My friend’s iPhone could get so hot…
He’d sometimes joke that he could cook a sunny-side-up egg with it.
And for a device this expensive, you’d think it shouldn’t happen, right?
Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
But what’s great is you can do many things to fix it.
Continue reading to find out:
- 13 effective ways to stop your iPhone from overheating.
- What actually causes an iPhone to overheat, and how to avoid or fix them.
- Unnecessary settings that can cause an iPhone to heat up and how to turn them off.
- And a lot more…
Why is my iPhone overheating?
Your iPhone is overheating due to CPU-intensive apps. These include mobile games and HD streams. Also, you might have many apps running in the background. There are also unnecessary iPhone settings that can cause this problem. Examples are Significant Locations and Analytics & Improvements.
How can I stop my iPhone from overheating? 13 fixes
#1: Close all apps that you’re not currently using
So why exactly do iPhones overheat at times?
The reasons may vary. But the most common one is when you have multiple apps running at the same time.
You see, the more apps are open…
The more your phone’s processor increases its power. Therefore causing your iPhone to heat up.
So at least close those apps you won’t use for a while.
Here’s a fast and easy way to do shut down your phone:
Step #1: Swipe up from the bottom to the middle of the screen.
Step #2: Lift your finger from the screen. You should see all the open apps. You’ll find a stack of them in the middle of your screen.
Step #3: Swipe up again for each app you want to close.
#2: Check the battery usage of your iPhone’s apps
There’s a good way to identify which particular apps are causing your iPhone to overheat.
And that’s through the battery usage report.
How to view your iPhone’s battery usage report
- Tap Settings.
- Select Battery.
- Select the Last 10 Days tab.
- Scroll down to Battery Usage By App.
From there, you’ll see a list of the apps you’ve been using for the past 10 days. And how much each one of them used your battery.
Check for anything unusual.
If you see an app that’s using way more battery charge than others…
There’s likely some issue with it. So you may opt to uninstall it.
And removing an app on an iPhone only takes a few seconds.
How to quickly delete an app on your iPhone
- Press and hold the app from the home screen.
- Select Remove App.
- Tap Delete App.
- Tap Delete to proceed.
#3: Limit the use of CPU-intensive apps
Mobile apps vary greatly in CPU usage.
Some use your phone’s processor much more than others.
Examples of these include mobile games.
Another is streaming apps. Especially when you’re watching in HD or 4K.
And an iPhone typically gets really hot when using those kinds of apps.
Now don’t get me wrong.
I’m not saying that you should stop playing mobile games. Or that you should refrain from watching Netflix from your iPhone.
They’re part of life’s simple pleasures, after all.
But at the very least, limit these activities.
So instead of playing for 4 or 5 hours, maybe limit it to 1 or 2 hours.
And instead of binge-watching a series, watch an episode or 2 per day.
When you do that…
Not only will it stop your iPhone from overheating. It’ll also help prevent eyestrain. A win-win for sure.
#4: Store your iPhone in cool places
You should also be mindful of where you store your iPhone.
A location’s temperature matters in keeping your phone from overheating.
So avoid leaving your iPhone in a car. Especially when the weather’s hot.
Also, never expose your phone to direct sunlight for extended periods.
Moreover, avoid placing your phone in cramped spaces. Such as a drawer full of other objects.
According to Apple, the ideal room temperature for iPhones is 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Or 0 to 35 degrees Celsius.
Anything warmer would be damaging to your phone.
#5: Use the auto-brightness feature
Your iPhone’s display can also cause it to get hot.
Particularly when you turn up the brightness level too high.
An easy fix is to take advantage of your iPhone’s auto-brightness feature.
Did you know? Your phone has a built-in sensor that can detect a room’s lighting.
Essentially, it can turn the display brighter in darker rooms. Or dimmer when the room’s already well-lit.
And this feature can definitely help resolve your phone’s overheating issue.
These are the steps to turn on the auto-brightness feature:
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Select Display & Brightness.
- Look for Automatic and switch it on.
#6: Switch to Low Power Mode
Normally when an iPhone reaches a battery charge below 20%…
It automatically switches to Low Power Mode.
This mode helps preserve your battery life.
And when your iPhone’s in this mode, it’ll reduce certain activities.
To be more specific, your phone will do the following:
- Limit 5G connection.
- Lower the display brightness.
- Default Auto-Lock to 30 seconds.
In addition, your iPhone will also pause other background apps.
That’s why if your phone’s been overheating, you should try switching to this Low Power Mode.
And that’s even if your battery still has plenty of charges.
Just follow these steps to enter into Low Power Mode:
- Select Settings.
- Tap Battery.
- Toggle the Low Power Mode on.
#7: Remove your iPhone’s case temporarily
One of the biggest talking points about iPhones is how expensive they are.
