“Why is my phone hot”? Or, “why does my phone get hot”? are perhaps two of the most asked questions any technician receives. Hence, as a technician, we must always be ready to explain why your cell phone started getting unusually hot and ways to fix it. Some smartphones get so hot that they shut down. Other times, the phone is so hot that you cannot hold it. In this article, we discuss some common reasons why your phone gets hot and how you can try to fix it.
Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ & Apple iPhone 8 Plus/iPhone X
Cell Phones Get Warm
Firstly, you should know that cell phones can get warm. Any electrical device can and will generate heat in proportion to usage. Hence, that Samsung Galaxy S9 or iPhone X smartphone can and will get warm. However, your smartphone should never get hot. Once your mobile phone gets so hot to the point of overheating, it may cause damage to the internal components of your device. Also, a phone that overheats may cause damage to you or those around you. Let’s start by investigating the cause of the problem.
For your reference, read:
- Android Phone Overheating? Fix Android Phone Overheating Problems!
- Why Is My iPhone Hot? How Do I Fix It?
Where Does Your Phone Get Hot?
To begin, you need to know which part of your phone gets hot. Here are a couple of the most common areas that a phone might heat up or get hot.
- The back of the cellphone.
- The bottom of the phone.
- On The back, above the battery compartment.
- Near the speakers.
- The smartphone screen.
Back Of Phone Hot
Should the bottom of your cellphone get hot, near the charge port, then there may be a problem with the charger or the port itself. In these instances, your phone might not charge or, if it does charge, the battery dies quickly. Luckily, we’ve addressed this issue:
- Read: Why Is My iPhone Not Charging?
- Is It Ok To Use Any Charger With My Phone or Tablet?
- Fix: Samsung Galaxy S9 Won’t Charge Or Turn On
Note that the tutorial for the Galaxy S9 is relevant for any Android smartphone. However, you may also search the site for your specific model. Or, read the Android System Battery Drain/Overheating article.
Phone Getting Hot Near/Around Battery
The most obvious scenario here is that there is a problem with your phone’s battery. Hence, for phones that do not have a removable battery, it is best to take it in to repair shop. However, there are several other steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:
- Read: What To Do When My iPhone Battery Dies Fast?
- Here’s The Reason Why Your iPhone’s Battery Icon Is Yellow And The Fix.
- Android System Battery Drain/Overheating
Smartphone Heats Up Near Speakers
The areas around the speakers or headphone jacks should never be hot. This can cause your phone to think its in headphone mode. Heat generated in these areas also lead to burns or other health issues if not monitored carefully.
Smartphone Screen Too Hot
Lastly, if your smartphone screen gets too hot, it may cause your phone display to become unresponsive. If it is not a problem with your applications or data settings, then you ought to take the phone to a technician. Sometimes, your phone may randomly restart or it won’t turn on at all.
How To Fix A Phone That Overheats
We’ve explained what happens when a phone overheats. And, we’ve linked to some useful resources to help troubleshoot specific issues. However, here are some general pointers that can help any smartphone user fix a phone that gets too hot.
Monitor Background App Usage
It is never wise to have several resource-intensive applications running in the background. Just like a computer, your smartphone can only do so much. Hence, if you’re streaming videos on YouTube, be sure that you close other applications like Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat. Take some time to check which apps run in the background on your Android or iOS device.
App Memory Usage To Heavy For Phone
If you have a high-end smartphone like the iPhone 8 or Samsung Galaxy S8+ then this should not be an issue. However, for mid-range smartphones, listening to music, watching YouTube videos, or playing games (GBA games on iPhone or Classic Arcade Games on Android) over an extended period of time can take a toll on your phone. Hence, you may need to limit heavy streaming or gaming depending on the cell phone you own.
Bad Battery
The older the phone (i.e. how long you own it) the older the battery. And, chances are that you’ve charged your cell phone battery several times during that time. All factors that deteriorate your battery life and performance. A certain vendor (Apple) also admitted to slowing down the performance of older models of the iPhone. If your battery is defective or malfunctioning then you may get a new one under warranty. Or, you can search for a replacement on Amazon. We’ve three guides for battery replacement. For all others, be sure to go to a repair shop.
- Samsung Galaxy S7 Battery Replacement Guide
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Battery Replacement Guide
- OnePlus One Battery Replacement Guide with Video + Images
Ventilation
Do you keep your phone in your pocket for long periods of time or in a bag? What kind of case are you using? In either case, be sure that your phone gets enough ventilation when stored. Also, every now and then, take your phone out of the case. Give it a breather.
Other Reasons A Phone Gets Hot
The reasons below require you to take your phone to a repair shop for further assistance. However, if you’re technologically inclined you may troubleshoot the issues at home at your own risk.
- Water Damage
- Hardware Malfunction
- Software Malfunction
Water Damage
Do you listen to music on your cell phone while taking a shower? Do you keep your cell phone in your pocket all day? Did you drop your phone in water or spill water on your phone? Power issues and overheating are common problems that a water damaged cell phone experiences.
You might want to try and locate the LDI (Liquid Damage Indicator) sticker(s) on your phone to just make sure that your cell phone is not experiencing any side effects of moisture or liquid damage. Your phone might have moisture damage and you might not even know it. For your reference, check out the following:
- How To Fix Water Damaged iPhone 6
- Fix Water Damaged Samsung Galaxy S6
- How To Fix Water Damaged LG G4
Hardware/Software
With regard to software, you can safely check for updates and update your device without the help of a technician. However, for hardware problems, such as parts replacement, I suggest you do see a technician. Did you drop your phone? Any bump or knick could cause internal damage that you may not be aware of at the time.
With software, irrespective of OS updates, you may need to check for app updates to make sure that one of your apps is not outdated and causing your device to malfunction. Sometimes, you may need to uninstall the app. For minor or major repair to software, you can do a soft reset or a hard reset. For your reference, check out: