Why Do Apple iPhones Overheat And What Can Be Done To Prevent This!

Your phone is the one thing you use on a daily basis, and with use, the phone gets hotter due to multiple factors including excessive usage, faulty hardware, or weather conditions. Unlike computers, iPhones have no fans to cool them down, instead, it uses the metal frame and the screen to dissipate the heat.

Also read: Apple Mobile Price List In India

In India, the average temperature ranges from about 35°C to around 45°C in summers which even makes the device hotter during the daytime. The heating of electronic gadgets is quite normal because of the screen, battery, and the internals all emit some sort of heat when under heavy use. The recommended temperature for the usage of an iPhone is 32°C or 90° F and it is recommended to keep it under the safe limits to ensure the device stays healthy.

Also Read: How To Make Your Smartphone Last Longer!

Having used our iPhones since forever now, we know what a “normal” temperature is for it. We know it well enough to distinguish it from when it heats up. It may not be a frequent occurrence, but it DOES happen. So, here is all you need to know about why your iPhone is overheating and all that you can do about it to ensure your precious gadget’s health.

Why does your Apple iPhone Overheat?

There are several reasons, some familiar, while others not so much, that can cause your iPhone to become hot. Some situations which are not a matter of worry are as follows:

• When you switch on a new iPhone and set it up for the first time, the new processor may heat up without causing concern.
• It is quite reasonable for the iPhone to get hot after it has had its screen replaced and is being calibrated.
• After having had a software update, the heating is typical.
• You may have left your iPhone in the car or in your balcony where it was exposed to the sun for a prolonged period; it would lead to heating.

These are some situations where heating of the iPhone does not mean a danger to the quality. Instead, it is a symptom of the CPU’s revival of function.

Also Read: How To Track Your Lost Mobile Phone With IMEI Number

The main cause of iPhone overheating is the load on the C.P.U or the processor. The processor is where all the work of your iPhone happens. Phones are computers with high-speed processing power to do your daily tasks like sending a text message or browsing through social media as well as for power-intensive games and apps.

Also read: Exchange Offers

The processor heats up if it is under load or if it has many processes going on. It is quite similar to the human brain when you think about a lot of stuff at the same time you lose the power to concentrate fully on one task.

Some of the other reasons why iPhone overheats are because of the Software updates. In some batches of the software update sent over the air (OTA), there might be bugs that cause the processor and all the other internals to increase their clock speed and work more even when it is not needed.

One of the other common reasons for overheating is the number of running apps in the background. Sometimes apps keep running in the background without you even knowing and heat your phone and drain the battery at the same time.

Also Read: Why Is Picture In Picture Implementation On iOS 14 Better Than Android?

So, preferably when you are done with the app clear it from the recent apps. The best thing to avoid the phone to overheat due to apps would be to keep restarting the device about once in two days just to clear out the RAM and keep things flowing smoothly.

Sometimes, however, the iPhone may become hot while you are using it. It is not an occurrence that may often happen, so you must look into it and take necessary measures to rectify it.

• You may be playing a game that makes use of intensely vivid graphics, which may prove to be resource-draining. It would work the processor excessively, causing heating issues.
• You may have too many apps open, which can overload the CPU.
• You have been using your phone non-stop, which fails to give the processor a break. 
• If your apps are due to be updated, your CPU will be worked up, which can cause the phone to heat.

These are essential reasons that you need to keep in mind and check in case they are right for you. If they are, correct them by giving your phone a break from time to time, keep your apps updated, and close unused apps.

What are the Symptoms of your iPhone Overheating?

When your iPhone feels like it is overheating, the device automatically switches to what they call as a cool-down mode. This happens when you are either charging the iPhone and using it for processor-intensive tasks such as navigation.

Cool Down Mode

iPhones come with a feature where the smart device understands that it is in dire need of cooling down to work seamlessly. It is when the iPhone retires in Cool Down Mode, where it advises you to allow it time before using it. Due to the various reasons that may lead to overheating, cooling down works its way towards balancing the temperature and bringing it back to normal.

During Cool Down Mode, you may experience the following:

• The signals will weaken. It won’t allow you to make any calls except for those stored as your emergency contact.
• The iPhone when plugged in for charging of just placed on the wireless charging pad, simply won’t charge or will charge at a very slow rate.
• The phone’s performance might take a hit like the apps take a long time to load up or games with heavy graphics drop the frame rate by a staggering amount and become very choppy.
• If you have your maps navigating you, the feature will allow only audio navigation, and the screen will refuse to show the visual map.
• Your camera flash will not work.
• You may also get a warning on the screen stating “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it”. For some instance, if you want to use the camera which would not turn on because of the heating, the flashlight might be disabled.
• In a worst-case heating scenario, the iPhone may turn off.

This temperature warning works to keep your iPhone’s health intact. It forces you to implement measures aiming at preserving the iPhone’s resources to ensure that the processor does not burn out.

Also Read: 5 Simple Steps To Do Before Selling Your iPhone!

What to do if your iPhone keeps Overheating Regularly?

In an overheating situation, you may need to, first of all, turn your iPhone off. If charging, unplug the charger to stop charging. Preferably place the iPhone in an area where the ambient temperature is low. If you have a thick silicone case/cover, remove it. You just have to wait for your iPhone to cool down to get it to the ideal operating temperature.

Also, once in awhile device heating is normal but if your iPhone keeps heating regularly it is important to take action as using a heated phone can cause the phone to radiate more and could be a potential threat to the user. Because of the high temperature and proximity to the battery, it is possible for the battery to explode and catch fire. So, just as a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you get the device inspected at a Certified Apple Service Center, here are a few steps you can try before you get the device inspected.

Having understood why your iPhone may be getting overheated, here are some steps that you can take to keep the situation under control before the damage is done.

• Unplug the charger if it has been charging for some time
• Turn off the device if it continues to stay warm
• Check for software updates as devices often get security patches and bug fixes that solve the issues
• Close the power-hungry apps for some time and let the device cool down
• Try restarting the device to ensure the device has fewer apps in the memory

A couple of these simple steps can help you keep your iPhone away from most danger and allow it to be used for a longer duration of time without it getting spoilt.

Also Read: How To Take Mirror Selfies On Your iPhone With iOS 14!