Six Reasons Why Your iPhone Overheats and How to Solve it
We all know that iPhones can get a little bit hot from time to time. But what do you do when your iPhone starts overheating to the point where it's too hot to hold? In this blog post, we'll explore why your iPhone might be overheating and provide some solutions to fix it. Stay cool and keep reading to learn more!
Outdoor Temperature
The weather is a major factor in whether your iPhone will overheat or not. Suppose you live where temperatures go below freezing point; you should know that frigid temperatures could damage your phone.
The iPhone's battery is designed to work within a certain temperature range. In general, it performs best when the outside temperature is between 65° and 85° Fahrenheit (18° and 29° Celsius).
And in hot weather, it operates at ambient temperatures between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F). So, if you're in a scorching environment, your iPhone will lock itself until its temperature returns to normal.
You might think that the iPhone is built to withstand different temperatures, and you would be right.
Yet, there is a considerable difference in whether the phone could work in both temperatures. Just because it is safe to operate your phone in high temperatures doesn't mean that it will run as smoothly as usual. It's best to avoid exposing your iPhone directly to bright sunlight, especially on a hot day.
Storage Conditions
Many people don't take storage conditions seriously, and it can profoundly affect your iPhone's ability to cool itself. So, it would help if you store your iPhone in a temperature-controlled environment without exposure to direct heat or sunlight. For instance, if you charge your phone overnight and leave it exposed to direct sunlight in the morning, you may find it warmer than usual.
However, if the room you store your iPhone is also overheating from running hot appliances or being too small and crowded with electronic devices, this may also cause problems.
Overheating can also be caused by the room being too hot, so try to store your iPhone somewhere relatively cool. However, if the heat source is in the winter months, place it away from other energy sources like radiators and hot water pipes.
Water Damage
Water damage is one of the most obvious reasons why an iPhone overheats. And exposing your iPhone to a humid environment can cause severe damage to the internal components and result in overheating.
If you've accidentally dropped your iPhone in water or spilled water on it, immediately shut down your device to prevent further damage. Remove the SIM card and place it somewhere safe to dry. Then keep your iPhone in a cool and dry place for 24 hours before turning it back on.
If you don't turn off your device immediately, corrosion may build up over time, reducing heat dissipation and more serious problems like motherboard failure.
Charging Mismanagement
One of the main reasons for iPhone overheating is charging mismanagement. Charging your phone via a low-quality charger or charging cable that isn't made for iPhone-specific may severely damage your device. So, it's best to use an Apple-approved charger for all Apple devices and cables.
Also, never charge your iPhone overnight. It can reduce the battery life, which will also cause overheating.
And the battery of an iPhone is lithium-ion, which means that it can easily overheat and expand. Therefore, keep your device in a cool place only, especially when charging it.
Graphics-Heavy Apps
Your iPhone has an Apple-designed chip (A12 Bionic) that handles all graphics processing for its apps and games.
So when you're playing an intensive game like Fortnite or Asphalt 9: Legends, the A12 chip works hard to render the detailed visuals onscreen. This intense graphics processing makes your iPhone hotter than usual.
While this isn't something to worry about, you should be aware that you don't play intense games in direct sunlight or wear gloves or other warm clothing. This is because graphics-heavy apps, such as games or augmented reality tend to use a lot of processing power and cause your iPhone to overheat. You can do a few things if you think that graphics-heavy apps are causing your iPhone to overheat.
- Close the app. This may help with the problem temporarily. You can close an app by doublepressing the home button on your phone and swiping up the app you want to close.
- Force quit the app. This is similar to closing it but takes a bit longer. Instead of swiping up, you hold down on the app until a red minus sign appears in its corner. Tap on that minus sign to force quit any application in use.
Battery Issues
Batteries are one of the most common iPhone problems. And batteries wear out over time, especially if you're using your iPhone a lot.
When battery life starts to become an issue, it's time to check in with Apple and see what's going on. If you have an older version of the iPhone that's still under warranty; then you can get the battery replaced for free. There are also some discounts available for phones outside of the warranty.
If you have an older iPhone model whose battery has degraded over time, performing heavy tasks can lead to overheating.
And poor battery condition is caused by the way lithium batteries work: they rely on a chemical reaction to produce energy, which causes them to lose capacity over time.
If you notice that your iPhone is getting hot and randomly turns off, or if it's having trouble holding a charge even when you're not using it, the battery may be causing this.
And to check whether your battery needs a replacement, go to Settings -> Battery -> Battery Health and check the Maximum Capacity reading. If it is below 85%, you should consider replacing the battery immediately.
Now that you know why your iPhone might be overheating, it's time to take some steps to solve the problem. Suppose your phone is getting too hot while charging; try using a different charger or outlet. Suppose you're experiencing overheating because of graphics-heavy apps; close those apps and restart your device. And finally, if you think your battery might be the issue, try calibrating your battery or replacing it entirely.
Have any other tips for keeping your iPhone from overheating? Share them with us in the comments below!
