Why does my phone get hot? We find the reasons and eliminate them

06.03.2021

In the age of modern technology, the question “Why does the phone heat up?” - Not unusual. Most smartphones, like computers, have a powerful processor, because... under an hour, they perform many more functions than any other digital device. Therefore, a smartphone in working condition will certainly warm up...But! If your phone gets so hot that it burns your hand and gets to such a hot state in a few minutes, then this is already a problem. Find out why your phone gets hot and how to fix heating problems.

You use your smartphone too much

3D games, video shooting and heavy applications place increased load on the video accelerator and processor. As a result, the device not only heats up, but also discharges quickly. The same effect is achieved by the active operation of augmented reality programs, navigation and network technologies such as GPS, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth or 3G (especially when there is no good coverage).

What to do

Try not to overload the device. To keep your smartphone cool, take breaks during long gaming sessions, downloading large files from the Internet, or when working with the camera and heavy applications. Disable navigation and network modules when you don't need them.

Viruses

If, after performing all of the above steps the phone heats up when working on the Internet , it is possible that malicious software has entered it from the Internet, which, without the owner’s knowledge, launches background applications in order to steal passwords and personal information. Install a good antivirus and scan your device, remove any software found, or perform a factory reset.

If none of these methods help, there is a possibility that there is a problem with the phone's hardware. This can be caused by manufacturer defects, physical damage due to impact, falling, or getting wet. In case of any of these problems, it is recommended to contact the service center.

Our online store offers a wide selection of high-quality spare parts and components for mobile phones at low prices. The product is always in stock, so it will be delivered to your address as soon as possible. Any item is covered by a warranty.

The gadget has unfinished programs

It is possible that some of the installed applications contain errors or poorly optimized code, and therefore waste system resources. Because of such programs, the processor can work at increased power without good reason. The natural result is that more heat is generated and the battery drains faster.

What to do

Clean your device of anything unnecessary. If the temperature rises when working with an application that is not a game, video service, or other resource-intensive program, try uninstalling it or replacing it with an analogue one. Also, don't discourage individual apps from updating, as newer versions may fix bugs.

When the phone gets hot, it turns off, reboots, freezes or glitches

Overheating, as a result of which the device spontaneously turns off or reboots, can be caused by two reasons:

• Very poor CPU cooling (shutdown acts as protection against thermal damage).
• Electrical problems.

Freezes can be both a consequence and a cause of overheating. They can be caused by both software and hardware failures. You can deal with the former yourself by deleting recently installed applications, doing a hard reset or reflashing the device, but with the latter you will have to contact service. The main difficulty is to distinguish a software problem from a hardware one.

Various glitches and dysfunctions may be the consequences of overheating or have a common origin with it. For example, a malware that infects a device disables some buttons in the menu, blocks receiving calls, and at the same time creates an excessive load on the processor, causing it to heat up more than usual.

Overheating in combination with artifacts on the screen is always associated with a hardware failure.

The device is affected by external factors

If the gadget is in direct sunlight, in a pocket, under a blanket or in a thick case, this can also lead to an increase in temperature.

Individually, these factors rarely cause overheating. But if several of them operate simultaneously and you are actively using the device, then the risk of getting burned increases noticeably.

What to do

Try not to keep your smartphone under the sun in hot weather. Set up an auto-lock screen to prevent the camera or other apps from accidentally launching in your pocket. Don't put your device in your pocket if it is downloading large files in the background. Remove the case when playing games if it interferes with cooling.

Why does my phone get hot? Reasons for smartphone heating

The phone heats up if some parts of the hardware work excessively: processor, display, battery. The normal “operating” temperature of a smartphone is from 0 to 37 degrees Celsius. If the smartphone heats up to 50 degrees, then this is a reason to worry and the first thing to do is identify the place and part where the phone is heating up:

• Battery

If your phone's lid gets hot, your battery is most likely overheated. If you see the cover bulging, then the battery should be replaced urgently, because it may explode.

The battery is made of lithium. This metal has a low melting point and if it is often in a heated state, then your phone may quickly discharge and then stop working altogether.

