Why Your iPhone Is Overheating (and How to Cool It Down Safely)

Avoid Using Your iPhone in Direct Sunlight

While it's true that we as humans need some sun now and then to stay healthy, iPhones don't work the same way.

As a matter of fact, according to Apple, iPhones are built to work best between 0º and 35ºC (32º to 95ºF). If you’re using your device in direct sunlight, especially for long periods of time, the internal temperature can rise pretty quickly.

This is common at the beach, pool, or if you leave your iPhone in a really hot car. Of course, sometimes you can't avoid it, but you should try to keep your iPhone away from sunlight as much as possible. Not only will it make the screen hard to see, but it can also push your iPhone beyond the recommended temperature.

If your iPhone starts to feel hot in the sun, move it to a shaded area as soon as possible. Likewise, avoid placing it on heat-retaining surfaces like metal, glass, or asphalt. Let it cool before you continue using it.

Avoid Gaming or Using High-Performance Apps for Too Long

Games, video editing apps, and even GPS-heavy apps like Google Maps put high demands on your iPhone’s processor and graphics chip.

That means your iPhone needs to use more power, which will lead to more heat and faster battery drain, especially on older models. If you’re playing games like Genshin Impact or browsing TikTok for too long, your iPhone will almost certainly heat up.

We get it, sometimes games can be addictive. But to cool things down, pause the game or app and do something else while your iPhone returns to a normal temperature. Let your iPhone rest on a flat, cool surface for as long as it needs. Your iPhone's battery and processor will definitely thank you for that.

Don't Use Your iPhone While Charging

It’s tempting to scroll through social media or answer messages while your iPhone is plugged in, but this can overheat the device. Charging already generates some heat on its own, so when you combine it with another activity like browsing the web or playing a game, you're putting extra stress on your battery.

You might not notice it now, but the older your iPhone gets, the higher the temperature it'll be. Plus, you might ruin your battery faster.

If your iPhone feels warm while charging, unplug it and close out apps. If it's too hot, turn it off and remove any case or accessory. Let it rest until it cools down, then plug it back in.

Watch Out for Faulty Charging Cables or Adapters

Sometimes using your iPhone while charging isn't the problem; it's what you're using to charge it.

Not all charging accessories are created equal. Cheap third-party cables or old, frayed wires can either deliver inconsistent power or send too much current. Not to mention that they can also become a fire hazard. That can cause your iPhone to heat up or even display a warning that charging has been disabled.

Always use charging cables and adapters that are properly certified. That's an MFi (Made For iPhone) certification for Lightning cables or a USB certification for USB-C cables and power bricks. If money isn't an issue, you can never go wrong with Apple's own chargers, but there are plenty of other reputable brands like Anker, Belkin, and Mophie that are fully certified and much more affordable. If your charger gets hot to the touch or causes your iPhone to overheat, stop using it immediately and replace it with a safe option.

Keep your iPhone Software Up to Date

Sometimes your iPhone’s software is the real culprit. Even if Apple tests every software update it launches, there will be times when a new iOS version might have background bugs that are draining power and heating up your iPhone. This is more common right after a major update or if you use an early beta.

If you think a software update is causing this problem, there's only one thing you can do: update your iPhone. You can check for software updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update and installing the latest version of iOS. 

Apple regularly patches bugs that affect performance and battery behavior, so keeping your system up to date is always smart. On the other hand, if you don't want to suffer from these problems in the future, we recommend waiting some time before updating your iPhone.

Check for Glitchy Apps

Not all apps in the App Store are well-optimized, especially after a big software update. Some poorly coded apps can hog your processor in the background, even if you’re not actively using them, which might cause both heating issues and problems with your battery life.

While there's no exact way of knowing which apps are causing problems, you can still know which apps are too demanding for your iPhone. Simply go to Settings > Battery and look at the list of apps using the most power on your daily usage chart.

If there's an app that is draining your battery life without you using it that much, that app might be causing some overheating. From there, you have two options. First, you can try updating the app by searching for it on the App Store and checking if there are any updates available. Or, you can delete it entirely, and then check back later and download it again once an update is available.

Turn Down Your Screen Brightness

A bright display is one of the biggest battery drains on any iPhone. If you’re using your iPhone outdoors or have the brightness slider cranked up all the way up, the screen’s backlight generates extra heat. Combine that with the sun, and you'll instantly feel as if you're iPhone is burning in your hand. 

Of course, sometimes you need a bright screen, but be sure to adjust the brightness to a moderate level whenever possible. To do this, simply swipe down to open Control Center and slide the brightness bar to a comfortable level.

You can also let your iPhone automatically adjust the screen brightness for you. Simply go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size and toggle on Auto-Brightness.