3
A technician is configuring a corporate iPad for a sales representative. The organization
requires that if the device is lost, all data can be remotely wiped while preserving the ability
to locate the device. Which feature should the technician ensure is enabled?
A. Find My iPad with Activation Lock
B. Guided Access
C. Screen Time restrictions
D. AirDrop
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Find My iPad enables remote location, lock, and wipe; Activation Lock prevents
unauthorized reactivation after a wipe.
Question 4
,A user's laptop display shows faint, ghost-like images that persist even when a different
application is opened. The images gradually fade after several minutes. Which laptop
component is MOST likely failing?
A. The LCD inverter
B. The display panel
C. The video cable
D. The GPU
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Image persistence (ghosting) is a characteristic failure mode of LCD panels
where pixels retain previous charge states.
Question 5
A technician is installing a replacement Wi-Fi antenna in a laptop. The original antenna cable
was routed around the display hinge and secured with adhesive. Which of the following
should the technician do to ensure optimal wireless performance?
A. Route the new cable along the same path, avoiding contact with metal shielding and the
hinge mechanism.
B. Shorten the cable to reduce signal loss.
C. Route the cable directly across the motherboard to minimize length.
D. Coil excess cable tightly near the wireless card.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Antenna cables must follow manufacturer routing to avoid interference from
metal components and maintain proper impedance characteristics.
, Question 6
A user reports that their smartphone touchscreen responds erratically—sometimes
registering touches that did not occur and failing to register deliberate taps. The device has
no visible physical damage. Which of the following should the technician perform FIRST?
A. Replace the digitizer.
B. Clean the screen and remove any screen protector.
C. Perform a factory reset.
D. Update the device firmware.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Debris, moisture, or a poorly fitted screen protector can disrupt capacitive
touch sensing; cleaning is the least invasive first step.
Question 7
A technician needs to configure a mobile device to use a corporate VPN for secure email
access. The organization uses certificate-based authentication. Which of the following must
be installed on the device before the VPN profile can function?
A. A root certificate from the organization's certificate authority
B. A biometric authentication profile
C. A mobile device management enrollment token
D. A Wi-Fi calling configuration
Correct Answer: A
