Phone Overheats and Shuts Down? Full Fix Guide

If your phone gets hot quickly and suddenly shuts down, it’s not just annoying — it can also damage your battery and internal components over time. Overheating usually happens when the processor, battery, or charging system is under too much stress, or when the phone cannot get rid of heat properly.

The good news is that most overheating problems can be fixed at home with simple steps. In this guide, you’ll learn why your phone overheats and shuts down, how to cool it down safely, and what to change in your daily use to prevent it from happening again.

Is It Normal for a Phone to Get Warm?

It’s normal for a phone to feel slightly warm when you:

Play heavy games for a while
Use navigation apps (GPS)
Charge the phone, especially with fast charging
Download or install large updates

However, it is not normal if your phone:

Becomes very hot to the touch
Shows overheating warnings
Closes apps by itself
Shuts down or restarts automatically
Drains battery extremely fast when hot

When this happens regularly, you should take action.

Common Reasons Your Phone Overheats and Shuts Down

Here are the most common causes:

Heavy apps or games overloading the CPU and GPU
Using the phone while charging, especially with fast chargers
High screen brightness and long screen-on time
Poor ventilation (keeping phone under pillow, in pocket, or in hot car)
Background apps running constantly
Old or damaged battery
Software bugs causing CPU to run at 100%
Malware or hidden apps using resources silently

We will fix these one by one.

Fix 1: Let the Phone Cool Down Properly

If your phone is already very hot, you should first let it cool down before anything else.

Do this immediately:

Turn off the screen
Unplug the charger if it’s charging
Remove any case or cover
Do not place it in a fridge or freezer (sudden temperature changes can damage it)
Leave it on a cool, flat surface for 10–20 minutes

Once the phone has cooled down to normal temperature, continue with the steps below.

Fix 2: Stop Heavy Apps and Games

Some apps consume a lot of CPU, GPU, and battery, which generates heat. Games, video editing apps, benchmarks, and some social media apps can cause overheating if used for a long time.

How to reduce load:

Close all apps from the Recent Apps screen
Avoid playing heavy games for long sessions without breaks
Lower graphics settings in games
Close any app you’re not actively using

Give your phone short breaks every 20–30 minutes during intense use.

Fix 3: Avoid Using the Phone While Charging

Using the phone while charging, especially for gaming, video calls, or streaming, can cause the battery and processor to heat up much faster.

Best practices:

When charging, avoid playing games or watching HD videos
Use the phone only for light tasks while plugged in
If it gets hot while charging, unplug it and let it cool down

You can also turn on Airplane Mode while charging to reduce background activity and heat.

Fix 4: Lower Screen Brightness and Turn Off Unnecessary Features

The display is one of the biggest sources of battery drain and heat.

To reduce heat:

Lower screen brightness to a comfortable but not maximum level
Turn off Always-On Display (if available)
Shorten screen timeout (e.g., 30 seconds or 1 minute)
Turn off unused features like Bluetooth, NFC, Mobile Hotspot when not in use

These changes can significantly reduce temperature in daily use.

Fix 5: Close Background Apps and Restrict Problematic Ones

Some apps continue to run in the background even when you’re not actively using them. They can constantly use CPU, internet, and battery, causing overheating.

To manage background apps:

Open Settings → Battery or Battery & Device Care
Check which apps use the most battery
Tap on an app and restrict background activity if needed
Uninstall apps you don’t really need

Messaging apps and social media apps often stay active in the background, so you may limit their permissions if they use too much battery.

Fix 6: Update Your Phone’s Software

Sometimes overheating is caused by software bugs or poorly optimized versions of Android or manufacturer skins.

To update:

Open Settings
Go to Software Update or System → System Update
Tap Download and Install if an update is available

Also update your apps via the Google Play Store to ensure better performance and fewer bugs.

Fix 7: Scan for Malware or Hidden Apps

Malicious apps or hidden miners can run in the background and push your CPU to 100% without you noticing, creating extreme heat.

What to do:

Open the Google Play Store
Tap your profile icon → Play Protect
Tap Scan

Remove any apps flagged as harmful. Also uninstall any suspicious apps you don’t recognize or never use, especially those not from trusted developers.

Fix 8: Check for Apps Using Too Much CPU or Battery

Most Android phones allow you to check which apps are consuming the most battery and processing power.

To check battery usage:

Go to Settings → Battery
Look at the list of apps with high usage
If you see an app you don’t use often at the top, consider uninstalling or limiting it

Some examples of heavy apps: games, video editors, crypto apps, or misconfigured background services.

Fix 9: Don’t Leave Your Phone in Hot Environments

External heat can also cause overheating. Common examples:

Leaving the phone in a parked car under the sun
Using the phone directly under strong sunlight for long periods
Keeping it under a pillow or blanket while charging

Prevention tips:

Keep the phone out of direct sunlight
Do not cover it with blankets or pillows while charging or using heavily
Store it in a cool, dry place

Fix 10: Remove the Case During Heavy Use

Some thick cases trap heat and prevent your phone from cooling properly, especially during gaming or charging.

Try this:

Remove the case while gaming or watching long videos
Remove the case while fast charging
Use a thinner, well-ventilated case if overheating improves without the case

Fix 11: Check for Battery Health Problems

An old or damaged battery can generate more heat and cause sudden shutdowns, especially when going from high to low percentage quickly.

Signs of battery problems:

Phone jumps from high percentage to very low suddenly
Random shutdowns even at 20–40% battery
Phone gets hot even during light use

Some brands show battery health in settings. If not, you may need a technician to test it.

Fix 12: Reset All Settings (Without Deleting Data)

If you’ve changed many system settings over time, some misconfiguration might cause overheating.

To reset all settings:

Open Settings
Tap System or General Management
Tap Reset
Select Reset All Settings (do not choose Factory Reset)

This restores default system settings without erasing your files and apps.

Fix 13: Factory Reset (Last Software Option)

If you’ve tried everything and your phone still overheats and shuts down during normal use, there may be a deep software issue.

Warning: Factory reset deletes all apps, settings, and files. Back up your data first.

To factory reset:

Open Settings
Tap System → Reset or General Management → Reset
Select Factory Data Reset
Confirm and wait for the process to finish

After resetting, install your apps gradually and check if overheating returns.

Fix 14: When to Visit a Repair Shop

If your phone still overheats and shuts down even during light use (like texting or simple browsing), the issue might be hardware-related.

Possible hardware problems:

Damaged battery
Internal short circuit
Loose connections inside the phone
Physical damage from drops or water exposure

In these cases, a technician may need to replace the battery or check the motherboard. If your phone is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer or official service center first.

How to Prevent Overheating in the Future

Avoid heavy gaming for very long sessions without breaks
Do not use the phone for gaming while charging
Keep brightness at a reasonable level
Uninstall apps you don’t use
Update your phone regularly
Keep the phone out of extreme heat

Conclusion

A phone that overheats and shuts down can be scary, but most of the time it’s caused by software, usage habits, or battery strain—not instant hardware failure. By reducing intensive tasks, closing heavy apps, managing background activity, using proper chargers, and keeping your phone cool, you can often fix the problem yourself.

If overheating continues even after following all these steps, it’s best to have the device checked by a professional, especially if you notice battery swelling, strong heat during light use, or frequent random shutdowns.

For more repair guides, visit our Phone Repair Guides and Performance & Software Fixes categories.

How to Fix a Phone That Overheats and Shuts Down