iPhone Overheating: What Causes It and How to Fix It

iPhones work in ambient temperatures between 32F and 95F (0C and 35C). Normal warmth during: wireless charging, first-time setup, gaming, navigation in direct sunlight, streaming, iOS updates. Genuine overheating: too hot to hold comfortably, temperature warning on Lock Screen, performance slows, display dims or goes black, charging slows or stops on a working cable, cellular signal weakens unexpectedly.

Case materials trap heat. Take the case off. Unplug any cable — charging generates heat and continuing to charge while already hot makes the problem worse. Do not put an iPhone in a fridge, freezer, or cold water — rapid cooling causes condensation and can damage internal components.

Close navigation apps (Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps), graphics-intensive games, video recording apps, and video calls running for extended periods. Turn off Bluetooth and Location Services in Control Center or via Settings while the phone is cooling. Swipe up to close apps in the app switcher.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Install any pending update. Outdated iOS versions have been a recurring cause of elevated iPhone temperatures. Monitor for 24 hours after updating. Note: iOS updates themselves can cause temporary overheating during installation — that is normal and should subside within a few hours.

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. Maximum Capacity below 80% means the battery has degraded and Apple recommends service. If you have AppleCare+ and capacity is below 80%, Apple will replace the battery at no cost. Even out of warranty, battery replacement through Apple is safer than continuing to use a degraded or swollen battery. Check coverage at coverage.apple.com.

Use only Apple-certified MFi (Made for iPhone) accessories. Third-party cables and chargers that are not MFi-certified can deliver incorrect voltage and cause overheating during charging. Replace damaged cables (frayed, bent, loose connector) with official Apple or MFi-certified alternatives.

If overheating persists after trying all steps above, reset all settings. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This clears corrupt network, display, and preference settings without deleting your data. Takes about 5 minutes.

Stop and get help in these situations: battery swelling (back is bulging, screen lifting, phone does not sit flat — do not charge a swollen battery, contact Apple Support immediately), new problems after overheating (screen flickering, unresponsive touch, camera issues, speaker distortion — book a Genius Bar appointment), smoke or burning smell (move away from flammable materials, contact Apple Support), temperature warning persists after 30+ minutes in a cool environment.

Apple iPhone and iPad temperature guide: support.apple.com/en-us/118431. Apple battery replacement and service: support.apple.com/iphone/repair/battery-replacement. Apple service programs (check for active iPhone programs): support.apple.com/service-programs. Apple coverage check: coverage.apple.com. Set up free recall alerts for your Apple devices: recallradar.co/alerts. See all Apple recall coverage: recallradar.co/recalls/apple.