Recently, a number of users have reported that their iPhone overheats unexpectedly after the iOS 16 update. At times, the iPhone becomes so hot that you need to shut it down immediately. Having faced this issue myself on my iPhone, I can confirm that it has been a worrisome problem in iOS 16. So, what are the solutions to fix the iPhone overheating issue after installing the iOS 16 update? Well, I have listed a few viable tips and tricks that work in preventing your iPhone from getting too hot. So, make sure to give them a try before knocking on the door of Apple Support.
Considering the nature of the issue, let’s first take a quick look at the reasons that could be causing your iPhone to overheat! Once that’s done, we will look at the ways to fix this common iOS 16 problem.
What Causes Overheating on Your iPhone Running iOS 16?
Though it’s not unusual to have overheating issues on aging iPhones after a software update, it can become a concern if they persist for several days. More so when your relatively new device tends to get hot frequently. From what I can tell, the iPhone overheating problem in iOS 16 could be due to 3 major reasons.
Less Capable Hardware
If your iPhone hardware is less capable, it will have a hard time handling the latest software. Whenever there is a confrontation between worn-out hardware and Apple’s newest software with modern features, you will most likely end up facing annoying issues like overheating, sluggishness, and the terrible battery drain issue on iOS.
While it’s always a pleasure to be on the bleeding edge of technology, you should never lose sight out of the downside, especially when you are dealing with old hardware (5-6 years old).
Cluttered Storage
Cluttered storage is detrimental to the health of an iPhone (or any device, for that matter). Things like app backups, storage-hogging files, outdated software, piles of useless screenshots/ images, and videos can take a toll even on modern hardware – let alone a decade-old device. So yeah, you need to keep your iPhone storage uncluttered to keep it from overheating after the latest iOS 16 update.
Random Software Bug
A few years back, I would think twice before putting the blame on software bugs for most issues on my iPhone. However, the landscape has changed dramatically in the last few years. So much so that iOS (along with macOS) is now branded as a hotbed of bugs. Seriously, I’m not kidding on this one.
Best Tips to Fix iPhone Overheating Issue in iOS 16
Now that we have recognized the usual suspects, it’s time to look for possible solutions to troubleshoot the iPhone overheating issue.
1. Put Your iPhone in the Shade
Again, this point may seem obvious, but if your iOS 16 device is too hot, move it to a cooler location. If it’s outside, bring it into an air-conditioned building. If it’s in the sun, put it in the shade. This should solve the problem if the main issue was an environmental factor like high ambient temperature or direct sunlight.
However, do NOT put your iPhone in the fridge or freezer to cool it down. Excessively cold temperatures can damage your iPhone just as high temperatures can, and the quick change from too hot to too cold can cause even more damage. Placing your iPhone near a fan, though, should be okay.
2. Give Your iPhone a Break
One of the most effective ways to cool down your iOS 16 device, especially if heavy usage was the cause of the problem, is to reduce the strain on your iPhone. Simply stopping using the iPhone and setting it down someplace cool should be enough to allow it to simmer down. If your iPhone is hot, but you can still use it, closing down some apps and dimming your screen can help keep it from getting overly hot.
3. Don’t Charge Your iPhone
If your iOS 16 device is overheated, wait until it cools down to charge it. Charging your iPhone will cause it to generate additional heat, worsening the problem. If your iOS 16 device overheats while it’s charging, unplug it.
4. Remove Your iPhone Case
Removing your case may help your iOS 16 device cool down faster, as it will allow the iPhone’s exterior to dissipate heat more effectively.
5. Restart Your iPhone
If none of these other steps fixed the iOS 16 overheating issue, try restarting your iPhone. This should fix the issue if the cause was a minor software issue.
6. Reduce the Strain on Your iPhone
If you find that your iOS 16 device is overheating regularly, the reason may be that it’s frequently using too much power. Reducing the strain on your iPhone, at least every once in a while, can help prevent it from getting too hot. Try some of these things when you know you’ll be using your phone more heavily than usual. The power-saving steps you can take include:
- Turn off background app refresh: Some apps update in the background even when they’re not open. This is how they notify you when someone liked your Facebook picture or when you get a new email. Continually updating like this requires power. In your iPhone’s settings, you can turn off this function for certain apps to save yourself some energy.
- Close unused apps: Close apps when you’re not using them to prevent them from using up your battery and processing power.
- Dim your screen brightness: Keeping your screen on requires power and increases heat generation. Even reducing your screen brightness part way can save you some battery life.
- Use low power mode: If you notice your iOS 16 device starting to get warm, turn on Low Power Mode. These settings help reduce the amount of power your iPhone consumes and extends your battery life.
- Turn off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth: Turning off power-hungry features like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and cellular signal search can help save battery life and keep your iOS 16 device cool. Consider turning these features off whenever you’re not actively using them.
- Turn on Airplane mode: Sometimes, a bad network connection can heat up your iOS 16 device while it’s searching for signal. It can happen in areas with poor network connectivity. Until you leave the area, you may want to switch to Airplane Mode to prevent [battery drain](https://iphonearena.com/how-fix-ios-16-battery-drain-problem/) and unnecessary heat generation. Of course, your iPhone’s functionality will be limited during this time, but it prevents your iPhone from shutting down entirely due to overheating.
7. Use Reputable Chargers
If your iPhone is overheating while charging, consider getting a new charging cable. Low-quality or incompatible chargers can cause charging problems that lead to iOS 16 overheating. To avoid these issues, use chargers that come directly from Apple or ones that come from a reputable third party.
8. Use Proper Charging Protocol
Are you using the right cable but still wondering why your iPhone gets hot while charging? In addition to the cable you use, the way you charge your phone can also help you prevent iOS 16 overheating. When you charge your iPhone, put it on a hard surface that doesn’t conduct heat. Charging your iPhone on a soft surface like a couch or bed is not ideal, as these surfaces will retain the heat your iPhone produces as it charges. Don’t worry about charging your iPhone overnight — this won’t cause it to overheat unless your iPhone has an underlying problem already.
9. Update iOS 16 and Apps
To get optimum performance, both the iOS and applications should be up-to-date.
Many app updates include bug fixes that can improve your phone’s efficiency, meaning they’ll use up less of your device’s energy.
To check for app updates: open the App Store and tap your profile icon. Under available updates section, tab update all.
If you are done with the app update, it is time to move your focus on updating the iOS 16. An outdated operating system can cause a lot of issues. And this could be one such issue that is making the entire system go haywire and heating the iOS 16 device.
So, if you think the iOS 16 device is still overheating, Give this one a try. It’s easy.
Navigate to the iPhone Settings and tap on General. Select Software Update.
If an update is available, tap on Download and Install.
10. Reset All Settings
Another tip to help fix iPhone overheating after iOS 16 update is to reset all settings. There is a possibility that the issue lies in the settings that you are not familiar with and hence, it would make sense to reset all of them. To do that, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset and then tap on Reset All Settings.
iPhone overheating in iOS 16? Problem fixed!
That’s it! Hopefully, your iOS 16-backed iPhone has started to behave normally and is no longer overheating like crazy. In most cases, you can prevent your iPhone from getting hot by lowering the screen brightness and keeping all your apps updated. If these basic tips don’t work out, you should never fail to reset your iPhone to factory settings to fix the problem. By the way, do you have any questions regarding this issue? If yes, make sure to let us know in the comments section below, and we will help you out.
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