Some iPhone users are experiencing overheating issue after iOS 17 update. Here’s how to fix the problem if that includes you.
I’m hearing from a number of readers and friends who are seeing — and feeling — their iPhones overheat since installing iOS 17 update.
And it seems pretty widespread, with a lot of chatter about it on social media and on Apple’s own support forum.
The issue is particularly prevalent on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models, although social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Reddit suggest that the software affects older models as well—including the iPhone 13, iPhone 12, and iPhone 11, among others.
An iPhone should not get hot under normal use. If it’s getting so, you have a problem. However, don’t interpret warm as hot. An iPhone feeling slightly warm after playing a game for 15 minutes or so is completely normal.
If your iPhone become physically hot to the touch and the battery drains in a few hours with little to no usage, there is a problem.
The iPhone’s sensors warn you long before it gets to a dangerous or damaging temperature, and the iPhone is designed to dissipate heat.
You may get a temperature warning when your device exceeds the temperature limit, saying, ”iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it.” At that point, your iPhone is inoperative until it cools off, except for emergency calls.
An iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update is a serious problem, because it can slow down or even stop working completely. It can also result in permanent damage in some instances. And then you may have to replace your battery or get a brand new phone, and that requires spending money — even with insurance.
Why does my iPhone get hot after iOS 17 update?
Here are the most common reasons behind iOS 17 overheating issues:
1. Background Updates
A lot goes on during and after installing an update, and iOS 17 has no exception. Tasks such as reindexing files, photos, and other background updates can consume a lot of processing power, so you’ll feel that the iPhone is overheating in iOS 17.
2. Excessive usage
If you are using your iPhone for heavy processing tasks like playing high-end games, streaming, using graphics-intensive applications, or recording videos for an extended period, this can cause iOS 17 overheating issue.
3. Malfunctioning apps
Apps that have not been optimized to work with iOS 17 will make the iPhone use more power than necessary. This could result in the iPhone overheating, even when not directly using the app.
4. Poor signal or heavy data use
If you’re in a location with poor signal, your iPhone has to work harder to maintain a connection, which can cause it to overheat. Similarly, continuous data use, like streaming videos, downloading large files, or creating/restoring from backups can also cause iOS 17 overheating issue.
5. Charging issues
Using your iPhone while it’s charging, or charging it with a non-Apple charger that doesn’t comply with Apple’s safety standards, can cause it to overheat. Wireless charging causes more heat to be produced than using a cable.
6. Physical environment
Extreme environmental temperatures, both hot and cold, can cause an iPhone to overheat. Apple advises avoiding the use of the device when temperatures are outside of the range of 0 to 35 degrees Celsius (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit).
Leaving your iPhone in a car is particularly problematic because the car’s interior can easily exceed this range when left in the hot sun.
7. Phone cases
iPhones dissipate the heat into their surroundings through the back shell, and putting a case over the iPhone can interfere with this heat dissipation.
8. Damaged battery
Over time, batteries can degrade or even become damaged. If your iPhone’s battery is swollen or damaged, it can cause overheating.
How to fix iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update problem
You can do a few things when your iPhone is overheating after iOS 17 update. There are also a few steps to remember to avoid this problem in the future.
Before you start troubleshooting, it’s worked noting that iOS 17 overheating issues may be caused by multiple factors, so you need to try several methods at the same time. With that in mind, here’s how to fix iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update issue:
1. Wait for the iPhone to finish its background tasks
It’s normal for an iPhone to get hot following the installation of an iOS update.
iPhones need to carry out a number of tasks in the background in the aftermath of an update. This causes the iPhone to feel warm.
Those housekeeping processes that happen after installing an update can take days to complete.
When you find iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update, my advice is to use the phone for a few days normally and chances are the temperature will return to normal levels once all these extra tasks have been completed.
If problems persist then it’s likely a bug in the update and the solution is going to have to come from Apple in the form of another update.
