Why is my phone overheating?

You may notice your phone heating up after extended use. It’s a relatively normal occurrence, but extended overheating can affect your phone’s battery life, overall performance or even cause permanent damage. In this article, we’ll go over some of the reasons why your phone might be overheating, how to cool it down, and what you can do to keep it from being a recurring issue. 

Why is my phone so hot?

There are several factors that can cause a phone to overheat, with the most common reasons being the battery, the phone’s processor or the charge port. Depending on the time of day, or what you’re doing when you feel your phone start to warm up, you should be able to narrow it down to one of these known causes: 

Overuse

Using your phone non-stop, across multiple apps, can cause overheating. Especially when using data heavy apps or having your screen on & bright for an extended period of time, like when you’re live streaming or gaming.  

Too many apps running in the background

Switching between apps without fully closing them can result in your phone working overtime to keep them going in the background.

Faulty battery or charging cable

If the entire backside of your phone is where most of the heat is coming from, your battery may be working too hard. And if it mostly happens when it’s charging, it could also be how you’re charging it.

Viruses

Yes, phones can get viruses. If you accidentally opened a suspicious email attachment or visited an unknown website before your phone started heating up, a virus could be to blame. 

Hot environment

Phones are just like people in that they can also overheat if left in a poorly ventilated space or in direct sunlight for too long.

How to cool down your phone when it’s overheating

If your phone is getting unbearably hot or you get an overheating alert, there are ways to cool it down. Here are a few simple steps you can take to slow down your phone overheating before it causes bigger problems:

Turn it off

The quickest, most effective way to slow overheating is to just power down the phone and let it rest for a bit. 

Take the case off

Removing any case you have on your phone allows for better airflow, which can also cool it down. 

Keep it in a cool space

Get your phone out of the sun and into a cooler spot. Just don’t put it in the refrigerator; drastic temperature changes can cause significant damage via condensation. 

Turn on battery saver mode

Battery saver mode keeps your phone from working too hard by eliminating less important notifications, minimizing app use, lowering the screen brightness and more.

Why does my phone get hot when charging?

Is your phone overheating most often when it’s plugged in? There are a few things that could be causing it to overheat while it’s charging:

Fast charging

Fast charging generates more heat than standard charging.

Apps running in the background

Having multiple apps still running while your phone is plugged in consumes a lot of power.

Faulty or damaged charging cable

Third-party (i.e. non-certified, discounted) charging cables can cause overheating. Or if you’re using the manufacturer-approved charging cable, but it has some twists or tears in it, that could be the cause.

Charging in a warm environment

If you set your phone on the windowsill while it’s charging, the sun could be a factor. Or if you’re charging it in a place with poor ventilation (like a pocket or drawer).

Faulty or outdated battery

Your battery might be damaged or just too old.

How to check your phone temperature

The optimal temperature for your phone to be operating at is between 35 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. While not available on all phones, there are some ways to monitor your phone’s temperature. 

Check phone temperature on Android

In the phone settings:

• Go to Settings > Battery and device care (or Battery on some models)
• Look for a Temperature reading under Battery details

Using a Dial Code:

• Dial *#*#4636#*#* in the phone app
• Select Battery Information to see the temperature

Check phone temperature on iPhone

Apple doesn’t provide a built-in temperature meter, but it will give you a temperature warning if it’s at risk of overheating and needs to cool down. You can also check your iPhone battery health in the settings:

• Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging
• If Maximum Capacity is below 80%, your battery is getting old and it may be time for a replacement
• If you see Service, that means your battery’s capacity & performance has declined to the point where it definitely needs to be replaced

There are also third-party apps you can download and use to keep track of your battery’s health.  

How to fix overheating phone

Now you know what to do when your phone is already overheating, but there are also a few proactive steps you can take to keep your phone from overheating in the first place. 

Close apps you aren’t using now (and delete the ones you never use)

The more apps you have on your phone, the harder it’s working. Close any apps you aren’t using now, and uninstall any apps you haven’t used in a while.

Lower your screen brightness

The brighter your phone screen, the harder your phone is working, too. Adaptive brightness is a handy feature that only turns up the screen brightness when you really need it. 

Go airplane mode (or at least disable connections you aren’t using)

Turning off Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi when you’re not using them can also ease the burden on your phone. 

Wait before charging

If you think your phone might be at risk of overheating, hold off on plugging it in. Charging it generates extra heat.

Update OS and apps

Regular software & app updates are critical for applying bug fixes and security enhancements that help your phone run more efficiently.  

Keep your phone in a cool place

Avoid leaving it in direct sunlight or a poorly ventilated area for an extended period of time. 

Remove the case

Some phone cases block important vents and ports, restricting airflow and making it very difficult for your phone to keep cool. 

Ultra Mobile has hot deals to go with these cool tips

Now you know the ins and outs of keeping your phone from overheating. While it can be a common occurrence, remember to limit the number of apps & connections that are running in the background, keep your screen brightness low when you can and be mindful while charging. And if you really want to get the most out of that phone, switch to Ultra Mobile. We like to help you do more than just cool off your phone—we want to save you money as well. Click the link below to learn more about how Ultra Mobile provides reliable wireless service and affordable plans on the nation’s largest 5G network.