Sitting around a warm bonfire with the rest of the Vikings after successful conquests is very relaxing. It's worse if it's not the bonfire warming you, but your smartphone. The fact that a phone heats up no longer surprises anyone. After all, you use it quite intensively – games, movies, apps – and the casing can get warm under the strain of many tasks.
If you also use your smartphone while charging the battery, this can sometimes be the reason for the phone overheating. The problem arises when the casing is so hot that it burns your hands. This can be not only inconvenient but also result in permanent damage to your smartphone. But calm down, calm down… You won't need prayers to Odin. There are ways to deal with it, and we'll reveal them to you.
Why is your phone overheating? What or who is responsible?
You do a lot on your smartphone. It's your entertainment center, your business office, and your main communicator with the world. It's no wonder the phone heats up from games, movies, long phone calls, and scrolling through social media. The processor, graphics chip, screen, and battery are heavily loaded then. However, most often, when you close all apps and put your smartphone down for a few minutes, its temperature returns to normal. But there are cases when this doesn't happen. The phone gets unbearably hot, and your hands burn while typing the next message. This is no longer normal. It's time to become a doctor and diagnose the problem:
- Smartphones often heat up in the lower part, right by the charging port. This may indicate problems with either the aforementioned port or a faulty charger.
- If the phone heats up in such a way that the heat spreads along the entire length of the back panel, it will most likely be a battery-related issue.
- Are the parts of the casing near the main camera very hot? In many models, the processor is located here. It's likely struggling with what you're doing on your smartphone.
- The front of the phone is so hot that you can't use the screen? You probably have a problem with the display.
Finally, one more thing – what if your phone is overheating because someone else is using it? It's possible. Is the phone heating up because of an enemy from nearby lands who has enchanted it with a secret spell? Well, let's say… essentially, it's about malware that you installed from a suspicious source. Nowadays, someone could hack your phone to mine cryptocurrencies. This is, of course, less effective than using mining rigs, but it certainly puts a heavy load on the smartphone.
If unpleasant heat is emanating from your device daily, it could soon lead to a serious malfunction. How to solve this?
Your phone is overheating – how to deal with it?
When your smartphone is so hot that it burns, you can, of course, drop it. It's best to immediately throw it far in front of or behind you and the problem is solved. Is it effective? Yes. Is it sensible? Definitely not! If a fire broke out in the Viking village, the first thing you'd do is try to put it out. In the case of a severely overheating smartphone, you can also do something before you write it off.
Charger problems
If you mainly notice problems during charging and at the USB-C or Lightning port (for iPhones), it's worth replacing the charger and cable. Perhaps the one you're using is damaged. You might also be using an inappropriate charger with too much power. It's best to charge your phone with the one that came with the set (we know Apple no longer does this). In such a case, you should opt for an additionally paid, but manufacturer-dedicated charger.
Before choosing the right charger, it's worth checking your smartphone's charging specifications. Does the device support fast charging (if so, how many watts), but also what standards does it work with, e.g., Power Delivery, Quick Charge. For your smartphone, you should find such information in the specifications of the specific model on the manufacturer's website. You'll find the exact specifications of the charger on the charger's packaging or in the description on the store's website. It's worth reaching for options dedicated to your smartphone. It also wouldn't hurt to check if the charger has good reviews from other Vikings.
See also: Types of chargers
Apps and headphones
Is your smartphone casing getting hot more and more often? Try closing all apps or restarting your phone. Removing some apps and games (especially those from unknown sources) may also help. During a long conversation, it's worth using Bluetooth headphones instead of holding the phone to your ear the whole time.
If you still don't see any improvement, a hot smartphone is an ideal candidate for a service center. It's worth having an expert test the phone, check the condition of the components or the battery's health, and provide an accurate diagnosis. What can you expect? Receiving help under warranty or a paid repair, or a clear signal that it's time to replace your axe, er, smartphone, with a new one. One thing is certain – every Viking knows it's better to act than to wait. React before your smartphone becomes unusable from overheating, or in extreme cases, the components burn out or the battery explodes!
