It’s common for Samsung Galaxy phones to get warm or hot during normal use. There are several potential reasons why your Galaxy may be heating up.
Using Resource-Intensive Apps
Apps that use more processing power, like 3D games, navigation apps, or video streaming can cause your phone to get hotter. This is because they utilize more of your phone’s CPU, GPU, RAM, and battery to function properly. The more resources an app needs, the more heat it will generate.
Here are some of the most common resource-intensive apps that can heat up your Galaxy:
- 3D games like Fortnite, PUBG, Asphalt 9
- Navigation apps like Google Maps, Waze
- Video streaming apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu
- Social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat
- Messaging apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram
- Video calling apps like FaceTime, Skype, Google Duo
The longer you use these types of apps, the hotter your phone will get. Try closing out of them when your phone starts getting uncomfortably warm.
Bright Display Settings
Having your screen brightness set high for extended periods can also heat up your Galaxy. The display is one of the most power-hungry components on a smartphone.
Try lowering your Galaxy’s screen brightness or enabling auto-brightness to reduce the display’s power draw and lighten the load on your phone’s processor.
Direct Sunlight Exposure
Exposing your Galaxy to direct sunlight for too long, such as when leaving it in a hot car, can cause it to overheat. The internal components are designed to operate at normal ambient temperatures.
High external temperatures from sunlight can heat up the battery and internal chips beyond their regular operating limits. Avoid leaving your phone in direct sunlight for a prolonged period.
Charging Your Phone
It’s normal for your Galaxy to get slightly warm when charging or fast charging the battery. This is due to the expected power transfer and conversion processes that generate heat.
However, using worn or damaged chargers or cables can interrupt the charging circuit and cause excess heat buildup. Use only undamaged, manufacturer-approved charging accessories.
Normal Wear and Tear
As your Galaxy ages and its components naturally degrade, it may start running hotter with normal use. The internal chips and battery become less efficient at power management.
Excessive chipset throttling from performance restrictions can also lead to overheating over time. This heating gradually worsens until it’s apparent during regular usage.
Faulty Apps
Some apps may have coding flaws or bugs that cause them to mismanage resources and heat up your Galaxy abnormally. If closing an app immediately cools down your phone, that app could be faulty.
Try uninstalling and reinstalling the suspect app. Check for app updates from the developer that could contain optimization fixes.
Software Updates
Major Android OS updates or Samsung firmware updates can sometimes inadvertently introduce new bugs that affect your phone’s performance and heating.
If your Galaxy started overheating after a major update, try waiting for subsequent maintenance updates that may address underlying issues. You can also try a factory reset after backing up data.
Wireless Charging
Wireless charging generates more heat than wired charging methods. The inductive wireless charging coil heats up significantly to transmit charge to your Galaxy’s internal coil.
Using fast wireless chargers can dramatically increase coil heating. Stick to 5W or 10W wireless chargers and avoid wireless charging your phone in warm environments.
Damaged Battery
If your Galaxy’s battery has become physically damaged or swollen from extensive wear, it may start overheating during operation or charging. A damaged battery has reduced efficiency and impaired heat dissipation.
Avoid charging or using a phone with a damaged battery, as it poses a potential fire risk. Have an authorized service center inspect and replace the battery.
Poor Ventilation
Blocking your Galaxy’s internal heat vents can trap heat inside and raise internal temperatures. This can happen when using thick phone cases or covering the vents.
Ensure your phone isn’t tightly sealed off from adequate airflow. Don’t place it against soft surfaces that may block the vents.
Heavy Multitasking
Running many apps simultaneously taxes your Galaxy’s RAM, processor, and internal storage. Having many apps open in the background while doing other tasks inevitably heats up your phone.
Close background apps you aren’t using and avoid unnecessary multitasking to lighten the load on your system resources.
Gaming While Charging
The combination of gaming, which uses maximum processing power, and charging your battery generates significant amounts of heat. Both processes produce heat separately.
Avoid prolonged gaming sessions while charging your Galaxy. The dual heat sources can overload the phone’s temperature regulation.
