You may have seen a notification on your iPhone saying, "Charging On Hold. Charging will resume when iPhone returns to normal temperature." There’s also a message that can be found if you tap on Settings > Battery. In this article, i’ll explain why your iPhone says charging on hold, and how to fix it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If your iPhone say’s charging on hold, stop using it and lock the screen or turn it off.
- If your iPhone is too hot, move it to a cooler place, away from direct sunlight.
- If your iPhone is too cold, move it to a warmer place.
- If you are getting this message often, contact Apple support for further help.
It is generally recommended that you do not use your iPhone if it is too hot or too cold. If you use your iPhone when the temperatures are too hot or cold, charging on hold notification will appear. Essentially, the notification states that "Charging will resume when the iPhone returns to normal temperature."
However, if the "Charging on Hold" alert constantly keeps popping up even when your device’s temperature feels normal, there’s either something wrong with your iPhone or the charger you’re using.
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to get rid of this annoying notification. Below, we’ll explore some easy fixes to help you resolve the Charging on Hold issue on your iPhone.
Why does iPhone say charging on hold?
Your iPhone might say charging on hold due to many reasons, but these are some of the most common culprits:
- Leaving your phone in direct sunlight.
- Keeping your phone in a very hot or cold environment.
- Overusing your phone when it’s charging.
What temperatures are too high or too low for iPhone?
Apple has a lot to say on the subject of heat: The iPhone (and iPad, iPod, and Apple Watch) all operate best at 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C). The company warns that it is "especially important to avoid exposing your device to ambient temperatures higher than 95° F (35° C), which can permanently damage battery capacity."
When is it too hot or cold to use or charge your iPhone?
Extreme environmental temperatures, both hot and cold, can cause an iPhone to put charging on hold. Therefore:
- Avoid using or charging your iPhone if the ambient temperature is above 35 Celsius or 95 Fahrenheit.
- Avoid using or charging your iPhone if the ambient temperature is below 0 Celsius or 32 Fahrenheit.
Always do your best to keep the iPhone within its operating temperatures of 0 to 35 degrees Celsius (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit).
When is it too hot or cold to store your iPhone?
Apple recommends keeping the device in a place where the temperature is between -4º and 113º F (-20º and 45º C). Therefore:
- You should not store your iPhone in a place where the temperature is above 45 Celsius or 113 Fahrenheit.
- You should not store your iPhone in a place where the temperature is **below -20 Celsius or -4 **
Why you might see “Charging on Hold” even in a normal temperature environment
There are situations where your iPhone may get very warm even if the temperature around it is not too high. Some activities can make your phone warm or even hot:
- 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 your phone to overheat.
- After an iOS update, tasks such as reindexing photos can consume a lot of processing power, which in turn can temporarily cause the iPhone to heat up.
- 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.
- 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.
What should you do if you see the “Charging on Hold” message?
Apple has built in a mechanism that kicks in when the iPhone gets too hot or cold, This is mentioned in Apple’s support page — What happens when an iPhone or iPad gets too hot or too cold — which notes that "charging is put on hold when your iPhone becomes too hot or too cold to charge."
If you see this message, rest assured that it is normal, and your iPhone is working to protect your battery from damage and prolong its life, and not some bug or sign that your iPhone is damaged.
If you are in a rush, there are a few things you can do to help bring your iPhone’s temperature to normal levels and get it charging again. Here’s what you should do:
- If you are using your iPhone, stop and lock the screen or shut it down.
- If your iPhone is too hot, move it to a cooler location, away from direct sunlight.
- If your iPhone is too cold, move it to a warmer location.
Don’t do some of the things I’ve seen recommended online to "fix" this issue, such as putting your iPhone into a refrigerator or freezer, or dunking it into ice or ice water. All these methods risk damaging the battery or the device (especially the device’s waterproofing).
If a Charging On Hold notification appears on your iPhone often, and it doesn’t seem right, you may want to consider contacting Apple support for further help.