What to Do When Your Phone Gets Hot: Causes, Fixes, and Prevention
If your phone ever feels unusually warm—or even hot to the touch—you’re definitely not alone. This is one of the most common questions TechPals receives from everyday phone users across the country. Whether you’re on an iPhone or Android device, phones heat up for many reasons: background apps, charging issues, old batteries, low storage, poor signal, too many notifications, and even scam apps running behind the scenes.
A warm phone isn’t always dangerous, but it’s important to understand why it happens, how to cool it down, and what steps you can take to prevent overheating in the future. This guide walks you through everything you need to know in clear, simple language—plus links to helpful TechPals posts that explain related topics in more detail.
And remember: TechPals is always here if you want personal support or a one-on-one walkthrough. Learn more anytime at https://www.techpals.org.
Why Do Phones Get Hot?
Your phone is a tiny computer. Just like a laptop, it creates heat when it works hard. The more tasks it performs at once, the warmer it can get. Heat can also come from your battery, your charger, your apps, or your environment.
Common reasons your phone gets hot include:
• Running too many apps at once
• Poor Wi-Fi or cellular signal
• Playing games or watching videos for long periods
• Using GPS or Bluetooth for extended time
• Charging with a damaged cable
• A battery nearing the end of its life
• Low storage or outdated apps
• Malware or scam apps secretly running in the background
If you want to understand performance issues more deeply, you may find How to Tell What’s Slowing Down Your Phone especially helpful.
When Should You Worry?
A slightly warm phone is normal.
But if your device feels hot, shuts itself down, or gives you a temperature warning screen, it’s important to take action. Overheating can:
• Reduce your battery life
• Slow your phone down
• Permanently damage internal components
• Cause apps to crash
• Interrupt calls, photos, and messages
If your phone becomes unresponsive, you may also want to read Everyday Phone Fixes: Common Problems and How to Solve Them.
Immediate Steps to Cool Down an Overheating Phone
If your phone feels hot to the touch, try these simple fixes right away:
1. Turn it off for a few minutes
Powering down the device gives it time to cool and stops all background activity.
2. Remove the case
Phone cases trap heat. Removing the case allows the device to release warmth more quickly.
3. Stop charging
If your phone gets hot while plugged in, unplug it immediately. Charging issues are a common cause—especially if the cable is worn or the outlet is loose. To better understand charging behavior, see How to Tell If Your Phone Is Charging Properly.
(If you decide to buy a new charging cable, TechPals may earn a small commission at no cost to you: PLACEHOLDER)
4. Close apps running in the background
Apps like navigation, social media, or video streaming can keep running even when not in use.
5. Move it out of direct sunlight
Cars, patios, and windowsills can heat a phone extremely fast.
6. Switch from cellular data to Wi-Fi
If your phone is struggling to find a signal, it works harder and heats up. Learn more from What’s the Difference Between Wi-Fi and Cellular Data?.
7. Disable features you aren’t using
Turn off Bluetooth, GPS, or hotspot if you don’t need them.
What Causes Overheating? A Complete Breakdown
Let’s look deeper into the most common causes of a hot phone—and what you can do to fix them.
1. Too Many Apps Running at Once
Apps use your phone’s memory and processor. The more apps you switch between, the harder your phone works.
Symptoms of app overload include:
• Slow performance
• Screen stuttering
• Apps freezing or closing
• Battery drain
• Heat building from the back of the device
For more guidance, see What’s Slowing Down Your Phone.
2. Low Storage Space
Phones with low storage must constantly work to manage files, which creates extra heat. This is extremely common.
Free up space by reviewing:
• Old apps (see How to Delete Old Apps from Your Phone)
• Large videos
• Old text message threads
• PDFs and documents (see How to Download a PDF from an Email or Website)
• Screenshots (see How to Take a Screenshot (and Find It Later))
If you’re not sure how much storage you have left, start with How to Find Your Phone’s Storage Limit.
3. Old or Damaged Battery
Phone batteries naturally wear out. As batteries age, they generate more heat under normal use.
Signs your battery may be weakening:
• Phone drains too quickly
• Phone charges inconsistently
• Phone gets hot even with light use
Learn more about battery behavior in Why Your Phone Battery Dies So Quickly.
