Why Does My iPhone Get Hot & How to Stop It Overheating

Why is my iPhone getting hot?

Your iPhone gets hot because the battery and other hardware generate heat whenever your phone is in use, even during charging. Although your iPhone is built to manage heat, factors like an old battery, excessive app usage, software issues, or exposure to direct sunlight can cause it to overheat — even when you’re not actively using it.

Are you an Android user? Read up on what you should do if your Android is overheating.

Here are the main reasons why iPhones get hot:

• A faulty battery: A faulty battery delivers inconsistent energy, which means the battery works harder than needed and can overheat. If you receive a notification advising battery replacement, take it seriously. Navigate to Settings > Battery to check this.

• Sunlight exposure: Direct sunlight can drastically raise the air temperature — combine that with heat generated from normal iPhone usage and you could run into overheating issues.

• Too many apps running: Having tons of processes running at the same time makes your iPhone work harder — and get hotter. Closing unused apps can help cool down your iPhone.

• Excessive streaming: Keeping your screen awake is one of the most energy-intensive tasks for your iPhone. Unsurprisingly, online streaming leads to excess heat.

• Screen brightness settings: Higher screen brightness settings tax your phone’s battery and lead to excessive heat. Lowering brightness reduces power consumption, which may lower your iPhone’s temperature.

• Software or apps that haven’t been updated: Updates can deliver critical security patches and improved functionality. An outdated version of an app or iOS can overload your phone’s processor, which is one of the reasons why you should keep your apps and operating system updated.

A little warmth from your iPhone is normal, especially during heavy usage or when charging. But if your iPhone feels like it’s about to melt, there may be an issue you need to resolve to prevent permanent damage. To address overheating issues, jump straight to our tips on how to cool down your iPhone.

What happens when my iPhone gets hot?

When your iPhone gets hot, its performance suffers and its speed slows. Sustained overheating can cause damage to critical internal components, negatively impacting your phone's battery life and long-term performance, causing it to slow down even more over time or shorten its lifespan.

Fortunately, iPhones are designed with safety measures to shut down automatically if they reach a dangerously high temperature. This is particularly useful since excessive background app usage, outdated software, and a malfunctioning battery can cause serious overheating even when you’re not using your phone.

Are you worried about your iPhone getting hot and draining battery? Don’t fret if your iPhone just went through a hot spell. If you act quickly, you can minimize long-term damage.

It’s also good to get your mobile security squared away, in case overheating is caused by a hacked phone or spyware on your iPhone. While Apple prioritizes cybersecurity, its devices are still at risk. Learning how to remove phone viruses is always a solid bet.

AVG Mobile Security for iPhone analyzes the network security of any Wi-Fi connection, and it lets you know if any of your passwords have leaked. What’s more, the premium version includes a built-in VPN, so all the data you send and receive is encrypted. Add an extra layer of security to your iPhone with AVG Mobile Security.

How to cool down your iPhone

If your iPhone needs to cool down, act quickly to prevent permanent damage. The best methods for cooling down your iPhone are easily manageable and mostly involve removing the instigating factor (heat source or software problem) and letting it sit.

Here are some ways to help manage your iPhone’s heat issues:

Remove your case

Your iPhone case might be blocking airflow, so remove it to help with ventilation, ensuring the heat escapes more quickly. Keep the phone “naked” and well away from small, enclosed spaces or heat sources.

Do not charge

If your phone is overheating, you want it to do as little as possible. That includes charging, as this also contributes to increasing its temperature. While harmless when in regular use, charging can exacerbate heating issues if your iPhone is already pushing high temperatures.

Fan your iPhone

Fan or blow on your iPhone to regulate the temperature. Remember that you should gradually cool the phone because a rapid temperature change can cause condensation. Water will form in and around the phone, causing more damage than the heat itself.

Do not put your iPhone in a refrigerator, freezer, or other cold place.

Use Airplane mode

Airplane Mode disables most iPhone features, including the processes that raise the temperature. When you turn on Airplane mode, your iPhone saves power by not searching for cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth signals.

Reduce screen brightness

Higher screen brightness requires more power from your iPhone’s battery and graphics processor, leading to potential heating issues. Dimming your screen can help relieve the strain placed on your iPhone’s internal components, helping minimize heat buildup.

To reduce screen brightness, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (on iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen (for iPhones with a Home button), then adjust the settings with the brightness slider (with the sun icon).

Turn your iPhone off

If the methods above are not helping your heat issues, turn off your iPhone. This will cease all power-consuming activities, including running all apps, processes, and activities that may be contributing to overheating. The rest period gives your iPhone a chance to cool down naturally.

If the temperature remains stable after following the steps above, your iPhone is probably fine. If not, something else, like malware or hacking, could be the reason.

AVG Mobile Security helps ensure that you’re connected to a safe Wi-Fi network. And if your passwords leak, AVG can help detect it and notify you so you can quickly change your passwords and shore up vulnerable accounts. Help strengthen your account security and keep your phone safe with AVG.

