Why does an iPhone get hot while charging?
Warmth while charging is normal. If the iPhone gets too warm, iOS slows or pauses charging until it cools — here is what is happening and when to act.
✓Sources reviewed 2026-09-10
Short answer
Charging generates heat, and Apple says devices can get warm during normal operation — wireless charging and heavy use are typical warm moments. The iPhone manages excess heat automatically: charging slows or pauses ("Charging On Hold") and resumes when the battery returns to a normal temperature.
Why
- Charging is a normal source of warmth; Apple lists wireless charging among activities that can make an iPhone feel warm.
- The iPhone reduces charging current as it approaches full charge, and moving current into the battery itself produces some heat.
- Prolonged high temperature can permanently reduce battery lifespan, so iOS thermal protection is automatic and cannot be turned off (iOS 16 and later).
Important conditions
- Use and charge between 0°C and 35°C (32°–95°F) ambient; avoid charging in direct sun or inside a hot car.
- If the phone is too warm you may also see a dimmed display, lower radio power, an unavailable flash, or a "Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down" alert.
- Very cold conditions can temporarily slow charging and shorten battery life until the phone warms — this is temporary, not damage.
- If the phone gets hot during ordinary, non-charging tasks or overheats repeatedly, stop using it and contact Apple support.
What to do
- Unplug the phone and let it cool in a cooler place, out of direct sun.
- Remove a thick case while charging if the phone feels hot.
- If a temperature warning appears, turn the phone off or stop charging until it cools, then resume in a cooler location.