What to Do When Your Phone Gets Too Hot

It's normal for a smartphone to feel warm during heavy use — like a long video call, streaming video, or charging. But if your phone feels hot to the touch, shuts down with a temperature warning, or is uncomfortably warm even when you're not doing anything, something needs attention.

Excessive heat is one of the most common causes of long-term battery damage. Lithium-ion batteries — the type used in virtually all smartphones — degrade faster when exposed to high temperatures. A phone that often overheats will have noticeably shorter battery life within a year.

There are five common causes of phone overheating: direct sunlight, using the phone while charging (especially gaming), a case that traps heat, too many apps running in the background, and, less commonly, a failing battery.

The good news is that most overheating is temporary and fixable. Move the phone to a cooler spot, stop whatever you're doing, and let it cool down for 10 to 15 minutes. Phones are designed with thermal protection — they'll slow down or shut off before reaching temperatures that cause immediate hardware damage.

What you should never do: don't put an overheated phone in the freezer or immerse it in cold water. Sudden temperature changes can cause condensation inside the phone, which is worse than the heat. Let it cool naturally in the shade or room temperature.