How to stop your iPhone overheating

Prevention is key to combatting iPhone overheating. Keep yourself from worrying over a too-hot iPhone with the steps below. You may also find that our tips will help speed up your iPhone in the process.

Here’s how to stop your iPhone from overheating:

Avoid direct sunlight

Keeping your iPhone out of direct sunlight helps to maintain a cooler ambient temperature and prevents internal components from excessive heat exposure. Besides overheating your iPhone, direct sunlight can also affect battery performance and cause issues with screen responsiveness and discoloration.

Electronics are happier and cooler in the shade.

The reverse is also true: electronics can malfunction in low temperatures. So don’t expose your phone to freezing temperatures.

Close unused apps

Excessive background apps can deplete your iPhone’s battery power and overwork the processor, which could lead to heating issues. Close background apps to ensure your phone isn’t wasting power and resources on something you’re not using.

When closing apps, you may come across an unfamiliar app. Like any device, iPhones can fall prey to malicious code and hacking. If you spot something fishy, you may want to scan for malware and check that your phone isn’t tracking you.

Here’s how to close unused apps in iOS 18:

1. Bring up the app switcher by swiping up from the bottom and holding the middle of the screen.

2. From the carousel of open apps, swipe left or right to locate the app you want to close. Swipe up on an app to remove it.

   

You may also want to hide some apps on your iPhone or start using a secure messaging app to improve your iPhone’s security and privacy.

Turn off background refresh

The background refresh feature on iPhone lets your apps update their content even when you’re not actively using those apps. Though helpful, the continuous activity puts a strain on your device and may lead to overheating issues.

Here’s how to turn off background refresh:

1. Tap Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

2. Tap Background App Refresh and tap Off to turn off the setting entirely. Or Toggle it off for individual apps.

   

Don't keep your iPhone near other devices

Devices emit heat, and placing them close together increases the overall temperature, potentially stressing your iPhone’s battery and internal components. Separating devices ensures better airflow, reduces heat buildup, and helps maintain your phone’s performance and longevity over time.

Turn off Bluetooth

Bluetooth is another function that requires constant power from your iPhone, whether it’s searching for a device or staying connected to one. Keep Bluetooth turned off when you’re not using it so your phone isn’t overworked.

To turn off Bluetooth in iOS 18, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen, tap the small cluster of four connectivity icons for an expanded connections menu. From the list, tap the Bluetooth icon to disable it.

Don't leave your phone under your pillow

iPhones are designed to dissipate heat effectively, but poor airflow can push them past their limits. Keeping your phone under pillows or sheets is bound to lead to heat build-up, which you might not be awake to notice. And that rising heat could result in component failure or even, in a worst-case scenario, fire.

These situations are rare, but it’s wise to minimize risk. Ensure your phone has proper airflow, avoid smothering it, and use a dedicated iOS security app to catch any rogue software that might be causing problems. Letting your iPhone "breathe" helps prevent overheating and keeps it safe.

Update your apps and iOS version

The latest versions of apps and iOS (currently iOS18) ensure that your iPhone is optimized for efficiency, while helping to keep it free of bugs that cause your processor to overwork. Plus, updates can improve battery performance.

To update your apps, open the App Store and tap on your profile. Then scroll down to Upcoming Automatic Updates and, if updates are available, tap Update All.

To update iOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Update Now to install the latest iOS update if one is available.

Cut down on streaming

Constant uptime might be taking a toll on your phone — and your eyes. If phone heat corresponds with screen time, find a different device to stream from. Or listen to a podcast to give your eyes a rest!

Use low-power mode

Low-power mode reduces your iPhone’s overall power consumption and limits processes that generate heat, including background app refresh, display brightness, and some non-essential visual effects, like dynamic wallpapers and motion effects. It also temporarily reduces your iPhone's CPU performance.

To use low-power mode, go to Settings > Battery and toggle on Low Power Mode.

Your iPhone turns this function off every so often, so you’ll have to re-enable it if you want to keep using it. The battery icon in the upper right will appear yellow when it’s in low-power mode.

Restart your phone

Restarting your phone might stop the process responsible for overloading your phone. To do so, press and hold the Side (Power) button and either the Volume Up or Volume Down button until the power-off slider appears. Then drag the power off slider to the right to turn off your iPhone. Wait 30 seconds and turn your iPhone back on by pressing and holding the Side (Power) button.

Keep your iPhone secure with AVG Mobile Security

You should be able to cure your iPhone overheating issues with the tips above. But if a hacker gets access to your device or data, things can get complicated.

AVG Mobile Security uses powerful detection technology to assess if a network is safe before you use it. Avoiding unsafe Wi-Fi helps keep hackers off your phone, reducing the risk of malware infections and other issues that might cause overheating. Plus, you can lock down sensitive photos in the Photo Vault and get alerts if your passwords ever leak.