How to Fix an Overheating Android Phone
Is your Android phone getting uncomfortably hot? An overheating phone can slow down, drain its battery, and even suffer permanent damage. This guide explains why it happens and how to cool it down.
Your phone generates heat during normal operation, but it's designed to dissipate it. Overheating occurs when it generates more heat than it can get rid of, often due to intensive tasks or environmental factors.
Common Causes:
- Intensive Gaming or App Usage: Running graphically demanding apps or games for long periods is a primary cause.
- Charging the Device: Charging generates heat, especially if you're using the phone at the same time (e.g., gaming while charging).
- Direct Sunlight or Hot Environments: Leaving your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight will cause it to overheat quickly.
- Outdated Software or Buggy Apps: A software bug can cause an app or a system process to use excessive CPU resources, generating heat.
- Poor Signal: When your phone constantly searches for a weak Wi-Fi or cellular signal, the antenna works harder and heats up.
1. Close Resource-Heavy Apps
Identify and stop the apps that are working your processor overtime.
- Open Settings > Battery > Battery usage.
- This screen will show you which apps have consumed the most battery, which often correlates with heat generation.
- Force stop any apps that seem to be using an unusual amount of power.
2. Stop Charging and Remove the Case
If your phone gets hot while charging, give it a break.
- Unplug the charger immediately. Let the phone's temperature return to normal before plugging it back in.
- Remove the phone's case to allow heat to dissipate more effectively. Cases, especially thick ones, can trap heat.
3. Get Out of the Heat
The environment plays a huge role. Your phone absorbs heat from its surroundings.
- Move your phone out of direct sunlight immediately.
- Never leave your phone in a hot car, which can cause temperatures to rise to dangerous levels.
- If you're in a hot environment, simply moving to a cooler, shaded area can make a significant difference.
4. Disable Unused Features & Lower Brightness
Every active feature uses power and generates heat.
- Lower your screen's brightness from the quick settings panel. The display is one of the biggest power consumers.
- Turn off Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi if you are not actively using them.
- Enable Battery Saver mode to automatically restrict background activities.
Never put your overheating phone in a refrigerator or freezer. The rapid temperature change and potential moisture condensation can cause severe and permanent damage to the internal components. Let it cool down gradually at room temperature.