How do I know if my phone is overheating normally or abnormally?

A phone getting warm is often normal. Charging, gaming, video calls, camera use, hotspot use, bright sunlight, and poor ventilation all make phones work harder. Apple and Google both note that phones can slow down charging or performance when they get too warm, which is a safety feature.

It starts looking abnormal when the heat does not go away after you stop using the phone, or when you get temperature warnings, charging pauses, shutdowns, battery swelling, or a hot spot that is much warmer than the rest of the device. That is the point where “running warm” turns into “something is wrong.”

Best move:

• Unplug the charger
• Close heavy apps
• Move the phone to a cooler place
• Take off a thick case if it is trapping heat
• Let it cool before charging again

If it keeps overheating in normal use, the battery, charger, or software may need service.