Charger Getting Too Hot While Charging – Causes & Fixes

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If your charger or charging adapter becomes unusually hot while charging your phone, it can be more than uncomfortable — it can signal a problem with the charger, cable, battery, or even your power source. While some warmth is normal, excessive heat is never safe.

In this detailed guide, you’ll learn exactly why chargers overheat, how to diagnose the cause, and the safest ways to fix the problem before it leads to battery damage or a complete charging failure.

Why Your Charger Gets Too Hot While Charging

Chargers convert electrical energy from your outlet into the voltage your phone needs. This process naturally generates heat, but too much heat indicates an underlying problem.

Here are the most common causes:

  • Using a low-quality or fake charger
  • Faulty charging cable
  • Overloaded power source or power strip
  • Fast charging generating more heat than usual
  • Phone overheating, causing the charger to overheat
  • Damaged charging port causing resistance
  • High ambient room temperature
  • Battery issues inside the phone

1. Check If the Charger Is Original

The number one reason for overheating chargers is using cheap or counterfeit power adapters. These chargers don’t regulate voltage properly and struggle to maintain stable output, causing them to overheat quickly.

How to check:

  • Inspect the brand logo on the charger
  • Compare it to your original charger (font, color, weight)
  • Check if the adapter feels unusually light or cheaply made
  • Verify the voltage output (should match your phone’s original charger)

Fix: Always use original or certified chargers (Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, Anker, Baseus, Belkin).

2. Inspect the Charging Cable

A damaged cable can cause electrical resistance, which leads to overheating. Even small internal breaks can make your charger work harder than normal.

Check for:

  • Bent connectors
  • Frayed cable covering
  • Loose USB-C or Lightning tip
  • Slow or unstable charging

Fix: Try charging with another cable. If the overheating stops, the cable was the issue.

3. The Phone Itself Is Overheating

Sometimes the charger heats up simply because the phone is hot. When your phone overheats, it pulls more energy or restricts charging flow, stressing the charger.

Causes of phone overheating:

  • Gaming while charging
  • Using heavy apps (camera, maps, social media)
  • High brightness
  • Charging while in direct sunlight

Fix:

  • Let the phone cool for 5–10 minutes
  • Turn off unused apps
  • Remove the phone case while charging

4. Fast Charging Generates Extra Heat

Fast charging is convenient, but it naturally produces more heat than standard charging. Although this is normal, excessive heat can signal a problem.

Fix:

  • Disable fast charging in your settings
  • Use a lower-wattage charger temporarily

Fast charging is safe, but your charger should never feel dangerously hot.

5. Charging Port May Be Dirty or Damaged

Dirt, lint, or dust inside the charging port creates resistance, causing both the phone and the charger to heat up.

Fix:

  • Shine a flashlight inside the charging port
  • Look for lint or debris
  • Clean gently using a wooden toothpick (never metal)

If the port is loose or wobbly, you may need a technician.

6. Overloaded Power Strip or Weak Wall Socket

Many people plug chargers into old power strips or bad wall sockets. These can deliver unstable voltage, making chargers overheat.

Fix: Plug your charger directly into a wall outlet — not a power strip, extension, or USB hub.

7. Charging While Using Heavy Apps

If you charge your phone while gaming, watching videos, or recording, your phone draws more power than usual. This stresses the charger and heats it up.

Fix:

  • Stop using heavy apps during charging
  • Let the phone rest for 10–15 minutes
  • Charge in Airplane Mode for even faster charging

8. High Room Temperature

If your room is hot, your charger and phone will also heat up faster — especially during summer or while charging under blankets or pillows.

Fix:

  • Charge in a cool area
  • Place charger on a solid, flat surface
  • Avoid charging on beds or sofas

9. Battery Health Problems

If your phone’s battery is old or weak, it may pull inconsistent power from the charger, making the charger hotter than usual.

Signs of bad battery health:

  • Battery drains too fast
  • Phone turns off randomly
  • Phone heats up even without use

Fix: Consider replacing the battery if it’s more than 2–3 years old.

10. Software Glitches Affecting Charging

Incorrect charging statistics or software bugs can cause irregular charging behavior, which may lead to overheating.

Fix:

  • Restart your phone
  • Update your phone software
  • Clear cache (Android)

11. Use a Different Charger to Compare

Sometimes the simplest test is to try another charger. If the overheating stops, your charger is defective.

Fix: Replace it immediately — overheating chargers are a fire hazard.

12. When You Should Replace Your Charger

Replace your charger if:

  • It smells like burning plastic
  • It has burn marks or discoloration
  • It heats up within seconds
  • It makes buzzing sounds
  • Charging becomes slow or unstable

Chargers are cheap — phones are not. Always replace unsafe chargers.

Conclusion

A charger getting too hot while charging is usually caused by faulty cables, cheap adapters, power source issues, or heavy phone usage during charging. By following the steps in this guide, you can quickly identify the cause and fix it safely.

If the charger still overheats after trying everything, stop using it immediately and replace it with a certified charger. This protects both your phone and your safety.

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