4. Poor Signal or Network Problems
If your phone is searching for Wi-Fi or cellular signal, it ramps up its internal components, which generates heat.
If your connection drops often, see What to Do When Your Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping.
5. Long Video Calls or Streaming
Video apps use:
• Cameras
• Screen
• Microphone
• Wi-Fi or cellular data
All at the same time. It’s normal for a phone to warm up during long video calls.
6. GPS and Navigation
Navigation apps continuously update your location, download map data, and track direction. This is extremely intensive—especially while driving.
You can reduce heat by ensuring your maps app is updated (see What’s the Best Way to Update Your Phone’s Apps?).
7. Scam Apps or Suspicious Activity
Sometimes a phone overheats because an app is secretly running in the background, using your data or processing power.
This can happen if:
• You clicked a suspicious link
• You installed a fake app
• A scam text tricked you into downloading something
To stay protected, read:
• 3 Ways to Identify a Phishing Email
• Is This Website Safe? Quick Ways to Tell Before You Click
• How to Tell If a Website Is Fake
• Why You’re Getting So Many Spam Texts (And How to Stop Them)
And if you’re concerned your phone might be monitored, see Can You Really Be Tracked Through Your Phone?.
8. Charging the Phone Incorrectly
Your phone naturally warms during charging. But overheating during charging can signal a problem.
Common causes:
• Cheap or worn charging cables (PLACEHOLDER, TechPals may earn a small commission at no cost to you)
• Plugging your phone in under a pillow or blanket
• Charging in a hot car
• Using the device heavily while charging
• Charging from unstable outlets
If your phone shows battery problems while charging, start with How to Tell If Your Phone Is Charging Properly.
How to Prevent Your Phone From Overheating
Prevention is easier than repair. Here are simple habits that make a big difference.
1. Update Your Phone and Apps
Updates fix bugs that cause overheating. For easy instructions, use What’s the Best Way to Update Your Phone’s Apps?.
2. Keep Storage Under Control
A phone with plenty of free space runs cooler. Check out:
• How to Save a Photo Someone Texted You
• How to Clear Your Browser History
3. Avoid Direct Sunlight
Phones heat quickly in the sun, especially during GPS or video calls.
4. Don’t Use Your Phone While Charging
Let it charge without multitasking when possible.
5. Turn Off Background Processes You Don’t Need
Examples include:
• Bluetooth
• Hotspot
• GPS location
• App refresh
• Push notifications
If notifications overwhelm your phone, you may like How to Stop Unwanted iPhone Notifications.
6. Improve Your Home Network
Weak Wi-Fi strains your phone. Learn how to improve your connection using What to Do When Your Wi-Fi Keeps Dropping.
7. Watch Out for Fake Wi-Fi or Scam Sites
Never connect to unfamiliar networks, and review these helpful guides:
• How to Spot a Fake Shopping Website: 8 Red Flags Every Shopper Should Know
• How to Tell If That Facebook Message Is a Scam
Q&A: Your Most Common Overheating Questions
Q: Is it bad if my phone gets warm sometimes?
A: No. Light warmth is normal. Only worry if it becomes hot, uncomfortable to hold, or shuts down.
Q: Why does my phone get hot in the car?
A: Cars trap heat quickly, and windshield sunlight amplifies it. GPS apps also increase temperature during travel.
Q: Can too many notifications heat my phone?
A: Yes. Apps that constantly refresh can cause both battery drain and heat. See How to Stop Unwanted iPhone Notifications.
Q: Could a scam text or fake website cause overheating?
A: Potentially. If malware is running in the background, it can use processing power.
Use Is This Website Safe? to learn what to avoid.
Q: Does turning off my phone really help?
A: Yes! A restart or shutdown clears temporary files and gives your phone time to cool.
When to Get Help
If your phone:
• Overheats daily
• Gets hot for no clear reason
• Shuts off unexpectedly
• Shows fast battery drain
• Feels extremely hot while charging
• Shows a temperature warning often
…it’s time to ask for help. TechPals can walk you through the steps, inspect your settings, and help you fix the issue safely.
You can reach us anytime here:
• https://www.techpals.org
• Get help from a TechPals expert: https://www.techpals.org
• Learn about TechPals services: https://www.techpals.org
Many people refer to us as Tech Pals, and by either name, we’re always happy to help.