2. Lower the screen brightness
Having your iPhone’s brightness at maximum can cause iOS 17 overheating issue.
Simply launch the Control center on your iPhone and use the slider to lower the screen brightness.
3. Turn off Bluetooth and other services
When you find iPhone overheating in iOS 17, you can disable some settings to return the temperature back to normal.
Bluetooth requires constant resources from your iPhone, whether it’s searching for a device or staying paired.
To turn off Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off.
To turn off cellular data, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular data and toggle it off.
To disable personal hotspot, go to Settings > Personal hotspot and toggling it off.
To disable AirDrop, go to Settings > General > AirDrop > Receiving off.
4. Turn off background refresh
Apple’s Background Refresh feature lets apps that you aren’t actively using and haven’t yet closed out check for updates and new content.
This background activity could be the cause of iOS 17 overheating issue. To turn it off, go into your iPhone Settings, then tap General followed by Background App Refresh. Tap the name of the feature again, located at the top of that screen, and then choose Off.
5. Keep your iPhone away from hot environment
Your iPhone might be fine in the grass on an overcast day, but the warmer the temperature, the less your phone can withstand the sun. At the beach, your iPhone can overheat in just a few minutes in the sun. Same if you put it in a sunny spot in your car.
Instead, get your iPhone out of the direct light, whether it’s in your pocket, inside a backpack or under a towel/blanket or dashboard. Anyplace that will keep it away from sunlight will work.
It’s fairly easy to protect your phone from the sun, but high temperatures alone can also cause your iPhone to overheat. After only an hour, the inside of a car can reach 143 degrees when it’s 100 degrees outside, for example, so a phone left in your cup holder could quickly overheat and get damaged. The short answer: Don’t **keep your iPhone in a hot environment for an extended period of time, even if it’s not in direct sunlight. **That includes your car, a sauna, the kitchen, the middle of the desert or anywhere near a fire.
Your iPhone’s optimal internal temperature should be somewhere between 32º and 95º F (0º and 35º C). To prevent overheating, Apple recommends keeping the device in a place where the temperature is between -4º and 113º F (-20º and 45º C).
6. Slow down on your iPhone usage
The less your phone is doing, the less its processor has to run, the less of a chance it’ll grow too hot inside.
Do you really need to play graphics-intensive games on your iPhone? Do you really need to stream 4K or HDR video? Or only listen to lossless music? Try downgrading to a lower-quality version. You’ll likely not even notice the difference.
Also avoid using graphics- or processor-intensive apps when your iPhone is charging. That includes massive mobile video games like PUBG Mobile or streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu.
If there are other devices at your disposal that do the same thing — like a PC or game console — use them instead so you don’t overheat your phone.
7. Shut down all unnecessary running apps
Having multiple processes running simultaneously makes your iPhone work harder and feel hotter.
Simply shut down all unnecessary running apps on your phone (preferably all of them) to solve the iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update issue.
Double-click your iPhone’s Home button (for the iPhone SE (second generation)) and newer or swipe from the bottom (iPhone XR and newer) to access and scroll through all open apps. Then, swipe upward to close them.
8. Update your iPhone system software and apps
Both iOS and apps should be up to date for optimal performance.
Outdated iPhone software can cause an overloaded CPU, resulting in overheating.
Similarly, apps that haven’t been optimized to work with iOS 17 can overload the processor and cause heat buildup.
Update iOS and all the apps you run, as updates often deliver critical security patches and improved functionality.
To check for iOS update, go to General >Software Update.
To update the apps, go to the App Store and tap your photo in the top right-hand corner. Scroll down and see if there are any app updates available.
9. Use a quality charger and cable
It is normal for your iPhone to warm up a little while charging, but if your handset feels hot to the touch, there’s something wrong.
A cheaply designed charger could cause your iPhone to overheat. Make sure you use an Apple-certified charger and cable. While there are many iPhone chargers out there, few are MFi certified or fully support the handset.