Third-Party Accessories
Using generic, low-quality accessories like batteries, chargers, covers or cables that aren’t optimized for your Galaxy can disrupt airflow or the phone’s carefully calibrated heat parameters.
Stick to branded Samsung-approved accessories designed specifically for your Galaxy model to avoid potential overheating issues.
How to Keep Your Galaxy from Overheating
Here are some tips to prevent your Galaxy from overheating and keep it running cool:
- Close resource-intensive apps when not in use
- Lower screen brightness
- Avoid direct sunlight exposure
- Use original Samsung charger and cable
- Update to latest software
- Use lower wattage wireless chargers
- Replace damaged batteries
- Don’t fully block heat vents
- Limit multitasking
- Don’t game while charging
- Use Samsung-approved accessories
When to Be Concerned About Overheating
Slight warmth during normal use is expected, but you should be concerned if:
- Your Galaxy feels hot to the touch
- It starts getting hot while idle
- You notice heat-related slowdowns
- You get overheating warning messages
- It feels uncomfortable holding the phone
Consistent overheating can degrade the battery faster over time. Prolonged exposure to high heat can damage internal components and disrupt performance. Overheating could also indicate an underlying hardware issue.
What to Do If Your Galaxy Is Overheating
If your Galaxy is overheating, follow these steps:
- Close all apps and turn off the display
- Power down the device and let it cool off
- Move it away from any heat sources or direct sunlight
- Remove the phone case if you’re using one
- Try charging with the original Samsung cable and charger
- Boot the device in safe mode and monitor heat
- Check for software updates and install them
- Try a factory data reset as a last resort
Avoid using your Galaxy until it cools down to a normal temperature. Seek repairs if it keeps overheating despite troubleshooting. Get the battery replaced immediately if swollen or damaged.
How to Prevent Your Galaxy from Overheating
Here are some best practices to avoid overheating your Galaxy:
- Don’t leave your phone in hot environments like cars
- Close unused apps and limit multitasking
- Use lower screen brightness levels
- Don’t stack phone cases or block vents
- Clean out dust buildup gently with compressed air
- Install all current software updates
- Avoid prolonged heavy usage during charging
- Replace an aged or swollen battery
- Use a lower wattage Samsung charger
- Keep the phone adequately cooled during wireless charging
Following phone cooling best practices will help prevent Galaxy overheating in most scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Galaxy get hot while charging?
It’s normal for your Galaxy to get slightly warm while charging due to the expected power transfer and battery charging processes. Using worn charging accessories or cables can interfere with charging and cause excess heat buildup.
Can overheating damage my Galaxy?
Yes, consistent overheating can degrade the battery faster and damage internal components like the processor or motherboard over time, leading to performance issues or hardware failure.
Is it safe to use my Galaxy while it’s hot?
It’s best to avoid using your Galaxy until it cools down to normal temperatures. Continued use when overheating can worsen any underlying issues. Damaged batteries pose a fire risk if used while hot.
Why does my Galaxy get hot when playing games?
Gaming uses maximum processing power for long periods, which inevitably heats up the processor and GPU. This effect gets amplified if you game while charging the battery as both processes generate significant heat.
How can I tell if my Galaxy is overheating?
Warning signs of overheating include the phone feeling hot to the touch, getting hot while idle, heat-related slowdowns or crashes, warning messages about temperature, and discomfort holding the hot device.
What temperature is considered overheating?
There is no absolute threshold, but most Galaxy models should remain below 113°F (45°C) under load. Sustained temperatures above 122°F (50°C) qualify as overheating.
Can a faulty app cause overheating?
Yes, apps with bugs or coding flaws can sometimes mismanage system resources, leading to atypical overheating. Try uninstalling and reinstalling suspect apps. Check for app updates that address heating issues.
The Bottom Line
It’s common for Samsung Galaxy phones to get warm with normal use, especially when charging or running demanding apps. However, consistent or excessive overheating could signify underlying hardware problems.
Use best practices to keep your Galaxy cool, such as closing unused apps, lowering brightness, and avoiding heat sources. Promptly troubleshoot if you notice signs of abnormal overheating. Preventative care will help extend your Galaxy’s lifespan.