If your iPhone is overheating while charging, you’re definitely not alone. One minute you plug it in like normal, and the next your phone feels oddly hot, the screen dims, charging slows down, or you even get that scary temperature warning pop-up. It’s annoying, stressful, and honestly… it makes you wonder if your battery is about to give up on life.
I’ve dealt with this more times than I want to admit. I think the first time it happened, I panicked and unplugged everything immediately like my iPhone was about to explode 😅. In my opinion, iPhone overheating is one of those “small problem” issues that can quickly feel like a huge one—especially if you rely on your phone daily. But the good news is: most overheating while charging situations are fixable, and you don’t need to be a tech genius to handle it.
So don’t worry—this guide is going to walk you through the real causes, the best fixes, and what you should absolutely avoid doing when your iPhone gets hot while charging. By the end, you’ll know exactly what’s happening and how to get your phone charging safely again.
Why iPhones Get Hot While Charging (And When It’s “Normal”)
Before you go full panic-mode, let’s clear something up:
It’s normal for an iPhone to get slightly warm while charging—especially if:
- You’re using a fast charger
- You’re charging from a very low percentage (like 1–10%)
- You’re charging while using it
- Your room is warm or humid
Charging creates heat because power is flowing into the battery, and the battery is doing chemical work. A little warmth is normal.
But here’s the difference:
✅ Normal warmth: Slight heat near the back of the phone, no warnings, charging continues normally.
🚫 Overheating: The phone feels hot to touch, charging slows/stops, screen dims, or you get a temperature alert.
If your iPhone gets hot hot, we’re dealing with something else—and we’ll fix it.
Common Causes of iPhone Overheating While Charging
Let’s go through the most common reasons this happens. In many cases, it’s not one big issue—it’s a combination of small ones.
Low-Quality or Damaged Charging Cable
If your cable is:
- frayed
- bent near the connector
- loose when plugged in
- not Apple-certified
…it can cause unstable power flow, which means extra heat.
Even if it still charges, it may be doing it inefficiently, and that inefficiency turns into heat.
Key takeaway: A bad cable can literally make your iPhone work harder just to charge normally.
Cheap or Overpowered Charger Brick
Not all chargers are created equal. A low-quality adapter may deliver inconsistent voltage, and a super high-power adapter can push your device harder than needed.
If you’re using a fast charger (like 20W or higher), it’s usually fine—but if it’s a random no-name brand, that’s where problems start.
Pro tip: Stick with Apple or trusted brands (Anker, Belkin, UGREEN, etc.).
Charging While Using Heavy Apps
This is one of the biggest reasons, and people forget it all the time.
If you’re charging and doing things like:
- gaming
- using TikTok/Instagram reels for 30 minutes
- video calling
- editing videos
- using GPS navigation
your iPhone is doing two heat-producing tasks at once:
✅ charging the battery
✅ running high-performance processes
That’s why you’ll notice the phone heats up way faster.
Phone Case Trapping Heat
Some cases are basically heat blankets.
Thick silicone, leather, rugged cases, or cases with extra layers can trap warmth inside the phone while it charges.
If your iPhone overheats mostly while charging inside the case, this might be your main culprit.
Environmental Temperature
Charging in hot environments is a recipe for overheating, like:
- inside a car in summer
- near sunlight hitting your desk
- near a heater
- on a warm bed blanket
Apple devices are designed to work best between 0° and 35°C (32° to 95°F). If your environment is already hot, charging heat pushes it over the limit.
Background Activity (Even When You Think It’s “Idle”)
Your iPhone may look like it’s doing nothing, but behind the scenes it may be:
- syncing photos to iCloud
- downloading an iOS update
- restoring from backup
- running location services
- indexing after an update
That background workload can turn normal charging into overheating.
Battery Health Issues (Aging Battery)
If your battery is older or worn out, it can generate more heat during charging.
Signs your battery may be contributing:
- battery drains fast
- phone shuts down randomly
- battery health is low
- charging is inconsistent
A degraded battery has higher internal resistance, which means more heat during charging.
