Published on October 5th, 2023

In the world of modern smartphones, heat can be your device’s greatest adversary.

These sleek and slender gadgets house potent processors and robust batteries, which, despite their impressive capabilities, can easily succumb to overheating, even during routine operations. We’ve all heard the stories, from the notorious Galaxy Note 7 to the rumored iPhone 15.

Whether your phone is plugged in for charging, idling on a table, or tackling demanding tasks, it has a critical internal Temperature threshold to uphold.

Failure to do so can result in catastrophic consequences, ranging from malfunctions to fire hazards and even explosions.

Sometimes, it’s internal flaws that trigger these issues, while other times, it’s our handling of these devices that determines their longevity.

Regardless of the cause, when your phone starts to overheat, it’s essential to know what steps you can take to cool it down and, just as importantly, how to prevent a recurrence.

What Temperature Should My Phone Be?

Unlike computers, smartphones lack internal fans to regulate their temperatures. This is primarily because smartphones generally don’t engage in as CPU-intensive tasks as PCs do.

Smartphone manufacturers typically recommend maintaining your device within the temperature range of 32-95° Fahrenheit (0 to 35° Celsius) whether it’s actively charging, in use, or simply idle.

Your phone’s temperature can exceed these thresholds under certain circumstances.

For instance, if you’ve been gaming, streaming video, screen mirroring, or engaging in data-intensive operations like syncing large amounts of data to the cloud or restoring from a backup, your phone can get notably hotter.

Graphics-intensive Apps or features, as well as augmented reality applications, can also contribute to increased device temperatures.

One challenge you might encounter is that checking your phone’s internal temperature isn’t straightforward.

In the past, some phones allowed users to access this information through the settings menu, but this feature has become less common.

Instead, you may need to rely on third-party apps specifically designed to provide insight into your phone’s internal temperature and performance metrics.

These apps can help you monitor your device’s health and ensure it stays within safe temperature ranges during demanding tasks.

Read More: Top 5 Ways To Remove Virus From Your Mobile

How To Help An Overheating Phone?

Even if you lack precise knowledge of your phone’s internal temperature, modern smartphones are equipped with safety mechanisms to assist you. When the device starts overheating, it will typically display a warning on the screen.

In addition, to mitigate potential risks, it might automatically disable certain features to facilitate cooling.

If you happen to encounter a heat warning on your phone, there are several proactive steps you can take to lower the temperature and preempt any critical issues.

Remove Your Phone From The Environment

Manufacturers strongly advise users to maintain their devices within a temperature range of -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 45 degrees Celsius).

Going below this range can cause the phone to freeze up, while exceeding it may result in permanent damage.

If your device is exposed to high temperatures, it’s crucial to take immediate action.

This could involve removing it from a hot car, shielding it from direct sunlight, or keeping it away from heat sources like radiators.

Avoid an instinct to place the phone in the freezer, as abrupt temperature shifts can harm the device.

The phone’s internal components expand when heated, and introducing intense cold can introduce unwanted moisture.
It’s essential to be mindful of where you charge your phone.

Charging naturally raises the device’s temperature, so it’s best to keep it free from any obstructions.

Avoid charging it in places like your bed or under pillows, blankets, papers, or books. Instead, place your phone on a firm, flat surface whenever possible to facilitate proper heat dissipation.

Reset Or Turn Off The Phone

When your phone is charging and it starts to overheat, the first step you should take is to unplug it from the charger.

Charging generates additional heat, so disconnecting it will help reduce the temperature.

If your phone has a protective case, it’s a good idea to remove it. Cases can sometimes trap heat and hinder proper heat dissipation, so taking it off can aid in cooling down your device.

Powering the phone down is another effective way to help it cool down.

However, this process can vary depending on the make and model of your device. Typically, turning off an iPhone or Android device involves a combination of pressing specific buttons.

For iPhones, this often includes pressing and holding the Side button (or Home button on older models) and one of the volume buttons simultaneously until the “slide to power off” slider appears on the screen.

You can also go to Settings > General > Shut Down to initiate a shutdown on iPhones.

For Android devices, the procedure might involve pressing and holding the power button and volume down button together until a shutdown menu appears, but this can vary among different Android models.

It’s essential to check your device’s specific instructions for turning it off to ensure you do it correctly, as the process can indeed differ between phone models.

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Try A Different Charger

If your device was recently charging and you suspect overheating, start by examining the power cord for any signs of damage.

Check if the cable is melted or significantly frayed, to the point where you can see the internal wiring. If you notice such damage, it’s crucial to dispose of the cable safely and replace it with one that’s undamaged.

Even if the power cord appears fine, it’s wise to confirm that it’s from a reputable brand. Ideally, you should use the charger that originally came with your phone.

Otherwise, opt for chargers made by well-known manufacturers like Apple or Samsung, or select trusted brands like Anker.