The maximum temperature at which the battery can operate is 60 degrees, but this will still affect the capacity.

The battery may overheat due to long use. The first signs that you need to change the battery:

1. Rapid discharge and severe overheating of the smartphone.
2. The battery is over a year and a half old.

• Charger

If the bottom of your phone gets hot, you most likely have a problem with your charger. This may happen due to the use of a non-original charger of poor quality.

Try to use only certified accessories. Use your phone as little as possible when it's not charging.

While charging, try not to play games, talk on the phone or download heavy files and applications; it is better to wait until the phone is charged. If the voltage is high, one of the microcircuits may burn out; in the worst case, the phone itself may catch fire.

Also, do not use the charger when there is a sudden change in temperature, for example when you go from cold to warm. Let the phone adjust to the room temperature. Otherwise, condensation will form, which will cause the contacts to oxidize and break the battery.

• Screen

If the screen heats up, then most likely you have been running the display at high brightness for a long time. Put your phone down for 15-20 minutes, close applications and lower the brightness. Also, the display can become very hot during a conversation when you hold the handset to your ear.

How to find out the temperature of a smartphone?

1. If you have an Android operating system, we recommend downloading the AIDA64 application, thanks to which you will find out all the information about the current state of your device, its software, and of course information about the temperature. If you are an Apple owner, you don't need to download anything, you have the Battery Health app that will show your battery health. You just need to update your software to iOS3. However, this application will not be able to show the temperature.
2. Monitor the frequency and degree of heating of the phone.

Reasons for phone overheating

There are problematic reasons for the phone to overheat, and there are standard ones that every smartphone owner encounters at least once and do not pose a big threat. Let's understand in what cases and why the phone heats up?

Standard reasons:

1. Long conversations on the phone

Every phone has a communication transmitter and receiver. During a long conversation, these parts have to constantly transmit information, as a result of which both the contacts and the smartphone itself heat up. And if the connection is poor, then the transmitter needs as much power as possible to pick up the signal. Then you shouldn’t be surprised that a smartphone is like a hot iron.

When we talk for a long time, the display also heats up, which we hold for a long time near our face and heat with the heat of our body.

We are confident that long conversations on the phone are not particularly dangerous and will not cause contacts to burn out or the processor to crash. But we still advise you to put the phone down after a long conversation or at least switch to a headset.

1. Long game on the phone

We have already said that smartphones have now been able to replace computers in many ways, including in playing games. A wide variety of applications is a source of income for both Apple and Android.

Not everyone has the means to buy expensive gaming computers and accessories, if you can play the same “tanks” and strategies on your phone, even at home, even in a taxi, even at work.

Stunning graphics leave neither children nor adults indifferent. This is why most smartphones have fairly powerful processors that generate more heat during operation.

The higher the intensity of the game and the cooler the graphics, the more thermal energy the processor emits.

“Don’t drive” the phone for too long, take breaks, allowing the smartphone to “rest”. Also, calculate the number and size of applications when installing games on your phone at the same time, download no more than 1-2 programs or games at the same time. And also do not play during prolonged exposure to the sun, in a sauna or hot tub.

1. Watching video content for a long time

When watching movies, TV series on Netflix, videos on YouTube, Tik-Tok, and even stories on Instagram (don’t lie, you know, it’s very addictive), the processor loads video data for a long time and keeps the screen active, just like when playing games.

Normally, the phone should not overheat in such situations, but if it gets hotter, this is a reason to worry. Disable all applications while browsing, turn off Wi-Fi, Internet and Bluetooth. Give your phone time to rest.

1. Always-on data transfer

If you constantly (hopefully not simultaneously) have Wi-Fi, GPS, LTE or 3G (Internet) and Bluetooth turned on, then it’s funny to ask the question “why is the phone heating up?” When these systems operate, data transmitters operate uninterruptedly, the processor does not stop for a minute, and the battery actively continues to waste charge.

Our advice is to use data transfer wisely. There is free Internet, then turn off data transfer and vice versa. GPS is also not needed if you are not currently using a navigator. Turn off all data transmission systems on the plane, because... The transmitters continue to function and search for a signal, wasting energy and heating the phone, even if there is no connection.

