All phones generate heat during normal use — your processor, screen and battery all produce warmth as they work. A slightly warm phone is normal. But a phone that becomes uncomfortably hot, throttles performance or shows a temperature warning is telling you something is wrong. Here's a breakdown of the most common causes and what you can do about each one.
Apps running in the background consume processing power and battery, even when you're not actively using them. Social media apps are notorious for this — they refresh constantly, fetch data and run location services even when you haven't opened them in hours. Close unused apps regularly, and check your location services settings to restrict which apps can access your location in the background.
The display is one of the biggest power draws on any smartphone. Running your screen at maximum brightness — especially outdoors on a sunny day — generates significant heat. Use auto-brightness where possible, and reduce brightness when indoors. This also has the bonus of extending battery life considerably.
Using your phone heavily while it charges is a reliable way to make it overheat. Both charging and processor-intensive use generate heat independently — combine them and the phone struggles to dissipate it all. If your phone is getting very hot while charging, put it down and let it charge without use, especially if you're also using a fast charger.
Thick rugged cases — particularly ones made of insulating materials — can trap heat against the phone body. If you notice the phone runs hotter with the case on, try removing it during heavy use or charging. This is more of a factor in summer months.
A software bug, a poorly optimised app or an app that has gone rogue and is consuming CPU resources unexpectedly can cause sustained overheating. Check your battery usage screen (Settings > Battery on iOS and Android) to see which apps are consuming the most power. If one app is using an unusually high percentage, try force-closing it, updating it or uninstalling it.
As batteries age and degrade, they become less efficient at converting stored energy into usable power. This inefficiency generates heat. If your phone is a few years old and runs hot, the battery may be the underlying cause. We regularly replace batteries for customers from Yiewsley, West Drayton and the wider Hayes area who come in with overheating phones — in many cases, a new battery solves the problem completely.
If none of the above explanations fit — for example, your phone overheats even in standby, gets extremely hot in specific spots, or shows a temperature warning frequently — there may be a hardware fault. This could be a failing component, a short circuit or damage from a previous drop or liquid exposure. These issues need professional diagnosis.
If your phone is overheating and the software fixes haven't helped, or if you're worried about a hardware fault, bring it in to Mobile Mist in Yiewsley. We offer free diagnosis and can assess whether it's a battery, charging circuit or other hardware issue. We're at 82 High Street, Yiewsley — walk in any day, no appointment needed.
Walk in to Mobile Mist in Yiewsley — open 7 days, no appointment needed.