Phone overheating: how to cool it down fast and stop it happening

Quick answer: Unplug the phone, stop whatever heavy task is running, take off the case and move it somewhere cool and out of the sun. Don't put it in a fridge or freezer. If it overheats often, lower brightness, update, and look for an app draining the battery.

Video not loading? Open the video on YouTube. It may not match your exact model; check the written guidance and device scope before following it.

Cool it down now

Unplug it. Charging adds heat. Google's first step for a phone that's too hot is to disconnect it from power.
Stop the heavy task. Close games, video, the camera, navigation and any hotspot.
Take off the case so heat can escape.
Move it somewhere cooler, out of direct sun and out of a hot car.
Leave it alone until it's cool. On an iPhone, Apple suggests turning it off while it cools.

Don't put the phone in a fridge or freezer, and don't blow cold air straight at it. Sudden cold can cause condensation inside.

Why phones overheat

Google and Apple list the same main causes:

Games, video streaming, HD video recording and long navigation sessions
Using the phone as a hotspot, or big downloads and uploads
Setting up a phone or restoring a backup
Doing any of these while charging
Sun, hot cars, and pockets or bags with no airflow
An app or setting draining the battery in the background

What the phone does when it's too hot

This is normal protection, not a fault. The phone may slow down, slow or pause charging, dim the screen, turn off the camera flash, weaken the signal, or switch to low power. An iPhone may show "Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down." If it keeps getting hotter, the phone turns itself off. Let it cool fully before turning it back on.

Stop it happening again

Lower the brightness. Pixel: Settings, then Display & touch, then Brightness level. iPhone: drag brightness down in Control Center.
Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data when you can. Weak signal makes the radio work harder.
Use a case made for your exact model and avoid thick cases while charging.
Update the phone and your apps. Updates often fix apps that run hot.
Find the app using the battery. Pixel: Settings, then Battery, then Battery usage. iPhone: Settings, then Battery. An app you barely use near the top is a likely cause.
Check the temperature on a Pixel 6 or newer: Settings, then Battery, then Battery diagnostics, then Phone is very warm.

Apple's normal operating range for an iPhone is 0 to 35 °C (32 to 95 °F) air temperature.

When to get help

If the phone gets hot while doing nothing, keeps shutting down, or the battery looks swollen (the screen or back lifting), stop using and charging it and contact the maker or a repair shop.

What to tell support

Keep a short record of your exact device model, software or app version, the symptom or error text, and which steps you tried. Note what changed after each step. You can print this page for reference.

Do not include passwords, recovery codes or private account details in public comments.

Sources

Video by FixIt Mobile on YouTube. See the linked sources for current manufacturer guidance. Menu names and available features can vary by model and software version. How we check fixes.