Smartphones these days offer good and long-lasting battery life, but you have to charge them at some point. The smartphone heats up easily while charging and the device and charger may feel slightly warm to the touch, this is normal. This will not affect the life or performance of the device. But when your smartphone starts overheating, its internal components, including the battery can easily be damaged, affecting its life and overall phone’s lifespan. In this article, we have outlined the Seven most common reasons why a phone heats up while charging and how to stop it.
Continuous Use
One of the main reasons why your phone heats up while charging is that you are using it when it’s on a charger. Continuing to use the phone while charging may cause it to overheat. Frequent or constant use of mobile phones means that the processor has to keep working, which generates a lot of heat, which can cause the phone to rise in temperature. During charging, the battery cell is in the process of filling up its consumed juice which also generates some heat, so using your phone while charging is a great way to kill two birds with one stone, but it does more harm than good. So don’t use your phone when it’s charging, and if you have to do something important like sending a message or calling someone, unplug the phone.
Poor-Quality Charging Cable
It is normal for the phone to get a bit hotter while charging. However, if the phone heats up while charging, the charging cable (USB cable) you’re using to connect the phone’s charger is likely to be faulty. To confirm this charging, use the phone’s other charging cable and check if the phone heats up or not. If so, buy a new cable.
Faulty Charger
Chargers can cause smartphones to overheat as not all chargers are made of high quality. To test the charger, charge the phone with another charger or use a wireless charger. if your charger is found faulty, throw it away and get a new one. You can even try plugging the charger into a different socket.
Moreover, fast chargers are common nowadays, these chargers actually provide high currents and voltage to charge your smartphones to charge them quickly. This feature is very useful if you are in a hurry, but if you charge your phone overnight and don’t need a fast charger often, you should consider a non-fast/normal charger. Using it, your phone won’t heat up as this charger provides normal voltage and it’s also healthy for the battery.
Battery Condition
Another thing that can cause overheating problems on phones is the condition of your phone’s battery. A smartphone gets outdated and old, and so does its battery. If you have an old phone that has been overcharged multiple times, then surely the battery is damaged which can cause overheating issues on Android phones.
Moreover, a dead battery cannot withstand charging stress, even a moderate use heats up the phone which is not only uncomfortable but also dangerous as it can explode. So make sure your phone battery’s health is good and if not, replace it from the official store.
Internal Damage
Usually, the processor, battery, and display are the source of heat in a phone. Overheating can also be caused by internal component damage. For instance, the thermal paste between the CPU and the heatsink starts to break down, reducing the efficiency of the heatsink because not as much heat is dissipated from the processor(CPU). Moreover, dropping a phone may break an internal part and cause a short circuit or loosen the component which can result in overheating. To avoid further damage, have your phone inspected by an official service center or a professional.
Environment
Leaving your phone on the charger and exposing it to sunlight or high temperatures is another common cause of phone heating problem. Many people complain of overheating during hot seasons such as summer. It also prevents the touchscreen from working properly and can cause the battery to drain faster. So make sure to keep your phone in a cool place next time you charge it.
Phone Case
So if you have put your phone in a case to protect it, probably this is the reason for the phone heating up while charging. Most cases or covers are made of plastic and leather. The phones are insulated to protect against heat and cold. When a phone heats up, it needs to dissipate that heat, and having a case prevents it from doing that. Please remove the case/cover from the phone while charging.
See also 9 Ways to Prevent Your Phone Battery From Draining So Fast In 2023