Ever been in the middle of playing Roblox and wondered: Why is my iPad® so hot? An iPad that’s hot to the touch is common and scary at the same time. But there’s no need to get hot and bothered, especially when you know how to cool down an iPad quickly.
Here’s what to do when you have an overheating iPad.
Note: instructions in this article applied to all iPad models including iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini.
Why does your iPad get hot?
Why is your iPad getting hot in the first place? There are a few factors that can be the cause:
1. Excessive usage
If you are using your iPad for heavy processing tasks like playing high-end games, streaming, using graphics-intensive applications, or recording videos for an extended period, this can cause your iPad to overheat.
2. Software updates
A lot goes on during and after installing an update, and tasks such as reindexing photos can consume a lot of processing power, which in turn can temporarily cause the iPad to heat up.
3. Bugs in the software
It is not unusual for iPadOS or apps to have bugs or issues that cause the device to use more power than necessary. This could result in the iPad overheating, even when not using the device.
4. Poor signal or heavy data use
If you’re in a location with poor signal, your iPad has to work harder to maintain a connection, which can cause it to overheat. Similarly, continuous data use, like streaming videos, downloading large files, or creating/restoring from backups can also cause overheating.
5. Charging issues
Using your iPad while it’s charging, or charging it with a non-Apple charger that doesn’t comply with Apple’s safety standards, can cause it to overheat
6. Physical environment
Extreme environmental temperatures can cause an iPad to overheat or present a temperature warning.
7. iPad case
iPadss dissipate the heat into their surroundings through the back shell, and putting a protective case over the device can interfere with this heat dissipation.
8. Damaged battery
Over time, batteries can degrade or even become damaged. If your battery is swollen or damaged, it can cause overheating.
What happens when your iPad overheats?
You’ll know your iPad is overheating when it, you know, overheats. Besides getting hot, the iPad may start displaying a few other symptoms:
- You may not be able to use your device
- Operations on your device may slow down
- Charging may slow or completely stop
- Your signal may be weakened
- Your camera’s flash may be disabled
- The iPad display may dim or go black
If your iPad 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 iPad needs to cool down before you can use it.”
In this mode, your device will stop working. You will not be able to use your iPad except that you can make emergency calls. Your iPad will turn off all functions except emergency calls.
While charging your iPad, you may see a message on the Lock Screen saying:
“Charging On Hold. Charging will resume when iPad returns to normal temperature,”
Apple states that charging is put on hold when your iPad becomes too hot or too cold.
If your iPad 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 iPad cools down.’
This pause keeps your iPad within an acceptable operating temperature. Your restore will resume when the iPad cools down.
How to cool down your iPad
While it might be tempting, do not put your iPad in the refrigerator or freezer to cool it down. Rapidly cooling down an overheating iPad can damage it from the inside out.
Here’s how to cool down an iPad quickly:
- Place it in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight. Bring it indoors and allow it time to return to its normal temperature.
- Turn on Low Power Mode. Head to Settings > Battery.
- Turn on Airplane Mode. Head to Settings > Airplane Mode.
- Remove the iPad from the case, if you are using one. Removing it will help your iPad to cool down quicker.
- Disconnect it from charger, if it is plugged in.
- Decrease the screen brightness. Head to Settings > Display & Brightness. Alternatively, navigate to the Control Center and lower the screen brightness.
- Close all apps.
- iPad models with Face ID: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen. This will reveal the app switcher. Swipe up on all of the apps to close them.
- iPad models with a Home button: Double press the Home button. This will launch the app switcher. Swipe up on all of the apps to close them.
Tips to keep your iPad cool and prevent overheating
Follow these tips to prevent your iPad from overheating:
- Update iPadOS and apps to the latest software available.
- Do not keep your iPad 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 your best to keep the iPad within its operating temperatures of 0 to 35 degrees Celsius (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). - Do not use graphics- or processor-intensive apps when your iPad is charging.
- Use a quality charger and cable. Make sure you use the original accessories. If it is a third party charger or cable, make sure it’s MFi certified.
If your iPad overheats during normal use
If your iPad 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 iPad a few days to test to see if you’ve fixed your issue.
Reset All Settings
Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings. This will restore default iPad settings without deleting any of your data. Your data and media will remain intact.
Network Settings
Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > 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
Head to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > 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 iPad 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 iPad to your computer using the appropriate cable, open Finder (Mac), or iTunes (PC) then locate your device and hit Back Up.
- Erase your device. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > 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 device, 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.
My iPad is still overheating!
Your iPad 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.