Phone overheating is one of the most common issues smartphone users experience. A warm phone is normal, but when your device becomes too hot to touch, shuts down unexpectedly, or shows a temperature warning, your phone is overheating. If ignored, overheating can damage your battery, slow down performance, or even cause permanent hardware failure.
The good news is that most overheating issues can be fixed easily at home. This guide explains the most common causes of phone overheating and the best solutions to cool down your device quickly and safely.
1. Too Many Apps Running in the Background
Your phone heats up when its processor works too hard. Running too many apps at once is one of the biggest triggers for overheating, especially on older devices.
How to fix it:
- Close unused apps
- Restart your phone to clear background processes
- Disable background activity for apps you don’t use
- Uninstall battery-draining apps
If your phone cools down after closing apps, the overheating is caused by high CPU usage.
2. Gaming or Video Streaming for Long Periods
Games and video apps push your phone’s processor and graphics hardware to its limits. This generates heat quickly, especially in 3D games, HD videos, or high refresh rate displays.
How to fix it:
- Take a break every 20–30 minutes
- Lower game graphics settings
- Reduce screen brightness
- Remove the phone case while gaming
If your phone overheats mainly during gaming or streaming, heavy processing is the cause.
3. Charging the Phone Improperly
Fast chargers or damaged cables can cause excessive heat. Charging while using your phone makes the battery work harder and produces even more heat.
How to prevent overheating while charging:
- Remove the case before charging
- Use original or certified chargers
- Do not play games or watch videos while charging
- Charge in a cool, ventilated area
If your phone gets hot only while charging, the charger or charging habits are the cause.
4. High Screen Brightness
Keeping your brightness at 90–100% forces the display hardware to generate more heat. This is especially noticeable in direct sunlight.
Fix:
- Lower brightness manually
- Enable auto-brightness
- Use dark mode to reduce display power
Your screen is one of the biggest heat sources on your device.
5. Bad or Outdated Software
Bugs, corrupted files, or outdated system versions can cause overheating by making your phone work harder than necessary.
Fix:
- Check for system updates
- Update all apps from the Play Store or App Store
- Restart your phone regularly
- Delete suspicious or unused apps
Software problems can cause constant background CPU usage, leading to overheating.
6. Malware or Hidden Apps
Malware can secretly run processes in the background, mine crypto, overuse the CPU, and drain battery — all of which cause overheating.
How to check:
- Look for unknown apps in your app list
- Check battery usage for strange activity
- Install a trusted antivirus app
- Remove apps downloaded from unknown websites
If your phone overheats randomly when idle, malware may be the cause.
7. Faulty Battery or Old Device
As batteries age, they lose efficiency and generate more heat. A damaged battery can cause overheating even when the phone is not in use.
Signs of battery problems:
- Phone drains quickly
- Phone heats up while idle
- Phone shuts down randomly
- Battery is swollen or the back cover is bulging
A battery replacement may be needed if these symptoms appear.
8. Environmental Heat or Direct Sunlight
Your phone absorbs heat from the environment. Leaving it in a car, under sunlight, or in a hot room makes it overheat much faster.
How to cool it quickly:
- Move the phone to a shaded or cool area
- Turn off WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and mobile data
- Put the phone in front of a fan
Do NOT put your phone in the freezer — this causes internal damage.
9. Internal Hardware Damage
A drop, impact, or water exposure can cause overheating by damaging internal components such as the motherboard, power IC, or thermal sensors.
Signs of hardware damage:
- Overheating even when idle
- Phone reboots randomly
- Phone heats near the camera or motherboard
- Device gets hot within minutes of turning on
If these symptoms appear, your phone needs professional repair.
10. How to Prevent Overheating Long-Term
Best practices:
- Keep your software updated
- Use certified chargers
- Remove unused apps regularly
- Clean the charging port and speakers
- Restart the phone daily
- Avoid full brightness and heavy gaming for long periods
- Keep your phone case clean to avoid trapping heat
Following these tips will significantly reduce the chances of overheating and extend the lifespan of your device.
When to Visit a Repair Shop
You should consider professional help if:
- The phone overheats even when not in use
- The battery drains extremely fast
- The phone shuts down due to heat
- There are signs of physical or water damage
Typical repair costs:
- Battery replacement: €20–€60
- Thermal sensor repair: €30–€80
- Motherboard repair: €40–€120
Most overheating issues are fixable, and repairs usually take less than an hour.
Final Thoughts
Phone overheating is a common issue caused by heavy usage, bad apps, charging problems, or environmental heat. Fortunately, most cases can be fixed easily by closing apps, updating software, using proper chargers, or removing the phone case. If the device continues to overheat even after trying these solutions, it may be time to visit a repair shop.