How to cool your phone down this summer

Spring is in full swing right now, with summer just around the corner. And while basking in the sunshine is great for outdoor adventures and getting some vitamin D, your tech might not be so happy about the warmer weather — especially your phone.

But you can’t just leave your mobile at home on those stunning days. You’ll want it within reach to snap all those fun activities you’ve planned, share them on socials, and even give your summer a super soundtrack!

That’s why in this guide, we’ve compiled some tips on how to cool down your phone quickly if starts feeling the heat on a warm day. Plus, advice on how to prevent your mobile from overheating in the first place.

Reasons why your phone is overheating

A few things can make mobile phones overheat, particularly in the middle of summer. Like if your device is stuffed in your pocket for hours on a hot and humid day. Or if it’s left in direct sunlight on your car’s dashboard, a garden table, or a window sill.

This can lead to your phone’s battery getting too hot, meaning that it’ll drain faster and possibly lose its ability to charge. Or even worse, it might even melt some of those delicate internals that make your phone run. The last thing you’ll want to do is to fork out for a new device!

Apart from high summer temperatures, here are some other things that might make your phone run hotter than usual:

• Heavy CPU usage: Streaming videos or playing games all day requires lots of processing power and can force your phone’s battery to work overtime — leading to overheating.
• Background apps: Having lots of apps running in the background will consume energy and strain the battery, causing your phone to produce more heat than normal.
• Software updates: Your phone’s processor works pretty hard and when installing software updates, which can warm up your whole device.
• Overcharging: Leaving your phone on charge after it’s reached 100% can make the battery overheat.
• Faulty hardware: Malfunctioning hardware components like a worn-out battery or damaged charging port can cause spikes in phone temperature.

Quick steps to cool down your overheating phone

It’s likely that your phone will overheat at some stage this summer, no matter how careful you are. If your phone feels like it has a fever, the good news is that you can quickly bring its temperature down yourself.

Here are some immediate actions you should take to cool your phone down:

1. Turn off your phone: Shut your phone down to stop the battery from doing any work, even if you’re not using it. That way, its temperature should drop faster.
2. Keep it out of direct sunlight: If you were using your phone outside or in a room with the sun coming in, move it into the shade until it cools down.
3. Take off your phone’s case: Most of us protect our phones with cases, but they can trap heat and prevent proper airflow. If your mobile feels warm, remove the case so it can cool down more quickly.
4. Put it in a cool place: When your phone’s feeling the heat, put it somewhere cool. And no, we’re not talking about your fridge or freezer! An air-conditioned room would be best, or you could even put your phone next to a fan blowing cool and dry air.

Long-term strategies to stop your phone overheating

While your phone is obviously more prone to overheating in the summertime, it can still get hot even when the weather’s mild. So, here are a few of the best ways to keep the temperature of your mobile just right all-year round:

• Turn off unused apps: Do you forget to close apps after you’re done with them? Start getting in the habit of closing them, as background apps not only sap battery life but can also make your phone overheat.
• Switch off Bluetooth and GPS: A few more features like Bluetooth and GPS can drain your phone’s battery and cause overheating too. If you’re not using these, give your phone a breather by turning them off.
• Turn down the screen brightness: Maxing out the brightness of your phone’s screen can raise its temperature. Consider lowering this setting to keep your phone cool and prolong battery life too.
• Make sure your phone is up to date: Phone brands often release updates to improve performance and fix software bugs. Some of these updates can also include fixes for overheating issues, so make sure you’re using the latest version of your phone’s software.
• Keep gaming sessions short: If you love playing games on your phone, try to break up how much you play instead of going for hours on end. Big and detailed games cause your device to heat up as they require lots of processing power to run.
• Take your phone out of your pocket: This is a tough one when you’re out and about. But our bodies produce lots of heat, which can quickly warm up your phone when in your pocket. So, once you’ve got to work or your favourite café — just put your phone on your desk or table.

FAQs

Can phone accessories help with managing heat?

If you’re worried about your phone getting hot but still want to protect it, think about getting a cooling phone case. These are designed to absorb and dissipate the heat from your phone so it stays cool — often featuring well-placed vents and openings to ensure proper airflow. They keep your phone protected on the inside and the outside!

Some wireless phone chargers also feature intelligent heat management tech. This helps your phone charge more efficiently to reduce the risk of overheating.

How do I keep my phone cool while gaming?

Mobile gaming is a great way to pass the time, but many phone games need a lot of processing power — which can heat up your device. If you’re gearing up for a long gaming session, keep some of these cool tips in mind:

• Close other apps first: Before you fire up that game, make sure you’ve closed other apps to reduce strain on your phone’s processor.
• Take a break: Hit pause every 20-30 minutes and give your phone a break so it can cool down.
• Remove the case: If you’ve got a case protecting your phone, take it out while you game. This will release a bit more of that heat.
• Lower the graphics settings: Some mobile games have adjustable graphics settings, so try lowering them to keep your phone’s processor running cool.

Source: CURRYS