Fast Charging + Wireless Charging Issues
Wireless charging is convenient, but it’s also less efficient, which means it produces more heat.
If your iPhone is overheating on wireless charging, the cause could be:
- misalignment on the pad
- thicker case
- cheap wireless charger
- using phone while charging
- warmer room temperature
Fast + wireless = heat combo.
What to Do Immediately If Your iPhone Overheats While Charging
If your iPhone feels genuinely hot, do this first.
Quick Safety Checklist
- Unplug it immediately
- Stop using it for a few minutes
- Remove the case (if it’s thick)
- Put it somewhere cool and shaded
- Wait until it cools down before charging again
⚠️ Don’t put your iPhone in the fridge/freezer.
That sudden temperature change can cause internal moisture and damage components.
IMO, the best move is simple: unplug and let it breathe.
Step-by-Step Fixes for iPhone Overheating While Charging
Now let’s get practical. Here are the most effective fixes, in the order I recommend.
1) Switch to a Different Charging Cable
Your cable is the easiest thing to test.
✅ Try:
- an Apple cable
- an MFi-certified Lightning cable (Made for iPhone)
If you swap the cable and overheating stops… congrats, you found the problem.
Quick tip: Check the cable ends for dust, burn marks, or discoloration.
2) Use a Trusted Charger Brick
If you’re using a random charger, replace it with something reliable.
✅ Best options:
- Apple 20W USB-C adapter
- high-quality third-party adapters from trusted brands
Even if the adapter “works,” unstable power delivery can create heat.
3) Clean the Charging Port
This is underrated and surprisingly common.
Dust or lint in the charging port can cause:
- loose connection
- repeated reconnecting
- inefficient charging
- overheating
Safe cleaning steps:
- Power off your iPhone
- Use a dry wooden toothpick or soft anti-static brush
- Gently remove lint (don’t force it)
- Try charging again
⚠️ Don’t use metal pins. Don’t spray water or liquids.
4) Stop Fast Charging (Temporarily)
Fast charging creates more heat naturally.
If overheating keeps happening, test this:
- Switch to a lower-watt adapter (5W–12W)
- Charge slowly for 1–2 days
- See if overheating disappears
If slow charging stays cool, the issue may be:
- your adapter
- the cable quality
- environmental temperature
- internal battery condition
5) Avoid Using Your iPhone While It Charges
Yes, this one is boring… but it works.
Try this simple test:
- Plug your phone in
- Lock the screen
- Leave it alone for 20 minutes
If it stays cool, the heat was likely caused by usage while charging.
If it still overheats even when idle, keep going down the list.
6) Turn On Low Power Mode While Charging
Low Power Mode reduces background tasks and CPU power.
Steps:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Battery
- Turn on Low Power Mode
This is a simple trick, and FYI it can noticeably reduce heat on older iPhones.
7) Disable Background App Refresh
Background activity can cause heating even with the screen off.
Steps:
- Open Settings
- Go to General
- Tap Background App Refresh
- Set it to Off (or Wi-Fi only)
This reduces hidden tasks during charging.
8) Check iPhone Battery Health
This is a big one.
Steps:
- Go to Settings
- Tap Battery
- Tap Battery Health & Charging
Look for:
- Maximum Capacity
- Peak Performance Capability
If your maximum capacity is below 80%, overheating during charging becomes more likely.
Key point: An aging battery can generate extra heat and charge inefficiently.
9) Turn Off Optimized Battery Charging (As a Test)
Optimized Battery Charging helps reduce long-term battery aging, but sometimes it can cause weird charging patterns.
To test:
- Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging
- Toggle Optimized Battery Charging off
- Charge normally for a day and observe heat
If your phone charges more smoothly, you can decide whether to keep it on or off.
10) Update iOS (Yes, It Matters)
Software bugs can cause overheating, especially after major updates.
Steps:
- Settings
- General
- Software Update
- Install any available update
Apple often fixes thermal and battery management issues silently in updates.
