Is your iPhone 15 Pro running hot? Here are some solutions.
QUICK ANSWER
iPhone 15 Pro overheating problems can be caused by factors such as processor-intensive apps, the temperature in which the phone is sitting in, a faulty charger, or outdated apps needing to be updated. All of these causes can be fixed if you act fast enough.
Like any smartphone, your iPhone 15 Pro is susceptible to overheating. A hot iPhone is not just uncomfortable to work with, but it can reduce your battery’s lifespan and possibly even damage other internal components.
Luckily, you can do a few things to cool it down and continue to enjoy using your iPhone.
Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Why is my iPhone 15 Pro getting hot?
Your iPhone 15 Pro might overheat for many reasons, but these are some of the most common culprits:
1. Excessive usage
If you are using your iPhone 15 Pro for heavy processing tasks like playing high-end games, streaming, using graphics-intensive applications, or recording videos for an extended period, this can cause your phone to overheat.
2. Software updates
A lot goes on during and after installing an update, and tasks such as reindexing photos can consume a lot of processing power, which in turn can temporarily cause the device to heat up. Things should return to normal within a few days of installing an update.
3. Malfunctioning apps
It is not unusual for apps to have bugs or issues that cause them to use more power than necessary. This could result in the iPhone 15 Pro overheating, even when not directly using the app.
4. Poor signal or heavy data use
If you’re in a location with poor signal, your iPhone 15 Pro has to work harder to maintain a connection, which can cause it to overheat. Similarly, continuous data use, like streaming videos, downloading large files, or creating/restoring from backups can also cause overheating.
5. Charging issues
Using your iPhone 15 Pro while it’s charging, or charging it with a non-Apple charger that doesn’t comply with Apple’s safety standards, can cause it to overheat. Wireless charging causes more heat to be produced than using a cable.
6. General environment
If your iPhone 15 Pro is in a hot environment, then it stands to reason that the device’s temperature is going to rise accordingly. This can be things like the temperature outside if you live in a hot country. Or simply overheating vehicles in the summer. Leaving your iPhone on the car dashboard in direct sunlight, for example, is obviously not a good idea.
Putting your iPhone under the pillow while you’re sleeping is also not a great idea. A lack of cold air under the pillow is going to cause your device to get a bit hot and bothered. If you must sleep with your phone, place it next to you on the bed or on your bedside table.
7. Phone cases
One final possibility for iPhone 15 Pro overheating is use of protective cases. iPhones dissipate the heat into their surroundings through the back shell, and putting a case over the iPhone 15 Pro can interfere with this heat dissipation.
How to Fix iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue
Now that we’ve explained why your iPhone 15 Pro is overheating, let’s now go through the solutions. Some of them are very logical and obvious, but we will include them for the sake of completeness.
1. Get the iPhone into a cool environment
First things first. If your phone has been sitting in direct sunlight or in front of a heat source (such as a fireplace), then you need to start cooling the device down. Get into a room with a cooler temperature, or start an electric fan. Remove the protective cover (if there is one) and wave it in front of the cold air.
Since the iPhone 15 Pro is water resistant, you can also make a cloth wet with cold water, wring out the water till the cloth is merely damp, and then wrap the phone in it. As long as the cloth is not completely soaking wet, you’ll be fine.
2. Shut down all unnecessary running apps
The next thing to do if your iPhone 15 Pro is overheating is to shut down all unnecessary running apps on the device (preferably all of them.) To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen until you get the thumbnails of each open app. Then swipe up each one till they disappear.
2. Force Restart your iPhone
If your iPhone 15 Pro is overheating for no reason, it might be a software bug causing the problem. Performing a force restart can fix this issue. A force restart halts power from the iPhone’s battery, allowing you to reset your iPhone.
To force restart your iPhone, press and quickly release the Volume up button, press and quickly release the Volume down button, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
3. Disconnect the charger
It is normal for your iPhone 15 Pro to warm up a little while charging. This is just a side effect of the chemical reaction that charges the battery. However, if your iPhone 15 Pro feels hot to the touch, there’s something wrong.
Here’s what to do:
- Unplug your iPhone and allow it to cool down.
- Try charging it again with an official (or high-quality third party) charger, or try a different charger than the one you’re using now.
- Ensure that the Lightning port is clean and free of any dirt or lint. Any piled-up lint or debris may prevent the charger from working properly, resulting in overheating.
4. Update your apps and the phone software
Both iOS and apps should be up to date for optimal performance. So, the next troubleshooting step to fix iPhone 15 Pro overheating issue is to update your apps in the App Store, and to update the phone software (if there are any available updates.)
To update the apps, go to the App Store and tap the Profile icon in the upper-right, scroll down to Available updates, and tap Update all.
To update iOS, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
5. Don’t do too many processor-intensive tasks
If you suspect your iPhone 15 Pro is overheating due too many processor-intensive tasks, then do what you can to lessen the strain.
Do you really need to play graphics-intensive games on your phone? Do you really need to stream 4K or HDR video? Or only listen to lossless music? Try downgrading to a lower-quality version. You’ll likely not even notice the difference.
6. Use low-power mode
In low-power mode, the iPhone uses less energy and only carries out essential functions, thus saving battery life while the phone runs cooler. Your iPhone produces less heat when the battery discharges more slowly.
Go to Settings > Battery and toggle on Low power mode.
You can also access the setting from Control Center. Set that up from Settings > Control center, then select Low power mode to add it to Control Center.
7. Reset your iPhone
If your iPhone 15 Pro is still overheating, the last thing you can do yourself is to try resetting it. If you have an iCloud backup, you can have the phone back up and running in no time. But you may very well end up restoring the very cause of the problem in the first place. So perhaps a fresh install is required?
2 reset your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > erase all content and settings.
8. Contact Apple Tech Support
If you have tried all the above fixes and your iPhone 15 Pro is still overheating, , then you likely have a defective phone. The only course of action in this scenario is to contact Apple Support and arrange for the phone to be sent back for repair or replacement.
Bottom line
One of the most rapid ways to cool down an iPhone 15 Pro is to turn it off completely and let it come down to normal temperature naturally. Don’t try to "speed up" the process by putting the iPhone into a refrigerator or ice box as this could also damage the battery.
See also: The Best iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Tips and Tricks to Try First