There hasn’t been much of a British spring in 2024, with occasional sunny days interrupted by long periods of overcast or rainy weather.
If this is the case wherever you are, you’re probably dreaming of a summer getaway to a warm country. There are many destinations around the world that guarantee warm and sunny weather for most of the year.
As you prepare, 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 thought about your phone? Most smartphones are only designed to operate in ambient temperatures between 0° and 35° C (32° to 95° F) – any temperature higher than that and you risk long-term damage.
And many problems can occur, including performance drop, display issues, and loss of battery life. In extreme cases, the battery may even explode.
So how can you visit a hot country with your phone and prevent this from happening? Here are seven ways to prevent your smartphone from overheating and what to do if it’s too late.
Avoid direct sunlight
Humans shouldn’t stand in the sun for long without shade, and the same goes for a phone.
When not in use, keep your phone out of direct sunlight, whether in a bag or pocket. If you absolutely must use it in the sun, try to spend as little time on it as possible.
It doesn’t have to be a phone-free trip: once the sun goes down or you’re back in your hotel room, you don’t have to worry.
Keep your phone separate from other technology
Keeping your phone in a bag is better than direct sunlight, but if it has other technology inside, it’s far from ideal.
All of these devices will heat up each other, 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 them on a flat surface if possible, which will help them to cool.
Reduce screen brightness
You’ll probably need high brightness to see your phone in sunlight, 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 limit heat buildup.
Avoid games or other demanding tasks
While you’re out in the heat, it’s best to limit your phone use to the essentials, including calling and texting, browsing, and taking photos.
Your phone is probably capable of much more, but only under optimal conditions. So, don’t try to play Call of Duty or PUBG on the go – you’ll only regret it.
Graphics-intensive gaming is known to be one of the most demanding things you can do on a smartphone, which will cause it to heat up quickly.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Charge only in a cool environment
Another thing that builds up heat quickly is charging. This is an inevitable byproduct of the device’s power supply, but it makes it a bad idea in situations where your phone is already susceptible to overheating.
Although they are generally lower wattage, this also applies to portable chargers, or power banks as they are sometimes called.
Unless necessary, wait until you are 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 it produces. Even if your phone supports 80W or 100W super-fast charging, something slower is better in hot weather.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
Chris Martin / Foundry
If possible, use the official charger 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 opt for something with a lower wattage rather than a higher wattage.
Close background apps and turn off unnecessary settings
If your phone continues to work hard even when the screen is off, it will be more likely to overheat.
With that in mind, try turning off anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. Think about apps running in the background, Wi-Fi/mobile data, Bluetooth, and location services.
What to do if your phone overheats
Maybe you’ve received a warning on your phone that it’s too hot or just uncomfortable to touch. Either way, you need to let your phone cool down.
As tempting as it may be, avoid trying to cool it as quickly as possible. A trip to the refrigerator or freezer will do more harm than good.
Instead, place the phone in as cool and dark a place as possible and remove the case, if applicable. For an extra boost, any ways to avoid overheating are also relevant here.
So be patient – it may take a while for the phone to return to normal temperature, but don’t try to rush it.
Once your phone is working again, it’s worth downloading and installing any available app and system updates. Sometimes a bug can cause a phone to overheat faster than it otherwise would.
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