Today’s smartphones pack a lot of power, which can lead to higher temperatures, especially when the device is charging. When an iPhone gets hotter than normal while plugged in, it’s generally due to incorrect settings, background activity, or external factors like a hot environment. Consider restarting your iPhone as the first step.Then, installing an iOS update can also eliminate software bugs, causing the device to heat up. Disabling unused apps and background features can also be beneficial.

Don’t forget to inspect the quality of the cable and charger as well. In addition, temperatures depend on environmental factors, such as room temperature and case material. Lastly, keeping an eye on your battery health so you know when to reach out to Apple support will help keep your iPhone safe. Finally, monitor your battery health to know when it’s time to seek professional help. Knowing how to fix an iPhone heating up while charging will help prevent lasting damage and inconvenience.

Ways to iPhone Heating Up While Charging

Try these ways to fix iPhone overheating while charging:

1: Restart the iPhone

Sometimes, a quick reboot can resolve temporary system glitches that cause overheating during charging.. Apps in the background can secretly consume power, raising your phone’s temperature.

How to restart your iPhone:

• On iPhone X and Later: Press and hold the Side and volume buttons until the power-off slider appears.
• For iPhone 8 or earlier: Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the slider appears. Slide to power off, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on.

A restart gives your iPhone a fresh beginning, which can decrease the strain on its processor while charging.

2: Update Your iPhone to the Newest iOS Version

Apple routinely offers updates that resolve software bugs, including overheating. An outdated iOS may cause the phone to get hot.

To update:

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update
• If there is an update, download and install it

Use Wi-Fi and make sure your phone has at least half of its battery, or plug it in when updating.

3: Turn Off Background Apps and Features

Many apps run in the background, consuming power, even after you’ve closed them. Facebook, location trackers, GPS, and real-time news  apps can overload your processor even when charging your iPhone.

How to Minimize Background Activity?

• Double-press the Home button (or swipe up from the bottom and pause) to view Recent Apps.
• Swipe up to remove unwanted applications

Also, go to:

• Settings > General > Background App Refresh, to refresh apps.

While charging, you can also minimize processor load by turning off Location Services, Bluetooth, and AirDrop .

4: Authorized Charging Accessories

One major cause of iPhone heating problems is the use of substandard or fake charging cables and adapters. Such accessories are typically incapable of properly controlling current flow, resulting in overheating.

Always use:

• The original cable that supports a minimum of 20W or higher
• Accessories that are MFi certified (it has a “Made for iPhone” badge)

Cheap and non-compatible accessories may save some cash initially, but can damage the device or prove unsafe.

5: Do Not Charge in a Hot Place

External temperature is a huge factor in how your iPhone charges. The device should be charged in temperatures ranging from 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F). Do not charge inside a hot car, under direct sunlight, or under a pillow because it will lock in the heat.

Best practices:

• Charge the phone on a hard, flat surface with good airflow.
• Do not place close to heat sources
• Avoid charging under blankets, beds, or with tight phone cases that trap heat.

Remove thick cases during charging to ensure heat dissipation.

6: Take Off the Case When Charging

Some phone cases, particularly thick silicone or leather, might hold heat. They provide protection, but they also insulate.

Recommendation:

• Take the case off when charging
• For everyday use, opt for a more breathable case

7: Look for Charging App Conflicts

Some apps keep running when your phone is charging. Let’s say your phone is charging overnight, and the apps are backing up to iCloud, updating, or scanning for viruses. This load leads to overheating.

To reduce it:

• Go to Settings > Battery to see which apps use the most power and adjust them to make the battery last longer

• Prevent energy-consuming apps from running in the background
• Don’t play games or watch videos on the phone while charging

8: Enable Low Power Mode

Low Power Mode is designed to help conserve battery life by switching off certain settings such as visual effects, mail fetch, and some background processes.

To activate:

• Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode

This decreases internal activity, extending how long the phone is heating up while charging.

9: Monitor Battery Health

A degraded battery might have difficulty managing its temperature and voltage when charging, which can contribute to persistent heating and other iPhone charging issues.

Check battery health:

• Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging
• If the Maximum Capacity is less than 80% or it shows “Service”, replace the battery

10: Seek Professional Help

And if, despite all troubleshooting, the phone still overheats, it could be a sign of internal damage, battery defect, or logic board issues. Seek professional iPhone repair services if:

• If the device feels unusually hot to the touch
• The screen is dimming due to heat
• The battery drains rapidly 

Experts can find the problem and recommend safe, reliable repairs.

Conclusion

First, restart your phone and look for the latest version of iOS. Then, check background apps, disable unwanted options, and only use the original or certified chargers. Also, take off thick cases and avoid overheating during charging. Tracking app usage and turning on Low Power Mode will reduce the processor burden. Finally, inspect the battery health and refrain from running heavy tasks while charging your phone. Try these fixes for iPhone heating up while charging to save the battery from long-term damage. Contact CellNTech for trustworthy phone repair and diagnostics.