Why Is My Phone Hot? How To Quickly Solve It
Your phone getting hot can happen when scrolling through social media, watching videos or charging. It may cause the screen to go dim, apps to slow down and battery life to drain quicker. On occasion the phone may also alert you that it is too hot.
It’s normal for your phone to get slightly warm, but it can cause issues if it gets overly hot.
Phones can get hot due to high demand apps, charging, warm temperatures and software issues.
Many issues can easily be solved by simply adjusting the way you use your phone. Here we’ll show you why your phone is overheating, how to quickly cool it down and how to prevent it from happening.
Why Is My Phone Hot?
Any smart phone will generate heat when the processor, battery and other electronics are being powered. Using apps that take up a lot of processing power will cause your phone to get warmer.
To stop this from becoming an issue, your phone will automatically try to cool itself down. This can be done by slowing down the performance, lowering the brightness of the screen and by pausing charging.
Issues arise when your phone can’t get rid of the heat quickly enough.
For example if your phone is getting overly hot from GPS Navigation whilst charging in the sun. This will cause all different parts of your phone to get hot.
Knowing why your phone is getting hot will help you know what solutions to try.
Common Causes Of Your Phone Getting Hot
High Demand Apps/Gaming
High detail mobile games will cause your phone to get hot as the CPU and GPU are constantly running.
Apps such as video editing, high resolution recording, AR and others can cause the same issue.
If your phone only gets hot when doing these it may be due to the workload.
Charging Whilst Using
Charging your phone will cause it to get slightly warm. If you’re running high demand apps this will cause it to get warmer.
If you’re using fast charge it can cause your phone to get quite warm.
Using a quality and compatible charger will help minimise any issues with charging. Even fast charge can cause phones to run warm.
Hot Temperatures
The temperature of your surroundings can play a big part.
If your phone is in a parked car, by a sunny window or it’s just generally hot outside your phone can quickly get hot.
During the hotter months in Pakistan it can get extremely hot outside.
Even basic tasks can cause your phone to give a warning.
Too Many Background Tasks
Some apps will run in the background.
Apps that track your location, sync files, download or constantly update can cause your phone to get hot. This is as it will cause your phone to use more processing power and battery.
You may also be using an app that isn’t working correctly causing it to take up too much resources.
You don’t need to close all background apps. In fact it can cause your battery to run out quicker as they will just keep opening.
Software Issues
Sometimes software issues can cause your phone to run warm.
If an app is stuck in a loop it can cause the phone to run warm. This is as the app will constantly be taking up resources.
Sometimes operating system updates can cause your phone to have some background processes. This could include indexing and optimisation.
If your phone starts to get hot straight after an update let it run for a reasonable amount of time and see if the issue improves.
Battery Issues
Over time your smart phone’s battery will wear down.
If your battery is worn or damaged it can cause your phone to run hot. This can also cause battery life to drop and your phone to shut off unexpectedly.
Your phone may not always be running hot due to a faulty battery. But if your phone is constantly running hot alongside swelling, strange smells or charging issues it’s best to have it looked at by a professional.
How To Quickly Cool Down Your Phone
Stop Using High Demand Apps
If your phone is running too hot stop using any gaming, video recording or high demand apps.
This will cause your phone to not use as much processing power and therefore not cause extra heat.
Avoid opening high demand apps again until your phone is back to a normal temperature.
Unplug Your Phone
If your phone is running unusually hot whilst charging unplug it.
Place on a dry flat surface and leave it to cool down. Avoid direct sunlight.
If you notice any visible damage on your charging cable or adapter avoid using them.
Don’t continue to charge your phone if it keeps getting hot.
Remove Thick Case
Some cases can cause your phone to not cool down as well. If you’re running intensive tasks or charging remove your thick case.
Be careful when handling a very hot phone. If your phone is showing a hot warning follow the manufacturers guidelines.
Move To A Cooler Place
Move your phone away from any direct sunlight, hot cars or heat sources.
Ideally you would want to move it somewhere cool and well ventilated indoors.
Never put an overheating phone into a fridge or freezer. This can cause condensation due to the temperature change. This can cause damage to the internal components.
Leave it to cool down naturally.
Lower Screen Brightness
Your screen will use electricity. Lowering the brightness can help.
If you’re using your phone outside try to lower your brightness.
Enable auto brightness.
Restart Your Phone
Sometimes restarting can help solve any temporary software issues. This will stop any apps from acting strangely.
Once your phone has cooled down restart it. See if the issue still happens.
If a specific app is causing it to get hot look into this app.
Update Software
Check for any updates. Developers sometimes release software updates that will fix issues with phones running too hot, charging and performance.
Update via your phones settings. Only use trusted app stores.
Your phone may also run warm whilst updating. This can be normal as it will be doing some background optimisation.
How To Stop Android Phones Getting Hot
On android phones you can check for any issues. Open up settings and look for the battery section. Depending on the phone manufacturer you should be able to see which apps are using the most battery.
If you notice any unknown or low used apps using a lot of resources look into the apps permissions, background activity and check for updates.
Some android phones have performance modes, battery saving modes and thermal management.
Changing your performance mode to something medium instead of max can help.
Depending on your phone (Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Google Pixel etc.) the menus may differ.
How To Fix iPhone Overheating
iPhones have inbuilt thermal management. This can cause your phone to slow down, or stop certain functions.
If your iPhone is running unusually hot stop using any high demand apps and unplug any charging accessories. Move it away from any heat sources.
Go to settings and look at battery. This will show you how much battery your apps are using.
Go to general and look for software updates.
If your iPhone is showing a thermal warning follow the on-screen guidance. Let it cool down.
If your phone is constantly running hot during light tasks you may want to troubleshoot further or have it looked at by apple or an authorised service provider.
How To Avoid Phones Getting Hot Whilst Charging
How you charge your phone can affect how hot it gets. Using a quality charger and cable from the manufacturer. Avoid damaged connections and questionable accessories.
Place on a flat surface that is well ventilated. Avoid placing under cushions, blankets or clothes.
Avoid gaming whilst charging. Especially if it’s warm.
Wireless charging can cause extra heat. Ensure you’re using the correct alignment and accessories.
If your phone has optimised charging or battery protection enable them if needed.
When Should I Be Concerned?
It’s normal for your phone to get warm when gaming, navigating or using fast charge.
However if your phone is getting extremely hot when not being used, constantly shutting down or showing thermal warnings regularly there may be an issue.
If your battery is swelling, smoking, strange smells or visible damage this should be a concern.
Stop using and charging your phone. Don’t try to pierce, squish or repair a damaged battery.
Have a qualified repair professional or authorised service centre look at it.
Conclusion
Phones can often run hot due to high demand apps, charging, direct sunlight and temporary software issues.
Stopping high demand tasks, unplugging, lowering brightness and moving to a cooler place will help your phone cool down. Having good charging habits, keeping your phone updated and keeping a eye on your battery will help reduce any ongoing issues.
Most importantly differentiate between normal heat and constant/overheating. If your phone is constantly getting dangerously hot or showing signs of battery damage it’s best to have it looked at by a professional.
