If your iPhone overheats, it means its temperature has risen above-recommended levels. This can happen for a number of reasons, but in almost all cases, it is because you have been using your iPhone in a way that’s taxing on its processor or battery. If your iPhone is overheating and shutting down as a result, you need to be careful how you use it until you can get help from an expert.
Extended use of an overheating iPhone can lead to permanent damage or even a fire. Thankfully, you can do many things to prevent overheating and identify if this has happened to your device. Here are some helpful tips on keeping your iPhone cool and safe again.
What Happens When Your iPhone Overheats?
Heat can surely damage your iPhone; turn it off and unplug it when it gets too hot. You might notice a slight difference in performance, such as :
- A temperature warning could happen. If this happens, move your iPhone away from direct sunlight and into a cooler environment. Please wait until the phone has cooled down before using it.
- Charging slows or stops.
- Your iPhone camera flash will be temporarily disabled.
- Your display dims or goes black.
- Your Cellular data connection enters a low-power state. Note: Your signal might weaken.
Why does my iPhone overheat?
- You are playing games for extended periods
- You have an app that's consuming too much of your battery usage.
- Do you have GPS, Bluetooth, Mobile Data and WIFI Enabled while in hot conditions or direct sunlight?
- You are running a lot of apps in the background.
- You may have left your phone in direct sunlight or hot conditions.
- You are constantly using the camera on your iPhone to take videos and pictures.
- You are streaming a lot of video content
- You have background processes running for too long.
- When was the last time you did a software update?
What is the correct way to Cool Down Your iPhone?
Note: Keep your iPhone where the temperature is between -20º and 45º C (-4º to 113º F). Please don't leave your device in a car or hot environment.
Tip 1. Stop Charging immediately
If your iPhone gets hot while charging, immediately stop charging.
- Try charging your iPhone with a different cable - USB-C to Lightning Cable or Lightning to USB Cable.
- Try charging your iPhone via a computer, wall outlet, lamp, or wireless charging station.
- Ensure that the cable has no breakage or bent prongs.
- Ensure the charging port is not damaged.
See also: How To Fix an iPhone That Won't Charge.
Tip 2. Remove Cases, battery packs and all accessories
Remove any phone case, MagSafe, or battery-pack accessories. Bring the phone into a cooler environment and wait until it cools down. Once your device cools down, you can use it again.
How can I prevent my iPhone From Overheating?
Tip 1. Turn Airplane mode on temporarily.
When you enable Airplane mode, many features are disabled, such as Bluetooth, wi-fi, and GPS. You won't be able to use the internet or make and receive calls. Consider enabling this feature to regulate the temperature temporarily.
Tip 2. Avoid Direct Sunlight
Please don't leave your iPhone in an environment with too much heat. If it's too hot outside, bring your device into the shade and let it cool down before you use it again. No matter how hot the iPhone is, please don't put it in the refrigerator. Let the iPhone cool down gradually.
Tip 3. Disable Location Services for specific apps, such as social media apps, maps & games.
This feature could contribute to your iPhone overheating, especially in direct sunlight.
You may disable location services for specific apps and enable them for important ones, such as Maps.
Navigate to Settings >> Privacy >> Location Services.
Tip 4. Turn Off Unused Features And Services
Personal hotspots, Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi will also lead to overheating issues on your iPhone. Please turn off the features and services when you are not using them.
Tip 5. Force Reset or Restart your iPhone
Note - A simple restart will do. However, at times your iPhone may become unresponsive and the only thing that will help is a force restart.
Force restart an iPhone with Face ID.
- Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the button.
Force restart iPhone 8 or iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- Press and quickly release the volume up and down buttons, then press and hold the side button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the button.
Force restart iPhone 7
- Press and hold the volume down + Sleep/Wake buttons simultaneously.
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
Force restart your iPhone 6s or iPhone SE.
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake + Home buttons simultaneously.
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.
Tip 6. Update or Remove slow and energy-demanding apps.
You can check the apple error logs by going to Settings >> Privacy >> Analytics & Improvements >> Analytics Data
Or update via the App Store:
- Go to the App Store
- Tap on your profile icon at the top right
- Tap Update All
Tip 7. Check Your Battery Usage
The Battery Usage feature lets you see which apps consumed too much of your battery.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Battery Health.
- It might be time for a battery replacement if it shows anything other than "Peak Performance Capability" (and the Maximum Capacity is less than 85%).
Tap on "Show Activity' to view the activities for the app. Look at the background process for each app. Make a note of the longer background time apps. Read Below
Tip 8. Update your iOS
Check for an iOS Update. Connect your device to a power source and a WiFi network. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap Download, Install, or Install Now.
Additional tips to stop an iPhone from overheating
Tip 1. Turn Dark mode on
The Purdue study found that switching from light mode to dark mode at 100% brightness saves an average of 39%-47% battery power.
Tip 2. Reduce Screen Brightness
- Open Settings >> Display & Brightness
Tip 3. Turn On Low Power Mode
Consider turning on Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activities like downloads and mail fetch.
- Navigate to Settings
- Select Battery
- Toggle Low Power Mode On
Tip 4. Turn Off the Raise to Wake
Consider switching 'Raise to Wake' off if you are not using it. Or keep your phone face down. Look at your iPhone less frequently.
- Navigate to Settings
- Select Display & Brightness
- Turn Raise to wake off
This article will cover the entire iPhone series. Tested and worked on the following iPhone devices:
Join our newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss out on what's happening in the tech world. It's that simple.