1. Unnecessary settings

We understand that everyone sets the settings they need. But if the question arises, “Why does the phone heat up?”, then first of all, we advise you to pay attention to the settings. Themes, widgets, animated wallpapers, charging screensavers - all this is certainly extraordinary.

But if problems begin with the processor, then it is better to reduce its load by abandoning such additional settings or at least reducing their number and screen brightness.

1. Case

Oddly enough, but true - a thick case can cause the phone to overheat. Of course, it does not overheat the phone itself, but it retains heat. No, this does not mean at all that now you need to turn away from him completely.

Our advice is to remove the case when playing games, watching movies or TV shows, actively using your smartphone for a long time, and, if possible, when talking. Try to “change” your phone into a lighter version - a silicone case. They cool the smartphone faster.

By the way, you can choose cool and high-quality cases for your smartphone in our online store catalog

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1. External environment

The sun can cause heatstroke not only in humans, but also in smartphones. When on the beach, in direct sunlight, do not leave your phone without a shadow, because the screen may be in a bathhouse or in a car, do not leave the phone without a shadow. Spots may appear on the phone because... the matrix will burn out, and the microcircuits may also begin to be damaged.

Hot air can also cause overheating. Do not leave your smartphone in a stuffy car, in a bathhouse or in a pocket in hot conditions. And even more so, do not download large files at such moments, do not have long conversations, do not play games or watch videos for a long time. This will lead to battery failure and damage to the chips.

1. Application updates

Why are updates needed? And why does the phone heat up quickly? Developers prompt users to update games and applications most often when an error occurs.

Programs send incorrect requests, and the smartphone, trying to deal with them, spends a lot of energy and wears out the processor. So update your apps and read reviews. The fewer applications running (especially those with errors), the less wear on the processor and battery.

1. Software

What does software have to do with it? And why does the phone heat up?

Many users do not like to update software because... sometimes this causes an error and the battery starts using more power after the update. This can be seen by the quickly draining battery.

In this situation, we advise you to save all data in a backup copy or on a disk, reset the settings to factory settings, restore the data and wait for the developers to release a new software update with bugs fixed.

1. operating system

The “OS” tends to become cluttered: shortcuts to deleted applications, unnecessary data, backup copies. This “garbage” slows down the operation of the smartphone, as a result of which it takes longer to search for the necessary information, takes longer to load and spends more effort on processes.

This is especially true for Android-based systems.

The recommendations will be the same as in the previous paragraph: we create backup copies of all necessary information, reset the phone to factory settings and restore the necessary data, and the unnecessary data will be automatically deleted.

Why the phone heats up - problematic reasons

• Virus infection

Malicious programs rewrite application code and operating system software. They can open applications in the background to steal logins and passwords.

Viruses reflash the code of a particular program and a higher load begins to be placed on the processor and battery. So it starts to wear out and the phone starts to overheat.

Be careful! Many such virus programs are disguised in the Google Store. There are known cases where even the battery swelled due to viruses just two days after the smartphone was infected.

In this case, we recommend installing a good antivirus and disinfecting the phone, or, in extreme cases, resetting it to factory settings.

• Parts breakdown

If the reasons listed above are not found, then the reason why the phone heats up may be a factory defect or a breakdown of any part of the smartphone.

In this case, you need to contact a service center, where they will inspect your device and identify the cause of the smartphone overheating.

The answer to the question “why does the phone heat up” will most likely be a breakdown of the battery or power socket as a result of an impact, or it may also be due to oxidation of the contacts due to water getting inside the smartphone.

You are charging your smartphone incorrectly

Using a damaged or non-original power adapter can cause problems, including overheating. If you have a working official accessory, then the charging process should not greatly affect the temperature of the smartphone.

The exception is when the device is connected to the mains to play games, watch videos or download files from the Internet. In such situations, you are guaranteed noticeable heating.

What to do

Use only original cables and adapters. If your charger is damaged, replace it with a new one. Try not to download files, run games or heavy programs on a smartphone connected to the mains.

