Overheating is a common issue that can damage smartphones and degrade performance over time. There are several signs to look out for to determine if your phone has been damaged by overheating.
How hot is too hot for a smartphone?
Most smartphones are designed to operate at temperatures between 32°F and 95°F (0°C to 35°C). Prolonged exposure to temperatures higher than 95°F can start to cause damage to the sensitive electronics inside your phone.
As a general guideline, if your phone feels hot to the touch or is uncomfortable to hold against your face during a call, it’s probably overheated. Anytime the phone feels noticeably warm when used in an air-conditioned room, that’s a warning sign to cool it down.
What causes a smartphone to overheat?
There are several potential causes of overheating in smartphones:
- Intensive app usage – Graphics-intensive apps, multi-tasking, gaming, and streaming videos can tax the phone’s processor and cause overheating.
- Direct sunlight – Leaving your phone in direct sunlight, even for short periods.
- Charging – Using a faulty or unapproved charger and charging for extended periods when the phone is already hot.
- Poor air circulation – Blocking the phone’s cooling vents by covering it with clothes, blankets or your hand while in use.
- Malware/software issues – Downloaded apps with malware or glitches can cause excessive resource drain.
- Old, worn out battery – An aging battery may not be able to provide steady voltage/power.
Physical signs of heat damage
There are a few physical signs that can indicate heat damage to your smartphone:
- Melting/warp/discoloration – Overheating may cause noticeable melting, warping or discoloration of the phone’s casing, buttons, or ports.
- Cracked screen – The display glass or digitizer can crack from excessive heat exposure.
- Swollen battery – Heat damage can cause the battery to swell or puff up.
- Camera damage – The image sensor in the rear camera(s) can be damaged from high heat.
Severe overheating can essentially “cook” the internal electronics which leads to permanent component and logic board failures.
Performance and usability problems
In addition to physical damage, here are some of the software and performance issues that arise from phone overheating:
- Frequent app crashes/freezes – Apps start freezing and crashing more frequently as heat impacts system stability.
- Sluggish performance – Programs and functions run slower due to thermal throttling of the processor.
- Unresponsive touchscreen – The display may become temporarily unresponsive after overheating.
- Faster battery drain – Excessive heat accelerates battery consumption and chemical aging.
- Random reboots/shutdowns – Critical system errors will spontaneously reboot and power off an overheated phone.
- SD card errors – The SD memory card can become corrupted from high temps.
- Cellular network issues – Problems connecting to 4G/5G and dropped calls occur more frequently.
Diagnosing an overheated phone
If you notice any of the above signs, there are a few ways to help diagnose potential heat damage:
- Check the battery – Remove the battery (if possible) and inspect it carefully for any swelling or puffing.
- Thermal imaging – Use a thermal camera or heat sensitive stickers to map the phone’s hot spots.
- Sensor apps – Install a temperature monitoring app to record heat build-up over time.
- Monitor crashes – Note which apps frequently crash after overheating.
- Backup data – Backup important data before problems worsen.
- Inspect vents – Use a magnifying glass to check for blocked cooling vents.
A phone repair shop can run extensive hardware diagnostics to thoroughly evaluate potential heat damage and failure points if you are still uncertain.
How to keep your phone from overheating
To help prevent overheating problems, be mindful of the following tips:
- Avoid leaving your phone in hot environments like direct sunlight or a hot car.
- Don’t completely cover the phone when in use.
- Close unused apps and limit multi-tasking when the phone gets warm.
- Avoid graphics/resource-intensive apps for long periods.
- Disable background processes and location services.
- Turn off wireless chargers/fast charging once fully charged.
- Upgrade old batteries before they degrade further.
- Keep the phone’s back cover securely fastened.
- Use phone cases with adequate ventilation.
How to cool down an overheated phone
If your phone starts to get uncomfortably warm in your hand, take immediate action to cool it down:
- Put the phone in a cool, shaded place away from direct sun.
- Point a fan directly at the phone’s backside.
- Turn on Airplane mode to stop cellular data functions.
- Close power and performance draining apps.
- Remove protective case temporarily.
- Consider turning the phone completely off for 30 mins to an hour.
- Avoid cooling the phone in very cold water or the refrigerator.
Resolving any software issues contributing to overheating can also help prevent it from happening as frequently.
What to do with a phone damaged from overheating
If you have determined your phone is damaged from excessive heat exposure, here are your main options:
- DIY repair – Replace swollen batteries and damaged ports yourself using online teardown guides. Some components may not be repairable at home.
- Professional repair – Take it to a reputable repair shop for diagnosis and component level repair. However, costs may exceed the phone’s value.
- Extended warranty/insurance claim – File a claim if covered for hardware failure. Read policy details carefully.
- Trade-in/sell for parts – Sell it to recyclers who refurbish phones or harvest working parts for resale.
- Upgrade/replace – If repair costs outweigh replacement cost, shop for a new or refurbished phone.
Preventing overheating issues in your next phone should be a priority after heat damage occurs. Look for phones with robust cooling systems and monitor heat buildup closely.
Conclusion
Overheating can seriously degrade smartphones over time if left unchecked. Noticeable symptoms like a hot surface, performance lag, frequent crashing, battery swelling and physical deformation are clear indicators of heat damage. Use common sense cooling techniques, limit sun exposure and intensive app usage, and install temperature monitoring tools to keep your phone operating safely within its normal thermal limits.