If your phone becomes unusually hot while charging, disconnect it and stop demanding tasks while it cools in a dry, shaded place. Some warmth can be normal, especially with fast or wireless charging. Repeated overheating, a temperature warning or visible damage needs a closer check.
What to do right away
- Disconnect the charger if it is safe to do so.
- Stop gaming, recording video, navigation or other demanding use.
- Move the phone out of sunlight and off bedding or other insulating surfaces.
- Let it cool naturally before trying again. Do not put it in a fridge, freezer or water.
- Do not keep testing a swollen, damaged or unusually hot device. Arrange service.
Samsung‘s temperature guidance recommends disconnecting the charger while the device cools. Apple‘s temperature guide explains that a hot iPhone can slow or stop charging to protect itself.
Why does a phone get hot while charging?
| Possible cause | What to check after it cools |
|---|---|
| A hot room, car or direct sunlight | Try a cooler location with airflow. |
| Navigation, gaming or a bright screen | Charge with the screen locked and demanding apps stopped. |
| Damaged or unsuitable charger/cable | Stop using damaged parts; test a compatible, known-good charger and cable. |
| Wireless charging alignment or an accessory | Check the charger instructions, alignment and any case or object between phone and pad. |
| A software task after an update | Check battery usage and available updates; heat alone does not prove malware. |
| Battery or charging-port damage | Arrange a professional check instead of repeated charging experiments. |
Charging is paused and the percentage is not rising
Read the message on the phone. On iPhone, Charging On Hold can mean the device is too hot or too cold. Apple says charging resumes after it returns to a suitable temperature; see its charging-on-hold instructions.
Do not confuse temperature protection with a chosen charge limit or optimized charging. Also, a phone doing heavy work may use much of the charger’s available power. A stalled percentage alone cannot tell you which cause applies.
Check the charger and location one at a time
After the phone cools and if there is no sign of damage, try a supported charger and cable on a hard, flat surface. Change one part of the setup at a time and keep the screen off. A low-power socket in a train or airport and your hotel charger may give different results, but the location alone does not identify a fault.
Inspect the port without poking metal tools into it. Follow the phone maker’s cleaning instructions if you can see debris or get a moisture alert.
Heat during car charging
Navigation, screen brightness, sunlight and charging can add up. Our car phone-charging guide covers that setup. If Waze is also misbehaving, troubleshoot it separately with our Waze GPS and app checks.
When to arrange service
Get the phone checked if it overheats repeatedly during light use with supported charging equipment, or if you notice swelling, damage or a burning smell. Apple advises stopping use when device or battery damage is suspected. A factory reset is not the first step for a possible physical charging fault.
Updated October 15, 2026. Reviewed using the sources linked in this guide.