Quick Answers
Putting an iPhone in the freezer is generally not recommended. Extreme cold temperatures can damage the battery, screen, and internal components. However, briefly cooling a warm iPhone in the freezer may help it run better in the short-term. There are also a few specialized scenarios where freezing an iPhone could be appropriate.
What Happens When You Put an iPhone in the Freezer?
Placing an iPhone in the freezer exposes it to temperatures far below what it is designed to withstand. Most freezers are set to 0°F (-18°C) or below. The recommended operating temperature range for an iPhone is 32°F to 95°F (0°C to 35°C). Exposing it to freezing temperatures can cause several issues:
- Battery damage – Lithium-ion batteries, like those used in iPhones, can be permanently damaged by extreme cold. This can reduce battery life and capacity.
- Screen cracks – Rapid temperature changes cause contraction and expansion that can put stress on the glass display, increasing the risk of cracks and fractures.
- Component failure – The cold can cause small integrated circuits and electronics on logic boards to stop working properly or fail altogether.
- Data loss – At very low temperatures, data storage and memory components may have issues that result in data loss or corruption.
- Moisture buildup – Condensation can form on and within the device when bringing it back to room temperature, which can cause electrical shorts and corrosion.
When Might it be Okay to Freeze an iPhone?
There are a few limited scenarios where putting an iPhone in the freezer could potentially be okay or even helpful:
- Cooling a warm iPhone – If the iPhone is very hot, a few minutes in the freezer can bring down the temperature and prevent overheating issues.
- Emergency cooling – If the processor or battery is severely overheating, a brief freeze may prevent permanent damage.
- Forensic data preservation – Freezing is sometimes used when examining iPhones to preserve data for legal/forensic purposes.
However, it is still generally risky and the benefits usually do not outweigh the potential for harm in most situations.
What to Do if an iPhone Gets Wet
If your iPhone is exposed to moisture or gets wet, do NOT put it in the freezer. Instead, follow these steps:
- Immediately power off the iPhone and avoid charging it.
- Dry the iPhone with a soft, absorbent cloth.
- Do not use rice, silica gel or other drying agents – they can get into ports and cause damage.
- Allow the iPhone to air dry completely before turning it back on.
- Do not attempt to dry with heat sources like hairdryers or ovens.
- Use moisture-absorbing packs made for electronics.
- If needed, bring the iPhone to a repair shop to assess liquid damage.
Safe Alternatives to Cooling an Overheated iPhone
If your iPhone is getting too hot, try these safe cooling methods instead of freezing:
- Turn off the iPhone and give it time to cool down on its own.
- Remove protective cases which can trap heat.
- Position the iPhone in front of a fan to improve air circulation.
- Avoid direct sunlight which can warm the device.
- Disable background app refresh and reduce screen brightness.
- Upgrade to the latest iOS version for performance improvements.
- Reset the iPhone to clear any software issues causing overheating.
Typical Freezer Temperature Ranges
Most standard freezer units maintain temperatures between the following ranges:
| Freezer Type | Temperature Range |
|---|---|
| Chest Freezer | -10°F to 10°F (-23°C to -12°C) |
| Upright Freezer | 0°F to 10°F (-18°C to -12°C) |
| Frost-Free Upright Freezer | -10°F to 10°F (-23°C to -12°C) |
Temperatures below 0°F (-18°C) pose a significant risk of freezing damage to an iPhone within minutes. Even at the warmest freezer temperatures, estimated iPhone battery life is reduced and permanent damage can still occur after just an hour or two of exposure.
Liquid Nitrogen vs Regular Freezer
Some YouTube videos show people freezing iPhones in liquid nitrogen, which is much colder than a normal freezer. Liquid nitrogen has a temperature of -320°F (-196°C). At these extremely low temperatures, an iPhone will experience almost instant freezing damage. The battery can rupture, the screen will certainly crack, and internal components will become completely unusable. There is no practical reason to freeze an iPhone in liquid nitrogen outside of experimenting for YouTube views. It will undoubtedly destroy the iPhone within seconds.
