iPhone overheating? 7 fixes and what the temperature warning means

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

An iPhone gets warm during setup, software updates, wireless charging, games, camera use and high-quality video streaming. That is normal and it cools down afterwards. When the inside gets too hot, the phone protects itself: charging slows or stops, the screen dims, the signal weakens and the camera flash is switched off for a while.

Step by step

1. Move it out of the heat

   Take the iPhone out of direct sunlight and away from hot places such as a car dashboard or a windowsill. Apple says to use it where the temperature is between 0 and 35 degrees Celsius.

   Done

2. Stop the demanding task

   Close the game, the camera or the video you are streaming. These push the processor hard and are the usual reason a phone heats up in the hand.

   Done

3. Unplug the charger

   Disconnect the cable or lift the phone off the wireless charger. Charging adds heat, and the iPhone slows or stops charging by itself when it is too warm.

   Done

4. Take off the case

   A thick case holds heat in. Remove it until the phone feels cool again.

   Done

5. Turn the iPhone off if the warning appears

   If you see the temperature warning screen saying the iPhone needs to cool down, switch the phone off, move it to a cooler place and wait. Emergency calls still work while this screen is showing.

   Done

6. Let a new or updated iPhone finish its work

   After you set up an iPhone, restore a backup or install an update, it works in the background for a while and feels warm. Leave it for a few hours and the warmth should pass.

   Done

7. Update iOS

   Open Settings, General, Software Update and install any update that is waiting. Updates can fix faults that make the phone work harder than it should.

   Done

Good to know

Do not put a hot iPhone in a fridge or freezer. A fast change in temperature can cause condensation inside the phone.

Never leave an iPhone in a parked car. Apple gives a storage range of minus 20 to 45 degrees Celsius, and a closed car can go above that.

Very cold weather has the opposite effect: the battery drains faster or the phone turns off. Battery life returns to normal once the phone warms up.

If the iPhone gets hot while idle, with nothing charging and no app open, contact Apple Support.

In short: Out of the sun, stop the heavy app, unplug the charger, remove the case, and turn it off if the temperature warning appears.