Holidaying in a hot country? Here’s how to stop your phone from overheating

The UK spring hasn’t amounted to much in 2024, with occasional days of sun broken up by long periods of overcast or rainy weather. 

If it’s anything like that wherever you are, you’ve probably been dreaming of a summer getaway to a hot country. There are plenty of destinations around the world that pretty much guarantee warm, sunny weather for most of the year. 

In preparation, you’ve probably thought about what you and your friends and/or family might need, including suitable clothing, adequate sun protection and plenty of hydration. 

But have you considered your phone? Most smartphones are only designed to operate in ambient temperatures between around 0° and 35° C (32° to 95° F) – anything hotter than that and you’re risking long-term damage. 

And there are plenty of things that could go wrong, including reduced performance, display issues and a loss of battery life. In extreme cases, the battery can even explode. 

So, how can you visit a hot country with your phone and avoid this happening? Here are seven ways to stop your smartphone from overheating, plus what to do if it’s too late.

Avoid direct sunlight

Humans shouldn’t be in the sun for long periods without any shade, and the same applies to a phone. 

When not in use, keep your phone away from direct sunlight, either in a bag or pocket. If you absolutely need to use it while in the sun, aim to spend as little time on it as possible. 

It doesn’t have to be a phone-free trip by any means – once the sun has set or you’re back in your hotel room, you don’t have anything to worry about. 

Keep your phone separate from other tech

Keeping your phone in a bag is better than direct sunlight, but if there’s other tech in there, it’s far from ideal. 

All those devices will be heating each other up in there, which is bad news for your phone. 

If you also want to take your tablet, laptop or e-reader with you, try to separate them and keep each on a flat surface where possible, which will help them to cool down. 

Reduce screen brightness

You’ll probably need high brightness to see your phone in the sun, but don’t keep it that way for long. 

Consider turning off auto brightness in Settings, then reducing it to the absolute minimum that still allows you to see it. This will help to limit the build-up of heat. 

Avoid gaming or other demanding tasks

While you’re out in the heat, it’s best to limit your phone usage to the essentials, including calls and texts, navigation and taking photos. 

Your phone is probably capable of a lot more, but only in optimal conditions. So, don’t try playing Call of Duty or PUBG while out and about – you’ll only regret it.  

Graphic-intensive games are known to be one of the most demanding things you can do on a smartphone, which will cause it to heat up quickly. 

Only charge in a cool environment

Another thing that quickly builds up heat is charging. It’s an inevitable byproduct of supplying power to the device, but that makes it a bad idea in situations where your phone is already likely to overheat. 

Despite usually being at a lower wattage, this also applies to portable chargers, or power banks as they’re sometimes known. 

Unless it’s necessary, wait until you’re in a cooler environment (such as an air-conditioned room) before charging your phone. 

Avoid fast charging

The faster a phone charges, the more heat is produced. Even if your phone supports super-fast 80- or 100W charging, something slower is preferable in hot conditions. 

If possible, use the official charger that’s designed to work with the phone. If yours doesn’t come with a charger in the box (as is often the case these days), it’s safer to go for something with a lower wattage than a higher one. 

Close background apps and turn off unnecessary settings

If your phone is continuing to work hard even when the screen is turned off, it’ll be more prone to overheating. 

With that in mind, try turning off anything that’s not absolutely necessary. Think apps running in the background, Wi-Fi/mobile data, Bluetooth, and location services. 

What to do if your phone is overheating

Maybe you’ve got a warning on your phone saying it’s too hot, or it just feels uncomfortably warm to the touch. Either way, you need to get your phone to cool down. 

As tempting as it might be, avoid trying to cool it down as quickly as possible. A trip to the fridge or freezer will do it more harm than good. 

Instead, put the phone in as cool and dark a place as possible, and remove the case, if it’s in one. For an extra boost, all the ways to avoid overheating are also relevant here. 

Then be patient – it may take a while for the phone to return to a normal temperature, but don’t try to rush it. 

Once your phone is back working again, it’s worth downloading and installing all available app and system updates. Sometimes, a bug can cause a phone to overheat more quickly than it otherwise would.