Guide: What to Do When Your iPhone Overheats
- Is your iPhone turning into a pocket heater? Discover why and how to cool it down fast!
- From blazing sun to buggy apps, uncover the hidden culprits behind your hot iPhone.
- Think throwing your phone in the freezer is a good idea? Think again and learn the right fixes!
- Don't let a hot iPhone ruin your day—check out these must-know hacks to cool your iPhone down.
Is your iPhone feeling unusually warm? You're not alone. Overheating issues have become increasingly common among iPhone users, particularly with the latest models like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. Fortunately, there are effective strategies to cool down your device and prevent long-term performance damage.
Common Causes of iPhone Overheating
Understanding why your iPhone is overheating is the first step toward addressing the issue. Several factors contribute to excessive heat:
1. Intensive Usage
Engaging in demanding tasks such as high-definition video streaming, gaming, or editing videos can strain the processor, generating excess heat.
2. Environmental Factors
Exposure to high temperatures, like leaving your phone in direct sunlight or inside a hot car, can trigger overheating warnings.
3. Software Glitches
Bugs in the operating system or specific apps, such as the notable iOS 17 issue affecting the iPhone 15, can cause your device to heat up.
4. Non-Approved Accessories
Using third-party charging cables or accessories that aren’t certified by Apple may lead to overheating during charging.
Photo via Telstra Australia // iPhone overheating? Here's what to do.
Expert Tips to Cool Down Your iPhone
When your iPhone starts to overheat, taking immediate action can prevent damage and restore normal functionality. Here’s what we recommend:
1. Move to a Cooler Environment
- Action: Place your iPhone in a shaded area away from direct sunlight.
- Caution: Avoid extreme temperature changes, such as putting your phone in the freezer, as this can cause more harm.
2. Remove the Case
- Reason: Phone cases, especially those made from insulating materials, can trap heat.
- Solution: Take off the case to allow better heat dissipation.
3. Limit Intensive Tasks
- Action: Close unnecessary apps and disable background activities that may be overworking your phone’s processor.
4. Enable Airplane Mode
- Benefit: Reduces the strain on your phone’s connectivity features, especially in areas with poor signal, thereby conserving battery life and reducing heat.
5. Update Software and Apps
- Tip: Ensure your iOS and all apps are up to date to benefit from performance improvements and bug fixes that can mitigate overheating issues.
6. Use Manufacturer-Approved Chargers
- Advice: Stick to Apple-certified chargers and cables to ensure safe and efficient charging.
Additional Preventative Measures
Beyond immediate cooling strategies, consider these tips to prevent your iPhone from overheating in the future:
- Free Up Storage Space: Overcrowded storage can cause your phone to work harder. Use apps like phone cleaners (available on the App Store) to remove duplicate and unnecessary photos, freeing up space and reducing strain. But be careful, make sure to check the permissions the app requests before giving it access to your phone.
- Opt for Light-Colored Cases: These absorb less heat compared to dark-colored cases, helping keep your device cooler.
- Restart Your iPhone: A simple reboot can resolve temporary issues causing excessive heat.
Handling Persistent Overheating
If your iPhone continues to overheat despite taking these measures, the issue might be hardware-related, such as a degraded battery. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Senior Contributing Editor at ZDNET, emphasizes the importance of addressing such problems promptly:
An overheating iPhone is no joke. Prolonged high temperatures can cause glitches, damage internal components, and permanently shorten the battery lifespan.
Steps to Take:
- Check Battery Health: Navigate to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging to assess your battery’s condition. If the maximum capacity is below 80%, consider a replacement.
- Seek Professional Help: Visit an Apple Store or a certified repair shop for a thorough evaluation and potential battery replacement.
Final Thoughts
Protecting your iPhone from overheating isn't just about comfort—it's crucial for maintaining your device's longevity and performance. By following these expert tips and being proactive in your device management, you can ensure your iPhone stays cool and functions optimally.
As Tara Schatz, writer and photographer, aptly puts it:
Protecting your iPhone from getting too hot isn’t difficult, but you do have to be proactive so you can prevent it from overheating and take steps to cool it down quickly when it gets too hot.
Follow this guide to stay cool and keep your tech in top shape.
Recommended by the editors:
Thank you for visiting Apple Scoop! As a dedicated independent news organization, we strive to deliver the latest updates and in-depth journalism on everything Apple. Have insights or thoughts to share? Drop a comment below—our team actively engages with and responds to our community. Return to the home page.Published to Apple Scoop on 6th October, 2024.
No password required
A confirmation request will be delivered to the email address you provide. Once confirmed, your comment will be published. It's as simple as two clicks.
Your email address will not be published publicly. Additionally, we will not send you marketing emails unless you opt-in.