Is your iPhone feeling hot to the touch? Have you noticed it overheating more frequently? If so, you’re not alone. iPhone heating issues are common than you may think. Your iPhone may overheat during use or when charging the battery. An iPhone overheating can be a serious problem, a likely sign of a software or hardware defect. In this article, I’ll explain the most common reasons why your iPhone may get warm or hot and what you can do to cool down a hot iPhone.
Overview
Once, I took my iPhone with me in the sauna. The temperature in the sauna was really high, as usual. And within ten minutes, I saw the Temperature warning on my device. I immediately turned off my device and moved it to a cooler environment. It took 1 hour my phone to cool down and it was working again.
It is totally normal for your iPhone to get warm when you are using it or charging the battery. But it is not normal to get too warm and hot.
You might notice that your iPhone feels warmer when you:
- Set up your phone the first time
- Restore your phone from a backup
- Wirelessly charge your phone
According to Apple, these conditions are normal, and your iPhone will return to a regular temperature when the process is complete or when you finish your activity.
Your iPhone has built-in protections to prevent the battery and circuit board from getting damaged. If your iPhone gets too warm, your phone will automatically disable some of its function so your phone doesn’t suffer damage. For example,
- Charging, including wireless charging will be slowed or stopped.
- Cellular radios enter a low-power state; the signal might weaken during this time.
- The flashlight and camera flash will be disabled.
- The iPhone display may dim or go black.
- In some apps or features, performance is reduced with lower frame rates or increased processing times.
If your iPhone gets too hot, this is very rare, your device will automatically go into temperature mode. This is to prevent component damage. You may see a warning message saying:
“Temperature. Your iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it.”
In this mode, your phone will stop working. You will not be able to use your phone except that you can make emergency calls. Your iPhone will turn off all functions except emergency calls.
While charging your iPhone, you may see a message on the Lock Screen saying:
"Charging On Hold. Charging will resume when iPhone returns to normal temperature,"
Apple states that charging is put on hold when your iPhone becomes too hot or too cold.
If your iPhone exceeds a certain temperature threshold while restoring from an iCloud backup, your restore might pause temporarily. You might see a message that says:
‘Restore Paused. Restoring from iCloud will resume when this iPhone cools down.’
This pause keeps your iPhone within an acceptable operating temperature. Your restore will resume when the iPhone cools down.
Why does your iPhone overheat?
There is no single answer. Your iPhone may get warm. This is normal. But it should not get too hot or overheat. There could be a few potential reasons your iPhone may be having heat issues. You may have a faulty hardware problem. For example, a battery problem may cause this.
A virus or malware can cause a phone to overheat, but not the iPhone. It is certain that malware or viruses are not causing this because iPhones do not get viruses.
Here are some causes:
- Streaming high-quality videos for long periods of time. This means that your iPhone has to load your content and keep the screen working. This will put a strain on the processor, causing it to produce more heat.
- Gaming. Resource-intensive video games with high-end graphics may cause your device to heat up.
- Environment. If you’re leaving your phone in direct sunlight or keeping your iPhone in a hot environment, like a car on a hot day, that can also cause it to overheat or present a temperature warning.
- Bugs in the software. App and operating system bugs or glitches can also cause your iPhone to get hotter than normal.
- Using non-manufacturer-approved cables. Using third-party, non-quality accessories, such as charging cords, may also lead to your iPhone overheating while charging.
- Overusing your iPhone when it’s charging
- You may notice your device gets warm when you are downloading a lot of apps simultaneously while you are using your phone.
- A faulty battery.
Your iPhone might overheat from other causes, like a suffocating phone case, but the reasons above are the most likely causes of your iPhone getting too hot.
How to cool down an overheating iPhone
So, now we’ve identified the potential causes, what can you do to cool down your hot iPhone? Here are a few things to try:
- Move your iPhone to a cooler place immediately. A shady place is ideal, away from direct sunlight.
- Turn on Low Power Mode. Go to Settings > Battery.
- Turn on Airplane Mode. Go to Settings > Airplane Mode.
- Take the phone case off, if you are using one. Removing it will help your iPhone to cool down quicker.
- Disconnect it from charger, if it is plugged in.
- Lower the screen brightness. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness. Alternatively, open the Control Center and decrease the screen brightness.
- Close all apps.
- iPhone X or newer: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen. This will reveal the app switcher. Swipe up on all of the apps to close them.
- iPhone 8 or older: Double press the Home button. This will launch the app switcher. Swipe up on all of the apps to close them.
- DO NOT attempt to put your iPhone in the refrigerator or freezer. This may seem like a smart idea, but do not do it. Just like heat, low-temperature conditions might damage the internal components of your device.
How to prevent your iPhone from overheating
These tips will not only prevent your iPhone from getting too hot but also extend the life of your device and battery.
Update your operating system and apps to the latest software available.
- Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there is an update available, tap Update Now and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Update apps: Open the App Store and then tap on Your Profile > Update All.
Here are simple steps that may help you avoid overheating your iPhone.
- Do not keep your iPhone in a hot environment for an extended period of time, even if it’s not in direct sunlight. That includes your car, a sauna, the kitchen, the middle of the desert or anywhere near a fire.
- Do not use graphics- or processor-intensive apps when your iPhone is charging.
- Did this problem start recently? Delete any apps you downloaded shortly before the problem started.
- Use the appropriate charger to charge your iPhone. Make sure you use the original accessories. If it is a third party charger or cable, make sure it’s MFi certified.
If your iPhone overheats during normal use
If your iPhone consistently gets too hot during normal use, the device may be having a hardware or software problem. However, the problem is usually software related. Here is how you can resolve it:
Please try these steps in order. After trying each step below, use your iPhone a few days to test to see if you’ve fixed your issue.
Reset All Settings
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will restore default iPhone settings without deleting any of your data. Your data and media will remain intact.
Network Settings
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This will remove all of your network-related settings such as your VPN settings and Wi-Fi passwords.
Reset Location & Privacy
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy. This step will delete all of your location and privacy settings.
Backup and then restore
If your problem persists, it’s a good idea to back up your iPhone and restore it. This is a three-step process.
- Backup: You can backup using iCloud by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Backup Now. You can also back up using your computer (Mac or PC). Connect your iPhone to your computer using the appropriate cable, open Finder (Mac), or iTunes (PC) then locate your device and hit Back Up.
- Erase your phone. Tap Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > then tap Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions.
- Restore. Depending on your backup, you can restore your device from an iCloud backup or from a backup on your computer. When you erase the phone, you will see a Hello screen, during the setup process, select Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac or PC. Then follow the onscreen instructions.
Apple Support
Tried these steps and your iPhone is still overheating? Your device may be having a hardware problem. I suggest that you schedule a Genius Bar appointment and take your device to Apple for inspection and repair.