Quick answer: stop charging, close games and navigation, take off the case and move the phone out of the sun. Never cool it in a fridge or freezer. A phone that is hot while idle or switched off needs checking.
Normal warmth
It’s normal for a phone to feel warm when:
- Fast charging or wireless charging
- Gaming, video calls, recording video or using sat-nav
- Setting up a new phone or restoring a backup
- In direct sun or a hot car
The phone protects itself by dimming the screen, slowing down and pausing charging. iPhones show a temperature warning and lock until they cool.
How to cool it safely
- Unplug the charger.
- Close heavy apps – games, camera, maps.
- Take off the case.
- Put it on a cool, hard surface in the shade – not on a bed, sofa or in a pocket.
- Wait 10–15 minutes.
Don’t put it in the fridge or freezer, or near an air-conditioning vent. Sudden cold causes condensation inside the phone.
Stop it happening
- Update the phone and apps – bugs can keep the processor busy.
- Check battery settings for an app using a lot of power in the background.
- Don’t charge under a pillow or in a thick case.
- Use a good-quality charger and cable.
- Keep it off the car dashboard in summer – use a vent mount instead.
When heat means a fault
- It’s hot while idle or switched off.
- Battery drains fast at the same time.
- The screen is lifting or the back bulges – swollen battery signs.
- It got hot after getting wet or being dropped.
- One spot (often near the charging port) gets very hot when charging.
Turn it off and bring it in – these usually mean a battery, charging port or board fault.
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