10. Restart your iPhone
If your iPhone is running hot after iOS 17 update, perform a force restart. Turn your iPhone off entirely and then turn it back on again. A force restart halts power from the iPhone’s battery, allowing you to reset your iPhone.
Press and quickly release the Volume up button, press and quickly release the _Volume down_button, then press and hold the _Side button_until the Apple logo appears.
11. Don’t charge your iPhone
Logic dictates that if your iPhone is too hot, then adding an electrical charge to it will simply do harm than good. So, if you find your iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update, please do not charge it until it cools down.
If your iPhone is getting hot while charging, immediately unplug it. Charging can make your phone a little warm, but if it feels hot to the touch, you should unplug it.
Look to see if your charging cable might be damaged. If your cable is faulty, throw it away and get a new one. Even if the cable doesn’t look damaged, it may be a good idea to replace it anyway. They don’t cost much, and it’s better than having a completely ruined iPhone.
Also, ensure that the Lightning port is clean and free of any dirt or lint. Any piled-up lint or debris may prevent the charger from working properly, resulting in overheating.
If you notice overheating when you are wirelessly charging your iPhone, you should consider adopting a wired charger instead. Wirelessly charging your iPhone will generate latent heat as the process loses its efficiency in the form of heat. Some wireless chargers come with a cooling fan to reduce this issue, but often, that alone will not be enough. So expect the heat to be a byproduct of wireless charging, and switch to wired charging.
12. Remove the iPhone from the case
The iPhone disperses heat through its metal frame, but a case can prevent your iPhone from releasing heat. Check to make sure the case on your iPhone isn’t causing the overheating.
Remove the case from your iPhone and test for a day or two. If the overheating stops, try a lighter case.
13. Use low-power mode
In low-power mode, the iPhone uses less energy and only carries out essential functions, thus saving battery life while the phone runs cooler. Your iPhone produces less heat when the battery discharges more slowly.
Go to Settings > Battery and toggle on Low power mode.
You can also access the setting from Control Center. Set that up from Settings > Control center, then select Low power mode to add it to Control Center.
14. Turn on Airplane mode
Being constantly connected to the internet can be the source of the overheating issue you’re experiencing. Your iPhone constantly communicates with the internet in the background if it is connected to Wi-Fi. That connection uses a lot of power, even if you’re not using your iPhone.
Similarly, if hen you’re in an area with no cellular coverage or a low signal, your iPhone is consuming plenty of power looking for a signal or trying to connect.
If that’s the case, turn on Airplane mode to quickly fix iOS 17 overheating issue.
Swipe down from the top right of your phone and tap the Airplane icon.
15. Reset your iPhone
If your iPhone is still overheating after iOS 17 update, the last troubleshooting step you can try yourself is resetting it. If you have an iCloud backup, you can have the phone back up and running in no time. But you may very well end up restoring the very cause of the problem in the first place. So perhaps a fresh install is required?
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content & Settings and follow the onscreen instructions.
16. Get the battery changed
If the iPhone is still overheating after all this effort, it’s likely a hardware problem. The Apple Genius employees. Any Apple store or licensed Apple repair shop will be able to swap out the battery for you.
Of course, this is assuming that the battery is the cause of overheating issue. But as with the charging cable, buying a new battery is better than buying a new phone. If the iPhone is still under warranty, it will likely not cost you anything at all.
Bottom line
Keep in mind that iPhones, despite being miniature computers, don’t have the same cooling systems that computers do. If your iPhone is getting too hot, sometimes it needs help to get back to a normal temperature.
One of the most rapid ways to cool down an iPhone is to turn it off completely and let it come down to normal temperature naturally. Don’t put your iPhone in the fridge or freezer or run it under cold water, but you can try holding it up to a fan or near air conditioning to speed up the cooling process.
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Hopefully, these troubleshooting steps will help you fix iPhone overheating after iOS 17 update issue.
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