In fact, it’s one of the main reasons why some prefer Android over iPhones.
So it’s only right that you protect your iPhone by covering it with a case.
However, the protective casing can also play a factor in overheating.
So you should remove it occasionally.
You may do that when you’re not using your phone for an extended period. Such as when going to bed.
Moreover, it’s also ideal to remove the case while charging. Especially if you’re using an 18W or 20W charger.
An iPhone can get really hot during the first few minutes of using a fast charger. Which is actually normal.
But removing the case can help lower the phone’s overall temperature while charging.
#8: Switch off unnecessary settings
While iPhones are really good smartphones…
They also have many hidden features that aren’t only battery-draining…
But they can also cause your phone to heat up unknowingly.
And to make matters worse, they can also potentially invade your privacy.
Take Significant Location, for example. This feature is on by default.
It basically keeps track of where you go through the phone’s GPS. This is so you can receive ads relevant to your location.
But you don’t really need that. So it’s better to switch it off.
How to switch off Significant Location
- Select Settings.
- Tap Privacy.
- Select Location Services.
- Scroll down and select System Services.
- Select Significant Locations and turn it off.
Now go back to System Services.
You should see a list of 18 items there. And the only things that are actually useful are:
- Find my iPhone.
- Share My Location.
- Emergency Calls & SOS.
Find my iPhone is useful in tracking lost or stolen phones.
Share My Location is great for letting your friends and family know where you are.
While Emergency Calls & SOS can help ambulances or police officers track your location. This is extremely helpful in dire situations.
But you should turn off everything else under System Services.
Now from System Services, go back to Privacy.
There’s one more setting to switch off.
Analytics & Improvements.
This one sends daily diagnostics to Apple. Supposedly to help Apple improve its products.
But this can also cause battery and overheating problems. So you should also turn it off.
How to turn off Analytics & Improvement
- From the Privacy menu, select Analytics & Improvements.
- Toggle Share iPhone Analytics off.
These are just some of the few unnecessary settings on an iPhone.
If you want to know more settings that you can turn off, check out this video:
You might also like: 17 Genuine Reasons Why iPhone (Still) Sucks
#9: Turn off your iPhone for several minutes
Another easy way to stop your iPhone from overheating is to turn it off.
At least for a few minutes. Just to let it cool off a bit.
Here’s the quickest way to turn off your phone:
- Press and hold the right-side button and the Volume Down button.
- When the power slider appears, drag it to the right.
Your iPhone should then turn off. But don’t rush to turn it back on.
Try to feel the back portion of your phone. Wait for the heat to disappear.
You may then switch your phone on as soon as it cools down.
#10: Ensure that you keep all of your apps up to date
There are many ways an app can malfunction.
Sometimes it can freeze or close abruptly while in use. And other times, it can drain your battery without you knowing. Or cause your phone to heat up.
That’s why you should ensure that your apps have the latest updates.
These updates generally help resolve most issues with an app.
You can actually set your iPhone to update your installed apps automatically. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings.
- Select App Store.
- Look for the Automatic Downloads tab.
- Switch App Updates on.
#11: Install updates for your iOS
In connection with updating your apps…
You should also ensure that your iOS is up to date.
There’ve been instances where an iOS bug had caused overheating problems.
For instance, iOS version 14.6 has had that issue. Apple had since fixed it with software patches in later versions.
And just like with apps, you may also set your iPhone to receive updates automatically.
These are the steps to turn automatic updates on:
- Launch the Settings menu.
- Select General.
- Select Software Update.
- Click Automatic Updates and turn it on.
In addition, you can also manually check for updates.
You’ll see a Download & Install button under Software Update if something’s available.
#12: Reset all of your iPhone’s settings
If your iPhone’s still overheating after trying the other fixes…
Then consider doing a factory reset.
Since doing this will erase everything on your phone, it’s best to back up your data first.
You may do it through your iCloud account.
How to create a backup for your iPhone
- Open the Settings menu.
- Tap your Apple ID name at the top of your screen.
- Select iCloud.
- Tap the Back Up Now option.
Afterward, you may go ahead and reset your iPhone.
How to factory reset your iPhone
- Select Settings.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Reset.
- Select Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode to start the reset process.
Resetting should take several minutes.
After that, just sign back in with your Apple ID. And connect to WiFi. Your iCloud backup should automatically download to your phone.
#13: Take your iPhone to a service center
There are also instances where a hardware defect is the cause of overheating.
This may be the case if you’ve tried out all the fixes to no avail.
So you should take your iPhone to an authorized repair center. So that they can check what components are actually causing the problem.
There’ve been reports that a defective WiFi module can heat up an iPhone.
And sometimes, it can be due to an old and faulty battery.
Whatever the case may be, an expert would certainly help.
You may find your nearest service provider through Apple’s Locate page.