There are a wide range of possible causes for smartphones overheating. In this blog, we’ll cover both iPhones and Android devices; helping you find the cause, fix it, and prevent it from happening again.
Firstly, we’ll tackle the more innocuous causes that can be easily fixed, before focusing on more serious issues and offering our top tips to combat them.
Reasons smartphones overheat
Gaming for long periods of time
Gaming apps use your phone’s CPU in addition to the graphics processing unit, which can cause your phone to overheat when used for prolonged periods.
Streaming content
Similar to gaming apps, streaming services like YouTube and Netflix overwork your phone’s processor, as it has to load the video data and keep the display active for an extended period.
Phone settings
Your phone’s settings – from screen brightness levels to active home screen widgets – can impact its energy usage. Consider deactivating any battery-sapping apps running in the background and ensure your screen brightness is set to a comfortable level. Taking such precautions will lighten the load on your phone’s CPU – and your wallet.
Environmental factors
Excessively high temperatures during summer can cause your phone to overheat when paired with heavy usage, while water damage from heavy rainfall can also result in similar symptoms.
Out of date apps
If you have apps that are old and haven’t been updated in a long time, they could be severely under-optimised, meaning they could place strain on your processor, leading to overheating. Keeping your apps up to date should be an essential part of your phone care regime as updated apps usually include bug fixes and security.
Malware
A phone that’s literally too hot to handle may have been infected with malware, which can take up a large portion of your phone’s RAM usage and CPU power. Use a trusted mobile antivirus programme like AVG Cleaner to resolve this problem.
What causes my phone to get hot?
It’s completely normal for your phone to warm up from time to time; electricity generates heat after all. However, if it overheats regularly and none of the above software or usage reasons seem to be to blame, there could be a more serious hardware problem to contend with. Below are the most probable hardware causes for your phone getting hot.
Battery, processor and screen
Your smartphone’s battery, processor and screen are all components that generate electricity, while producing heat as a by-product. The battery, for instance, houses chemicals that generate electricity, while the processor transfers information at rapid speeds. And depending on your brightness settings, the screen emits light which can cause your phone to quickly heat.
Back of phone
If the back of your phone is getting overly hot, it’s likely to be an issue with the battery. While lithium ion batteries (the type found in your phone) are usually safe, accidents do happen. A battery that overheats frequently will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Bottom of phone
If there’s heat coming from the bottom of your phone, it’s likely to be an issue with the charger or charging port. Remedy this by purchasing the official charger from your phone’s manufacturer, or one from a reputable electronic brand.
Top of phone
It’s trickier to identify the issue when heat is being generated above the battery, or by the speaker. In these instances, it’s best to exhaust all possible causes related to both the handset and external factors. But if all else fails, take your device to a respected repair expert.
How hot is too hot?
Generally, a phone’s internal temperature can reach anywhere between 37-43°C and still be considered normal. For Androids, you can install the smart AIDA64 app, which provides a wealth of useful information about your phone – including a handy temperature report.
Apple includes a Battery Health menu, but it doesn’t provide temperature reports. Therefore, it’s down to you to notice if your handset is getting hot several times a day, or for seemingly no reason.
How to cool your phone down
While your phone case won’t directly cause your device to overheat, it may, in fact, trap heat. Removing the case will therefore allow your phone’s temperature to drop to a sensible level. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, try activating airplane mode to rapidly deactivate battery-sapping features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi signal search etc. In some cases, though, simply restarting your device will allow your phone to cool down and recalibrate.
Use less power
For iPhones, activate Low Power Mode. For Androids, try using Battery Saver Mode. These settings reduce the amount of power you phone uses, and therefore preserve battery life. If possible, disable Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth to allow your phone to cool, while maintaining a low-medium screen brightness to prevent your battery from draining.
Install phone cleaning software
Cleaner apps, like AVG Cleaner, handily remove junk files and identify apps that are impairing your phone’s performance.
How to prevent your phone from overheating again
Developing a few basic phone-care habits can make all the difference when it comes to extending your phone’s life. The tips below will enable you to prevent problems before they occur; think prevention before cure.
Charge your phone correctly
As well as purchasing a charger from a reputable brand, the location where you charge it is also important. It’s best to place it on a hard surface that doesn’t conduct heat – places like the sofa or bed will retain the heat from charging.
Update your apps
If your phone heats up for no apparent reason, try to identify the problem from your recently installed apps. Updating your apps usually resolve these issues, but if not, simply uninstall the app to determine whether it’s the culprit.
Use an antivirus (Android)
As well as resolving overheating issues, antivirus programmes also neutralise malicious malware that can end up on your phone.
If nothing you try stops your phone from overheating, it may be a serious hardware issue that might be covered under comprehensive phone insurance.