How to stop my phone from overheating?

Smartphones are basically pocket-sized power stations, but cramming fast processors, big batteries and slim bodies together means heat is part of the deal. When it builds up, it can slow things down, wear the battery out faster and, in rare cases, become a safety issue. So, here’s how to keep things under control.

Your phone warms up whenever it’s working, but some habits push it harder. Long stretches of screen time keep both the processor and battery busy. Gaming, filming, endless scrolling or juggling multiple apps without a break all add to the load.

Charging plays a role too. Leaving your phone plugged in long after it hits 100 percent puts unnecessary strain on the battery. Topping it up little and often, roughly between 40 percent and 80 percent, is generally easier on it and helps limit heat.

Heavy tasks like gaming and streaming are among the biggest culprits. They drain power quickly and raise internal temperatures. On top of that, apps left running in the background quietly use resources and contribute to the heat without you even noticing.

Video calls are another one to watch. They rely on the screen, camera, microphone and network all at once, which is basically a perfect recipe for a warm device.

And then there’s the obvious one. Leaving your phone in direct sunlight or inside a hot car is one of the quickest ways to overheat it and potentially damage the battery. Most smartphones are built to work between 0°C and 35°C, and going beyond that can cause issues.

Overheating can lead to unexpected shutdowns, faster battery drain or long-term damage data loss and internal component damage in rare cases. To keep things cooler, start simple. Avoid high temperatures, lower your screen brightness, remove apps you do not need and close anything you are not using. Keeping apps updated helps too, as updates often include performance tweaks that reduce unnecessary power use. Stick to reliable chargers, avoid worn cables and try not to pile your phone next to other heat-generating devices.

If your phone feels properly hot to the touch, act quickly. Move it out of the sun or off warm surfaces, switch it off and take off the case. Just avoid sudden cooling, as that can cause internal damage.

If the problem persists despite all of this, it could be a hardware issue. Batteries wear out over time, and older devices tend to struggle with newer apps and updates. At that point, replacing the phone is often the safer call. And if you happen to be browsing anyway, we’ve got a fair few solid options that will not rinse your budget.