The phone gets hot when charging, especially hot in the battery area

While charging, the phone should be the same temperature as when not plugged in, or slightly warm. The cause of its excessive heating is often a faulty or poorly compatible charger, usually purchased to replace the original one. Cheap, low-quality chargers are not able to maintain the level of voltage and current that the gadget needs, which causes rapid wear and deterioration of the battery, and high-capacity batteries are most susceptible to it, as, for example, on Samsung devices.

Heating of the battery, both during charging and outside of it, is a sure sign of its malfunction, especially if combined with swelling. It is strictly forbidden to use or charge such a battery, as this can lead to fire and even explosion. As soon as you notice one of these signs, change the battery immediately and charge it only with an original or high-quality compatible charger.

The gadget has problems with the system

An increased temperature of the device may be the result of a malfunction of the operating system or programs integrated into it. In addition, over time, residual files and other software debris accumulate in the OS, which can also contribute to heating.

What to do

To get started, simply restart your gadget and make sure that the operating system is updated to the latest available version. If nothing changes, try cleaning your phone or returning to factory settings after saving important data.

This is your first time setting up your phone or restoring data from a backup.

During initial setup and especially after installing OS updates, the processor, communication modules and storage are actively used. Programs perform indexing and analyze available information, which in turn leads to increased heat generation.

What to do

Heating under such conditions is absolutely normal. After completing the setup and data processing, the phone itself will cool down to the optimal temperature. We can only recommend not to load the system with additional tasks and give it some time for the necessary actions.

Danger of overheating

The main danger of overheating is failure of the processor and other on-board electronics. Each chip on the phone board has its own thermal limit. It is also present in other components - these are capacitors, a display and even a battery. If the temperature is too high, the smartphone has every chance of turning into a useless brick. Therefore, overheating should not be allowed.

Other dangers of overheating:

• Battery explosion - threatens to damage the phone and may cause injury to the user;
• Failure of the display matrix - it is fragile and does not like strong heat;
• Reduced battery life - when overheated, it decreases by 1.5-2 times.

It remains to understand the reasons for the excessive heating.

What else do you need to know

What kind of heating is considered normal?

All smartphones - both Android devices and iPhones - can be used at temperatures between 0 and 35 °C. Due to the operation of the processor, battery and other components, the heating inside the gadgets themselves sometimes reaches 37–45 °C. In this case, the temperature may rise briefly, and this behavior is not considered a sign of malfunction.

How to tell if your device is overheated

If the phone case is so hot that it is difficult to hold it in your hands, you are dealing with overheating. Especially when the heat is not distributed evenly throughout the gadget, but is felt in certain places. Often, increased heating can be encountered even in idle mode.

Typically, when the temperature goes outside the acceptable range, the device tries to reduce it. This may cause poor performance, slow or stop charging, and may cause the display and flash to turn off.

When critical indicators are reached, the screen usually displays a warning that the gadget cannot be used until it cools down.

How to cool down your phone?

1. Remove the cover, if equipped. It can trap heat.
2. Turn on airplane mode to stop cellular, internet, GPS, and Bluetooth data transmitters from working and putting a strain on your processor.
3. If the phone is not hot, then you can try putting it on something cool, but not in the refrigerator, so as not to create a sharp temperature difference, because it will only do harm.
4. Use power saving mode and reduce brightness. This will make the work easier not only for the display, but also for the processor, as a result of which the phone will heat up less.
5. Download apps you don't use. The phone will work faster, there will be more memory, and the processor will slow down and the phone will stop heating up.
6. Install an application to clean your phone of unnecessary programs. You don't have to delete all files and programs manually; we know how lazy it can be to do this. Phone cleaning apps show how much memory is occupied and by which applications, show those that slow down the phone and remove everything unnecessary.
7. Restart your phone . This advice is relevant if problems with smartphone overheating are related to software. Sometimes a simple reboot or reset to basic settings helps get rid of unnecessary programs and errors that load the processor.

Take care of your gadget, use its capabilities wisely, install a high-quality antivirus and the question “why is the phone heating up” will never bother you again.

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