Read More: Do Yourself a Favor: Turn off Your Cell from Time to Time

Why Do Smartphones Overheat?

Most smartphones use lithium-ion batteries, which are more sensitive to internal and external temperatures. A warm smartphone is not something to be worried about — the issue is when the smartphone has become too warm or hot to touch, as these temperatures affect how the phone is functioning. Because lithium-ion batteries are so sensitive, they can quickly be damaged due to overheating. This can result in a shorter lifespan for your battery — meaning that you need to replace your phone or battery sooner than desirable — and poor phone performance. In an extreme case, overheating can lead to your battery exploding.

There are a lot of reasons smartphones overheat. They may overheat due to: a video playing, using Bluetooth for too long, too many apps running at once, the battery being bad or faulty by default, your smartphone being overcharged, or using a demanding app or program, among other reasons. Newer smartphones with virtual reality capabilities, for example, are prone to overheating due to the demands of VR technology.

How to Keep Your Battery Cool

• Use Total Charge to avoid overcharging your device.
• Don’t leave your phone plugged in overnight.
• Don’t play games or watch videos for long periods of time.
• Don’t leave your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight.
• Avoid quick chargers that can cause your device to overheat.
• Give your phone a break from time to time, and use your laptop or another device for certain online tasks.
• Don’t charge your phone on a soft surface.
• Although a leather phone case may look cool, it may also cause your phone to retain heat.

Recently, Samsung made headlines for issuing a global recall of the Note 7 after faulty components caused the battery to explode or catch fire due to overheating. While the prospect of a self-combusting cellular device might make you think twice about handling your phone, the good news is there are steps you can take to keep your phone’s temp in check.

Read more: Best Mobile Batteries for Your Cell Phone

Even if you don’t own a Samsung Note, excessive temperatures are nothing to ignore. Many smartphones have a tendency to run hot during prolonged use or while charging. Overheating can do a number on your phone’s internal components. A lithium-ion battery kept consistently at 77 degrees fahrenheit will lose around 20 percent of its overall capacity, and that number jumps the hotter it gets. Even more worrisome, the heat produced by electronics can cause rashes or burns on skin over time. Keep your phone cool by following these tips.

Avoid Hot Places
Ambient temperatures can contribute to the internal temperature of your device. While it’s not possible to prevent exposure to some heat during the summer, you can limit the damage by not leaving your phone in a hot car or in direct sunlight. It might sound tempting to keep your phone in the fridge, but the cold and condensation won’t do you any favors, either.

Limit Useage
Large games and apps that force your screen to remain on are more likely to cause overheating, but the fact is the more you use your device without taking a break, the hotter it will get. If you feel your phone start to heat up, turn off the screen, remove the case, and let it be until it cools down. It’s also best to avoid using your device while it’s charging.

Keep it Clean
The more apps and processes your phone is forced to run in the background, the more prone it will be to warming up. Be sure to get rid of apps you no longer use to keep everything running smoothly.

Use PSafe Total’s CPU Cooler
Most importantly, download PSafe Total! The free app includes a feature called the CPU Cooler, which will cool down your device when it starts to get too hot. It also works to eliminate lag time on your phone.