Several users have reported that their iPhone 13 become physically hot (or uncomfortably warm) to the touch during use. If you are having this problem, here is what you can do to solve your iPhone 13 overheating problem:
The iPhone 13 will warm up from the moment you switch it on; this is unavoidable and mostly safe. But iPhone 13 overheating can be a serious issue, damaging devices and affecting performance. In this article, we address three important questions: what causes the iPhone 13 to heat up, what causes it to overheat, and how can it be avoided?
Why does iPhone 13 heat up?
The answer lies in a basic property of physics: movement generates heat. The iPhone 13 has to physically move things around to work at all, so it has to generate heat. The amount of heat your iPhone 13 produces is largely proportional to the amount of electricity moving through it.
If you’re playing a game that demands a lot from your central and graphics processing units, both housed in a central system-on-a-chip (SoC), they will become warm, as they require more power to carry out their tasks.
Your iPhone 13 becoming warm is no reason to worry, it’s designed to work that way, but if it becomes unpleasantly hot, you probably have cause for concern.
Why does iPhone 13 overheat?
Generally speaking, an iPhone 13 is extremely well optimized, and overheating is rarely an issue. It is specifically designed to handle high temperatures. When your device approaches a potentially damaging temperature, the processor speed will be reduced, making slower operating speeds one of the signs of overheating; under more severe circumstances, a warning will be displayed, preventing you from using the iPhone until it has cooled.
If your iPhone 13 is experiencing frequent overheating, it could be for a number of solvable reasons, mostly related to overloading the hardware. Pushing your GPU for too long is one of the quickest ways to overheat your iPhone 13 (as anyone who has tried a Gear VR knows all too well).
The same can happen with demanding apps, but the burden will here fall on the CPU. Multitasking, extra features and functions, like widgets, and, for whatever reason, your phone having to check its connectivity – be it Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, whatever – all require processing power – warming the SoC – and more electricity – warming the battery.
Other factors that can lead to iPhone 13 overheating are external: leaving your iPhone out in direct sunlight, for example, or throwing it into the oven. If you don’t overexert your iPhone 13 and it still overheats to excess regularly, it could well be a hardware malfunction, and it would be worth trying to score a replacement.
How to fix iPhone 13 overheating issue
1. Avoid exposing your iPhone to direct sunlight
The easiest way to prevent your iPhone 13 overheating is to keep your device out of the sun. Your phone catches light and heat from the sun and retains it, getting hotter the longer it remains in sunlight and heat.
2. Close unused apps to prevent iPhone 13 overheating
Open, unused apps running in the background cause your iPhone 13 to work harder, which in turn causes it to heat up.
3. Lower the screen brightness
Just the same as running background apps, turning your brightness up will force your battery to work harder and create more heat. Instead, look for an anti-glare cover for your device. This low cost solution can help you see your screen in the sun.
4. Remove iPhone case
If your iPhone 13 is overheating, your case isn’t helping. Taking the case off will allow the phone’s heat vents to do their job fully without being blocked, allowing your phone to cool down quicker.
5. Update your apps to fix iPhone 13 overheating
Many app updates include bug fixes that can improve your phone’s efficiency, meaning they’ll use up less of your device’s energy.
6. Separate your iPhone from your other tech
Stacking your running phone, tablet, and computer together in a bag makes them more susceptible to overheating. Help them keep their cool by keeping them separated.
7. Delete unused apps
If your iPhone 13 continues to overheat, you might want to delete unnecessary items on your phone that can add to its workload—like ringtones, games, backgrounds, or apps that you never use.
8.Direct a fan at your iPhone
This may sound like a cliché fix, but fanning your iPhone or blowing on it can help. Just as fanning keeps a body cool, a breeze can help cool off your device when it’s getting a bit too toasty.
9. Check Your Charger If Your iPhone 13 Is Getting Hot When Charging
If you’re specifically wondering, why does my iPhone 13 get hot when charging, I highly recommend taking a close look at your charger. While it is normal for your iPhone to be slightly warmer while charging (especially if you’re using it at the same time), you should be concerned if your iPhone feels hot to the touch. Are you using a charger that isn’t Apple certified? Cheap chargers purchased from third-party companies have the potential to be defective. In this case, your iPhone 13 overheating may be caused by a charger putting strain on your iPhone. While it is tempting to buy an $8 charger instead of the $20 version through Apple, you’ll pay far more in the near future if your iPhone battery is damaged by a poorly designed charger.
10. Stop Continuous Location Tracking
If not used smartly, location tracking will drain a lot of battery on your iPhone. And due to the excessive battery drain, the iPhone 13 will eventually begin to overheat. So, never fail to stop location tracking on your iOS device when not in use.
Navigate to the Settings app on your iOS device -> Privacy -> Location Services. Now, turn off the Location Services switch to disable it altogether. If you don’t want to disable it, allow only specific apps to track your location. For better control, iOS offers three options to choose from:
- Never: Prevent an app from using your location data.
- Ask Next Time: Force an app to ask you every time it needs to track your location.
- While Using the App: Allow an app to access your location only when you are using it.
11. Turn Off Background App Refresh
Background app refresh is a feature that allows your apps to look for new information at all times so they’re ready to go when you launch them. If you use an app on a regular basis (such as your Mail app), background refresh is great. However, it drains battery life, which makes this feature less appealing for apps you don’t use often. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. To extend your battery life and help keep your iPhone 13 from getting hot, you can turn off background app refresh for all apps or for specific apps you don’t often use.
12. Remove Widgets Running in the Background
I’ll start with a quick disclaimer: I love widgets and have far more than I need running on my iPhone Home screens. Never once have widgets caused my iPhone to overheat or act buggy. While this is a less likely cause of iPhone 13 overheating it is good to test regardless. You might have a widget connected to a third-party app that is buggy. In either case, I recommend deleting widgets for a day or so to see if this stops your iPhone 13 from getting hot.
13. When All Else Fails, Contact Apple Support
If you’ve tried the solutions above and your iPhone 13 is still getting hot, you likely do have a damaged battery or faulty hardware component. At this point, your best chance to get your device working is to visit the nearest Apple store. Apple store employees can help determine the underlying issue with your iPhone. If you don’t have an Apple store nearby, you can also contact Apple support for help and instructions.