11) Reset Settings (Not Full Reset)
If overheating started after a settings change or glitch, try this.
Steps:
- Settings → General
- Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Reset → Reset All Settings
This won’t erase your photos or apps, but it resets network, location, keyboard, and system settings.
12) Try a Different Wall Outlet or Charging Source
Sometimes the issue isn’t the phone—it’s the power source.
Test charging from:
- another wall socket
- a different power strip
- a different room outlet
Avoid unstable power sources if possible.
Wireless Charging Overheating Fixes (If That’s Your Issue)
If your iPhone overheats mainly on wireless charging, do this:
- Remove your case and try again
- Ensure the phone is centered properly on the pad
- Use a higher-quality wireless charger
- Don’t charge on a soft surface (bed/couch)
- Avoid using your phone while wirelessly charging
Wireless charging = convenience, but heat is a common downside.
Things You Should NOT Do (Even If You’re Tempted)
Here are a few “please don’t do this” moments:
- ❌ Don’t charge your iPhone under a pillow or blanket
- ❌ Don’t use the phone while it’s super hot
- ❌ Don’t use damaged cables “until you buy a new one”
- ❌ Don’t force it to charge if it keeps stopping
- ❌ Don’t cool it with ice, freezer air, or extreme temperature changes
If you keep forcing a hot device to charge, you risk long-term battery damage.
When Overheating Is a Sign of a Bigger Problem
Most overheating issues are fixable with charger swaps and better habits. But sometimes it’s a bigger issue.
Warning signs to take seriously
- iPhone overheats even when not charging
- temperature warning appears repeatedly
- battery drains extremely fast
- phone shuts off randomly
- charging port smells burnt or looks dark
- battery is swollen (screen lifting)
If you notice anything like that, it’s time to stop experimenting and get professional help.
Best Charging Habits to Prevent Overheating Long-Term
Once you fix it, here’s how to keep it from returning.
Smart charging habits
- Use Apple or certified chargers
- Avoid charging while gaming or video calling
- Charge on a hard surface (not bed/couch)
- Remove thick cases if your phone runs hot
- Keep your phone away from sunlight while charging
- Don’t let it constantly hit 0% before charging
Bonus tip: If you want your battery to last years, keep it between 20% and 80% most of the time.
Quick Troubleshooting Summary (Fast Checklist)
If you want the short version, here it is:
- Unplug and cool the phone
- Swap cable
- Swap adapter
- Clean charging port
- Turn on Low Power Mode
- Avoid using the phone while charging
- Disable background refresh
- Check battery health
- Update iOS
- Test wireless vs wired charging
If overheating still happens after all this, it’s likely battery-related or hardware-related.
FAQ
Why does my iPhone overheat only when charging?
Because charging naturally creates heat, and any extra load—like fast charging, background tasks, bad cables, or a thick case—adds more heat. If your iPhone is overheating only during charging, it usually points to a charging accessory issue, environment heat, or battery aging.
Is it dangerous if my iPhone gets hot while charging?
Slight warmth is normal, but strong heat is not. If your iPhone becomes too hot, it may slow charging or stop charging to protect itself. Repeated overheating can degrade the battery faster, so yes—it’s something you should fix instead of ignoring.
Can using a fast charger cause overheating?
Yes, fast chargers can make your iPhone warmer because they push more power into the battery quickly. This is usually safe with Apple or certified chargers, but cheap or unstable adapters can cause excessive heat.
Why does my iPhone heat up more on wireless charging?
Wireless charging is less efficient than wired charging, so it naturally produces more heat. Misalignment on the charging pad, thick cases, and using the phone while charging wirelessly can increase heat even further.
When should I replace my iPhone battery due to overheating?
If your battery health is under 80%, your phone overheats often, or charging becomes inconsistent, a battery replacement can help a lot. If you also notice random shutdowns or very fast battery drain, the battery is likely contributing to the problem and should be checked professionally.
