Are you wondering what causes an iPhone to overheat? If you own an iPhone, you might have felt the frustration of it getting as hot as a grill. When this happens, your device may behave strangely, struggle to charge, run slowly, have a black screen, or even have camera issues, all due to the heat. iPhones are powerful gadgets, but too much heat can interfere with their operation and potentially cause lasting damage. While some heat is normal, frequent overheating could signal more serious problems. By recognizing the causes and taking simple steps to prevent it, you can help keep your iPhone running smoothly and cool.
What Happens When an iPhone Overheats?
An iPhone overheats when its internal temperature rises to a point where it can no longer operate efficiently. This causes the gadget to slow down and, in severe situations, turn off completely until it cools down. You want to minimize overheating as much as possible because it can quickly destroy an iPhone. When the temperature threshold is surpassed, a warning message will appear on the screen.
Causes of iPhone Overheating
While iPhones are designed to distribute heat, various factors could be contributing to their hotness. These include:
1. Extreme Environmental Temperature
Extreme cold or hot temperatures will have a bad effect on your iPhone. It may seem strange, but when you think about it, both of these options can make your phone overheat. It takes a lot of effort for a cold phone to reach the proper temperature and function, yet doing so causes it to work too hard and become overly warm. Even in the UK, leaving phones in hot cars throughout the summer is a major problem that occurs much too frequently. The recommended temperature range for iPhones is between 0 to 35°C. Therefore, you should take every precaution to keep it within this range for best performance.
2. Running Many Apps at Once
Shutting off your phone's apps when you're done with them or not utilizing them doesn't hurt. Is it really necessary to have YouTube, Candy Crush Saga, Hinge, Instagram, Facebook, Safari, and ESPN all open at once? “No” is the answer. Every open program that runs in the background uses the processor, RAM, and battery of your phone. You will use more energy if you have more apps. Make sure your apps are configured to update automatically or check for updates regularly. App updates frequently address software issues that might impair your phone's functionality and performance. Smartphones may overheat due to bugs and outdated software that requires more energy for apps to function properly. Keeping your apps updated prevents them from using up too much of your phone's battery.
3. Leaving Your iPhone Constantly Plugged In
What causes an iPhone to overheat? Leaving it in power at all times. Many of us leave our phones plugged in all night, which is really not a good idea. Even while iPhones are smart enough to recognize when to cut off a current once the battery is fully charged, it's still preferable to disconnect the phone when it makes sense rather than depending on the software. You guessed it: a phone's battery may suffer, and its internal temperature may rise if it is left plugged in all the time.
4. An Old Or Faulty Battery
If your iPhone is quite old, it's possible that its battery is soon to die and go to iPhone battery paradise. You can quickly check how your battery is doing by navigating to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. You will also notice anything fishy when there's too much battery drain. If your iPhone's maximum capacity is less than a politician's approval rating, you're probably seeing the root of the problem. A defective battery should be changed right away because it can do more harm than merely make your iPhone overheat.
5. A Malware Infection
If your iPhone is overheating without any apparent cause, a malware infection can be the cause. In this situation, you should take action to prevent further infection and remove the virus from your iPhone. In addition to slowing down and causing overheating, malware exposes you to security risks that could have much more serious consequences. The use of antivirus software is among the finest ways to protect your iPhone. Avast Mobile Security for iOS silently operates in the background to help shield your iPhone from hackers, resource-hungry malware, and other privacy and security risks.
6. Phone Case
Still wondering what causes an iPhone to overheat? It could be your phone case! Phone cases are essential if you wish to keep your gadget safe. However, you must know when to remove the case because it disperses the heat across the entire phone, which can sometimes cause performance issues. If your iPhone is already beginning to overheat, take off the cover and let it cool. Reattach it once it has cooled down to protect your phone.
7. Direct Sunlight
If you keep your phone on the dashboard or console of your vehicle, it will heat up even if it is not in use. This also applies to leaving your phone on a table or concrete outside. Given that batteries can explode in uncontrolled situations, this heat accumulation could truly be a major safety concern. However, this risk can be mitigated by taking good care of your phone.
8. Playing Games for Long Hours
Yes, iPhones are fantastic for short mobile gaming sessions, but as a safety measure, if you spend hours staring at your screen while riding the train or using another device, the gadget will get hot to the touch and then shut down. Long-term gaming sessions or movie streaming drain your phone's CPU. Try playing less resource-demanding games, such as indie games or vintage classics, if you enjoy gaming a lot.