Dry Ice Temperature vs Freezer
Dry ice is sometimes used for freezing and cooling purposes as it has a temperature of -109°F (-78°C). This is significantly colder than a normal freezer. Dry ice can damage an iPhone in less than a minute. The ultra-low temperature will cause immediate battery and screen failure. And because dry ice turns directly from a solid into a gas, moisture is more likely to build up inside the iPhone when it starts warming up, leading to corrosion. Do not use dry ice to cool an iPhone.
Does Freezing Kill Bacteria on an iPhone?
Freezing temperatures can reduce bacteria growth, but may not completely kill all bacteria on an iPhone. Ultra-low temperatures are sometimes used in laboratory settings for cold sterilization procedures. However, a normal household freezer will not get cold enough to fully sterilize an iPhone. Freezing also does not remove dirt, oils, and other contaminants on the device. Additionally, condensation formed during the thawing process can promote bacterial growth. Cleaning your iPhone regularly with 70% isopropyl alcohol is a safer and more effective disinfecting method.
Can You Charge an iPhone in the Freezer?
You should never charge an iPhone while it is in the freezer. Charging a lithium-ion battery at freezing temperatures can cause permanent damage. The battery may swell, leak, or even catch fire. Additionally, many standard iPhone chargers are not designed to properly function at sub-zero temperatures. Only charge your iPhone within the approved 32°F to 95°F (0°C to 35°C) temperature range for optimal safety and performance.
Does Freezing Boost iPhone Performance?
There is no evidence that freezing boosts iPhone performance. In fact, the extreme cold is more likely to slow down processor speeds and cause system instability. Any perceived short-term boost in speed after freezing is likely due to the phone cooling down from an overheated state initially. This brief cooling effect can be achieved much more safely by powering off the iPhone and allowing it to rest at room temperature before turning it back on.
Can You Freeze a Wet iPhone to Save It?
You should never freeze a wet iPhone in hopes of saving it. As explained above, moisture plus freezing temperatures can lead to condensation buildup within the device during the thawing process. This greatly amplifies the risk of corrosion, electrical shorts, and permanent damage. Always follow proper water damage procedures of powering off, drying with absorbent cloths, allowing to fully air dry, and seeking professional help if needed.
Does an iPhone Work in Sub-Zero Temperatures?
iPhones are not optimized to function in sub-zero temperatures below 32°F (0°C). You may experience issues like:
- Decreased battery life and faster power drain
- Sluggish processor performance
- Slow screen responsiveness and ghost touches
- Glitchy cameras and blurred photos
- Touch ID and Face ID malfunctions
- Cellular and GPS connectivity problems
While iPhones can temporarily handle very cold conditions, it is best to avoid exposing them to extreme sub-zero temperatures when possible.
Does Freezing Destroy Data on an iPhone?
It is very unlikely that freezing alone will destroy user data on an iPhone. iOS is designed to detect and prevent data loss from unexpected shutdowns. However, freezing may corrupt some data. Additionally, condensation from thawing may damage electronic storage components. For guaranteed data destruction, proper data wiping or physical destruction is recommended. Do not rely on freezing to destroy sensitive iPhone data.
Can You Freeze an iPhone to Get Out of a Contract?
Some internet blogs mention freezing an iPhone to purposefully damage it so your wireless carrier will let you out of the service contract and upgrade early. However, this technique is not recommended for a few reasons:
- It may constitute insurance fraud if you file a damage claim after intentionally freezing the phone.
- The damage may only be cosmetic and still usable, not qualifying for early upgrade.
- Carriers have become wise to freezing tricks and may deny the upgrade request.
- You will need to purchase a new phone at full price without any carrier subsidies.
- Early termination fees may still apply even after device damage.
Instead, check your contract terms for the early upgrade policy, which often allows upgrades after 12-24 months. Or request your carrier to unlock the iPhone so you can switch providers. Freezing the iPhone is an unreliable method with potential legal risks.
Conclusion
While briefly cooling a warm iPhone in the freezer may help in some instances, prolonged freezing can damage batteries, screens, and components. Moisture during the thawing process also poses risks. There are very limited justifiable reasons for an iPhone to be in a freezer outside of specialized forensic and data recovery needs. Maintain your iPhone within its recommended temperature range and avoid the freezer unless absolutely necessary. If you must freeze it, limit exposure to no more than a few minutes at a time.