Your phone needs to cool down: How to keep it from overheating

Are you in the habit of leaving your phone out in the sun? If so, it may be at risk of overheating. This is not just a problem for older devices. Even the newest flagship phones like the Samsung S24 or the iPhone 15 can get very hot if left in the sun for a long time.

You don’t want your phone to overheat because it can slow down or stop working altogether. Excessive heat can result in permanent damage, which may force you to replace the battery or even get a brand new phone. And that requires spending money, even if you have insurance.

That’s why you want to take all the precautions you can prevent YOUR iPhone, Android device or other phone from overheating. You can’t stop all cases of overheating, but there are many things you can do. Here’s what you need to know.

For more, check out the best iPhone you can get in 2024, as well as our top picks if you’re considering an Android phone.

Why is your phone heating up in the first place?

Your phone can overheat for many reasons, but here are some of the most common culprits:

• Leaving your phone in direct sunlight
• Keeping your phone in a hot environment
• Excessive use of the phone while charging
• A damaged battery or charger
• Software errors
• Fraudulent apps or malware

Your phone may overheat for other reasons, such as a malfunctioning app or even a stifling phone case, but the above reasons are the most likely causes of your phone overheating.

What does overheating do to your phone?

If the internal temperature of your phone exceeds what is normal and the device overheats, you can expect several problems:

• You can’t use your phone
• Your phone slows down
• Charging slows down or stops completely
• Your signal is weak
• Your camera’s flash has been temporarily disabled

There are also possible permanent harmful effects — overheating can cause permanent damage to the battery, SIM card and other essential parts inside your phone.

So how can you prevent your phone from overheating?

The most important thing is that keep your phone out of direct sunlight when possible, especially when it’s warm. Your phone may be fine in the grass on a cloudy day, but the warmer the temperature, the less your phone can withstand the sun. At the beach, your phone can overheat in just a few minutes in the sun. The same if you put it in a sunny spot in your car.

Instead, remove your phone from direct light, either in your pocket, inside a backpack or under a towel/blanket or dashboard. Any place that will keep it out of direct sunlight will work.

It’s easy enough to protect your phone from the sun, but high temperatures alone can cause your phone to overheat. After just one hour, the inside of a car can reach 143 degrees when it’s 100 degrees outside, for example, so a phone left in a cup holder can quickly heat up and be damaged. The short answer: not keep your phone in a hot environment for a long period of time, even if it is not in direct sunlight. This includes your car, a sauna, kitchen, in the middle of the desert or anywhere near a fire.

The optimal internal temperature of your phone should be somewhere between 32º and 95º F (0º and 35º C). To prevent overheating, Apple recommends keeping the device in a location where the temperature is between -4º and 113º F (-20º and 45º C).

You should also follow these tips to prevent your phone from overheating

• Do not use graphic or processor-intensive applications when your phone is charging. This includes massive mobile video games like PUBG Mobile or streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu.
• Update your phone’s system software and applications with the latest software available. A software bug can cause overheating issues, so always stay up to date with your software.
• Stay away from third party chargers. Most of the time you’ll be fine, but a cheaply designed charger can cause your phone to overheat.

While you’re here, check out how to make your Android feel new again with these five tips.