Avoid using cheap, unbranded chargers from unknown companies sold online. The potential risks associated with these low-quality alternatives are not worth the minimal cost savings.

If you’re uncertain about what to look for, Apple offers a dedicated page to help users identify counterfeit MFi (Made for iPhone/iPad) chargers designed for Lightning-based iPhones.

Put Offending Apps To Sleep

Your smartphone’s CPU works hard when running demanding apps like games, augmented reality features, or GPS navigation, which can lead to overheating. If your phone starts to heat up while using such apps, it’s essential to force-close the program and give your device a break.

Even when you’re not actively using an app, it can still run in the background and strain the CPU.

On an iPhone, you can go to Settings and select the problematic app to disable Background App Refresh, preventing it from running in the background.

For Samsung devices, navigate to Settings > Battery and device care > Battery > Background usage limits to put apps to sleep.

Ensure that the “Put unused apps to sleep” option is enabled by default or activate it manually.

You can categorize misbehaving apps as “Sleeping apps” (those that occasionally run in the background) or “Deep sleeping apps” (those that only run when opened), then add them to the respective category to put them to sleep.

For Pixel phones, access Settings > Apps > App battery usage, select the troublesome app, and adjust its battery restriction settings:

• Unrestricted: Allows background battery usage without restrictions, consuming more battery.
• Optimized: Optimizes battery usage based on your habits, is recommended for most apps, and restricts unused functions.
• Restricted: Restricts background battery usage, which may affect some app services when not in use.

It’s important to heed notifications from your device warning about excessive resource usage in specific apps and take action by either putting the app to sleep or uninstalling it. Ignoring such warnings can lead to overheating and other issues.

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Install OS Updates

One crucial aspect not to overlook in smartphone maintenance is software updates.

Both phone manufacturers and app developers regularly release these updates to enhance the security and functionality of your device.

Ignoring updates can leave your phone vulnerable to security flaws and hinder its performance with new, advanced apps.

For iPhone users, checking for software updates is straightforward.

Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update to manually search for available OS updates. You can also enable Automatic Updates, which will install updates automatically when your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and charging.

On Android devices, the process may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer’s interface, but you generally need to look for a “Software update” or “System update” option within the Settings menu.

By regularly keeping your phone’s operating system and apps up to date, you not only ensure better security but also optimize your device’s overall performance and functionality.

Keep Apps Updated

Another important practice is to enable automatic app updates. On an iPhone, you can achieve this by going to Settings > App Store and ensuring that “App Updates” under the “Automatic Downloads” section is enabled.

For Android users, open Google Play, access your user profile, and select “Manage apps & device.” If updates are available for your installed apps, you will see an option labeled “Updates available.”

Enabling automatic app updates ensures that your apps stay current with the latest features and security patches, providing a smoother and more secure smartphone experience.

Read More: Protect Yourself From The Latest Malware With The Best Antivirus Software

Check For Malware

If your phone continues to overheat, malware could be the underlying issue. Certain types of malware, like the Loapi Android malware, have the potential to push your phone’s processor to its limits, overheat the battery, and even cause permanent damage to your device.

Warning signs of malware infection include sluggish performance, frequent pop-up ads, and excessive heat generation, even when your phone is idle.

Apple’s stringent control over iOS apps offers better protection against malware compared to Android devices, although it’s not entirely immune, and occasional emergency updates are released to address specific vulnerabilities.

For Android users, taking preventive measures is crucial. Ensure that your app downloads from the Play Store are being scanned for potential threats.

To do this, open Google Play, click on your user icon, choose “Manage apps & device,” and check for the message “No harmful apps found.” You can also perform a manual scan for added reassurance.

Additionally, verify that “Play Protect” is enabled in the settings to bolster your device’s security against malware.

Addressing potential malware issues promptly is essential to prevent further damage and ensure your smartphone operates smoothly.

Read More: Protect Yourself From The Latest Malware With The Best Antivirus Software

Invest In Good Antivirus

Malicious apps have sometimes managed to evade Google’s security checks and make their way onto the Play Store. In such cases, when Google identifies these harmful apps, they take action to disable them from the store.

However, those who have already downloaded these infected apps will need to manually uninstall them from their devices.

This situation has arisen with various malware strains, including the Joker malware affecting 16 apps, the HiddenAds malware affecting 21 apps, 151 apps engaged in premium SMS scams, and an additional 36 malicious apps detected within the Play Store.

If you suspect that your device has been compromised by malware or wish to proactively protect it from such threats, many reputable antivirus companies offer free antivirus apps for Android or include them as part of a multi-device subscription.

Notable options like Bitdefender, Norton, and McAfee.

These apps can help detect and remove malware, enhance your device’s security, and provide peace of mind in an environment where app safety isn’t always guaranteed.

Feature Image Source: Christian Wiediger

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