Quick answer: If your phone is overheating, stop what you’re doing, unplug it, take it out of the sun and remove any thick case, then let it cool down on its own. Don’t put it in a fridge or freezer. If it keeps getting hot during light use, update the software, restart it, and look for an app or a faulty charger behind the problem.
A phone getting warm is normal. Charging, gaming, navigation and video calls all make it work hard, and that produces heat. What isn’t normal is a phone that gets too hot to hold, shows a temperature warning, or heats up while it’s just sitting there.
Here’s how to tell the difference, how to cool it safely, and how to stop it happening again, based on Apple’s, Samsung’s and Google’s own guidance.
Why does my phone get hot?
Apple and Samsung list largely the same everyday causes:
- Setting up a new phone or restoring a backup
- Installing a software update
- Fast charging and wireless charging
- Games and other graphics-heavy apps
- Streaming high-quality video
- GPS navigation, especially with the screen on in a car mount
- Using the camera for a long time in direct sunlight
- Weak mobile signal, which makes the phone’s radios work harder
- A damaged charging cable or port
Samsung says a phone “may get warm while using the device, but it won’t affect the device’s lifespan or performance.” The problem is sustained, high heat, which is also the main thing that wears out batteries faster.
What happens when a phone gets too hot?
Phones protect themselves. Apple says an overheating iPhone may slow or stop charging, dim or switch off the display, weaken its mobile signal, temporarily disable camera features and reduce performance. If it gets hot enough, you’ll see a “Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down” screen.
Samsung says that at critical temperatures, Galaxy phones limit screen brightness and performance and stop charging, and a second warning leads to an automatic shutdown. On Pixels, 9to5Google reported that Google’s thermal warnings explain the phone may temporarily limit performance and disable 5G until it cools.
Apple says iPhones are designed to be used between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius. That matters in Indian summers, when a parked car or a dashboard in direct sun can easily push a phone beyond that.
How to cool down an overheating phone safely
- Stop the heavy task. Close the game, stop recording, or pause navigation.
- Unplug it. Charging adds heat, especially fast or wireless charging.
- Move it somewhere cooler. Out of direct sunlight, off the car dashboard, off the bed or sofa.
- Take off the case if it’s thick or leather; it traps heat.
- Turn it off if you see a temperature warning, as Apple recommends, and give it 10 to 15 minutes.
What not to do: don’t put the phone in a fridge or freezer, and don’t hold it in front of an AC vent. Rapid temperature changes can cause condensation inside the phone, and moisture does far more damage than heat.
How to stop your phone overheating again
Update and restart
Samsung’s first advice is to keep your software up to date (Settings > Software update) and restart the phone to clear any app conflicts. Bugs that keep the processor busy in the background are a common cause of a phone that’s warm in your pocket. After a major update, though, give it a day or two: the phone does a lot of background re-indexing first, which also produces heat.
Find the app that’s causing it
Check Settings > Battery on iPhone or Android. An app using a surprising share of the battery, especially one you barely opened, is likely working in the background. Update it, restrict its background activity, or uninstall it.
Turn down the things that run hot
Samsung suggests lowering screen brightness, switching the display refresh rate to Standard, closing background apps, and turning off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when you don’t need them.
Check your charger and cable
Samsung lists damaged cables and ports as a cause. Use the charger that came with your phone or a certified one from a known brand. If the phone only overheats with one particular charger, that charger is the likely suspect.
Charge smarter
Don’t charge under a pillow or on a bed. If you game while charging, expect a lot of heat. And if the phone is very warm already, let it cool before you plug it in.
When overheating is a sign of a real problem
Get the phone checked at an authorised service centre if:
- It gets hot while idle or during light use like messaging, even after an update and restart.
- The battery or back of the phone is swelling, or the screen is lifting. Stop using and charging it straight away.
- It shuts down from heat regularly in normal room temperatures.
- Battery health has dropped a lot. Our guide to checking battery health shows where to look.
On Samsung phones, you can contact support through the Samsung Members app. Apple and Google both offer service booking through their support websites.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal for my phone to get hot while charging?
Warm, yes. Too hot to hold, no. Fast and wireless charging both produce heat, and phones slow down charging when they get hot. If it’s very hot, unplug it and let it cool.
Can overheating damage my phone?
Repeated high heat speeds up battery wear, which shortens battery life over time. Phones shut down before reaching dangerous temperatures, but it’s still best not to push them there.
Why does my phone get hot after an update?
After a big update, the phone re-indexes photos, files and apps in the background. Apple lists software updates as a normal cause of warmth. It usually settles within a day or two.
Does a phone case cause overheating?
A thick or insulated case can trap heat, especially while charging or gaming. It won’t usually cause overheating on its own, but taking it off helps the phone cool faster when it’s already hot.
Why does my phone get hot in my pocket?
Usually an app or process is running in the background, or the phone is searching hard for a weak signal. Check Settings > Battery for an app with unusually high use, and restart the phone.
Should I put my hot phone in the fridge?
No. Sudden cold can cause condensation inside the phone. Let it cool at room temperature, out of the sun.
Browse more fixes in our Smartphones and Mobile section.