Is your cell phone heating up in this heat? Here’s how you can cool it down and what to avoid

Why does the mobile phone overheat at all?

The main culprit for overheating is often a combination of external and internal factors. Leaving a mobile phone in direct sunlight, for example on a beach or car dashboard, drastically increases its temperature. At the same time, internal heat is generated by the intensive work of the processor. Playing graphics demanding games, watching videos for a long time or using GPS navigation forces the device to work at full power, which generates heat. The charging process also heats up the battery, and the problem is exacerbated if the device is used while charging. Thicker protective masks can act as an insulator and retain heat, making natural cooling difficult.

What are the consequences and how does the device react?

When a mobile phone overheats, its system takes protective measures. The first sign is a significant slowdown, known as “thermal throttling”, because the device deliberately reduces the power of the processor. The screen may dim automatically, charging may be paused, and the flash may become unavailable. If the temperature continues to rise, a warning may appear on the screen, and the device may temporarily shut down. Although these reactions are temporary, prolonged exposure to heat has the worst consequences for the battery. Heat permanently reduces its capacity and drastically shortens its life, which means that you will have to charge it a lot more often.

Quick cooling tips

If you notice that your mobile phone is hotć to touch, react quickly. Stop using it, especially for demanding applications. Immediately remove it from direct sunlight to a cooler and shady place. Remove the protective mask so that the housing can release the accumulated heat more easily. To further reduce the load, reduce the brightness of the screen to a minimum and activate the airplane mode, which turns off all wireless connections. If it is connected to a charger, turn it off. However, the most important warning is that you should never put an overheated mobile phone in a refrigerator or freezer. A sudden temperature shock can cause condensation of moisture inside the device and lead to a short circuit and irreparable damage.