9. Outdated iOS and Software Updates
Using outdated iOS may cause your phone to work harder, which will put more strain on the processor and cause it to overheat. However, installing a lot of software and third-party apps at once might also strain the device and cause it to overheat. The good news is that updating the software on your iPhone is typically simple and can fix a variety of problems, including problems with the camera and poor call quality. You can manually upgrade your iOS if you need to, but the device refuses. However, to use this method, you must have the most recent version of iTunes installed on a Mac or Windows laptop.
10. Heavy Data Use
Constant data use can also lead to this problem. The feeling that your phone is getting warmer than it should be is particularly noticeable while you are downloading large files or watching something. In this situation, we advise you to use your data sparingly and to avoid excessive streaming and downloading.
11. Bad Signal
We've all experienced it: our phone suddenly stops working, or our service is spotty, so we raise it aimlessly and wave it in all places in the hopes that it will miraculously strengthen our signal. What exactly is going on? Your phone is searching for a signal, whether it's Bluetooth, WiFi, or cellular – and is trying very hard. Your phone works harder by putting greater effort into the mobile antenna if you're in an area without WiFi or with a weak cellular signal.
12. Apps Malfunctioning
Last on our list of what causes iPhone to overheat is malfunctioning apps. We must be mindful of the occasional bugs and failures that occur with any technology-related thing. Unfortunately, faulty apps can quickly cause an iPhone to overheat and become unusable, either temporarily or permanently. There will be some sort of fault or problem in a program that makes it use a lot more energy than it should.
How to Fix Your Overheating iPhone
To prevent possible harm to your iPhone's internal components, you must act quickly when you realize that it is overheating. Try these solutions to fix the problem right now.
1. Stop Charging Immediately
Unplug your iPhone from the charger right away if it starts to heat up during charging. Disconnecting it will help lower the temperature because charging can produce additional heat. Before charging it once more, let it cool for a few minutes.
2. Remove the Case
Remove any protective covering first to allow the heat to escape more quickly. Make sure the iPhone is out of direct sunlight and in a cooler location. Additionally, you can use a fan or blower to help your iPhone cool down more efficiently. Slowly cool your iPhone because sudden temperature changes might cause more damage than heat. Never store your iPhone in a freezer, refrigerator, or other cold environment.
3. Stop Using the Phone Immediately
The final and most crucial step is to put your iPhone away for a while. To put your iPhone to sleep, close any open or background apps, press the Lock button, and then leave it alone for ten to fifteen minutes to cool fully. Another way to expedite the process is to turn off your iPhone completely.
How to Prevent Your iPhone from Overheating
Now that we’ve discussed what causes an iPhone to overheat, here are several tricks and tweaks you may use to keep your iPhone from overheating when you're using it regularly. This will not only help you prevent overheating problems, but it may also increase the battery's longevity.
1. Stop Using Your iPhone While Charging
Your iPhone is already putting a lot of effort into recharging the battery when you charge it, and as a result, heat is produced. Overheating may result from using the phone while charging because it puts more demand on the processor and other parts. This is particularly true when engaging in demanding activities, such as video calls or resource-intensive games like PUBG. It's advisable to wait until your phone has finished charging before using it again unless there is an urgent need to use it. Keep your phone on a flat, hard surface without any cloth or cotton material while charging.
2. Keep Your Phone Away from Direct Sunlight
Your iPhone will heat up quickly if it is exposed to bright sunlight or intense heat, particularly if you put it on a sunny dashboard or in a hot car. Be cautious where you store your iPhone because even a short exposure to excess heat can cause permanent damage.
3. Use Original Cord
It may be tempting to buy those incredibly low-cost cord bundle packs, but they aren't necessarily the highest quality. Use only reliable chargers (ideally an Apple® charger) and make sure they are compatible with your iPhone model to keep it safe and functioning properly.
4. Turn Off the Auto Brightness
Auto-brightness is a handy function that automatically modifies the brightness of your iPhone's screen according to the surrounding ambient light. This function may produce additional heat, though, and it can also be energy-intensive. Deactivating auto-brightness and manually lowering its level can help your iPhone's battery life last longer and produce less heat.
Conclusion
So, what causes an iPhone to overheat? It can be due to various reasons, such as prolonged usage, charging issues, software glitches, malware, resource-intensive apps, and environmental factors. To prevent overheating, monitor your device's temperature, update software regularly, and avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.
