21/05/2025
Nicole Newton

How to keep your phone cool in summer: tips to beat the heat

Summer’s here, and while you’re busy enjoying the sun, your phone might be feeling the burn too!

If you’ve ever asked Google “how to cool down my phone” or wondered “why is my phone overheating”, you’re in the right place. Overheating can slow down performance, drain your battery and even damage your device long-term – so it’s worth learning how to avoid this where possible!

Whether you’re searching for tips on how to cool down phone models or are just wondering ‘why does my phone get hot’, we’ve got you covered with 9 simple tricks to keep your phone from overheating this summer.

In this blog:

Keep it out of direct sunlight

It sounds obvious, but this is one of the most common mistakes people make. Leaving your phone on a windowsill, car dashboard or even on a sunny table can cause it to overheat in no time. If you’ve ever wondered ‘why is my phone warm’, this might be the culprit. To fix this, store your phone in the shade, your bag or under a towel when outdoors.

Turn off unused apps

Apps running in the background can quietly chew through your phone’s processing power and generate heat. If you’re googling ‘how to cool down my phone’, closing background apps is a great first step. Simply swipe away apps you’re not using and disable background app refresh in your settings.

Avoid charging in hot environments

Your phone is overheating when charging? Charging naturally warms up your device, and doing it in a hot room or sunny spot can make things worse. If your phone needs a quick battery boost, try to charge it somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight and remove the case to help it breathe.

Lower your screen brightness

A super bright screen means more power usage, which means more heat. Pretty simple, right? To help your phone keep cool, be sure to turn on auto-brightness or manually lower your screen brightness to reduce heat build-up (and save your battery too).

Don’t stack your phone on other devices

Stacking your phone on top of a laptop, tablet or power bank traps heat and stops it from cooling off properly. Give your phone space to breathe – literally! Lay it on a flat, cool surface when not in use.

Use Airplane Mode

If your phone’s struggling in a low-signal area, it’ll work overtime trying to connect, causing it to heat up fast. Switch on Airplane Mode when you’re in a signal dead zone or just want to chill your phone quickly.

Avoid heavy gaming or streaming in the heat

High-performance activities like gaming, video editing or HD streaming can make your phone hot fast, especially during summer. Make sure you’re taking breaks during intense use and let your phone rest to cool off.

Update your software

Outdated apps or operating systems can cause bugs and performance issues, some of which can lead to overheating. Regularly check for updates to keep your phone running smoothly and coolly.

Use a cooling fan or cold pack (the right way!)

Still searching for how to fix an overheated phone or how to cool down your phone fast? You can use a mini fan accessory or a cold pack – just be careful not to go from hot to freezing too quickly, which can damage internal components. Wrap a cold pack in a cloth and place it near (not directly on) your phone for a minute or two.

Final thoughts

Just remember – prevention is key. A little care goes a long way in protecting your phone and keeping it in tip-top shape. So next time you catch yourself wondering, “why is my phone overheating” or “how to cool off phone”, give these tips a try!

If these tips don’t seem to do the trick, it may be time to upgrade your phone. Luckily, you can upgrade for less with a refurbished phone from musicMagpie! Our phones are all certified refurbished and will save you £100s vs buying new.