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With temperatures spiking across the country and around the world, it’s not just people who are uncomfortably hot. While we look for ways to stay cool during record-breaking heat waves, our portable electronic devices are also suffering in the heat and are even more susceptible to breaking down and malfunctioning when it’s too hot outside.
According to Apple, their iPhone and iPad are designed to be used in temperatures ranging from 32-degrees to 95-degrees Fahrenheit and using them in temps outside this range, especially really hot conditions, isn’t recommended and can permanently damage the battery. Fortunately, these tips can help keep your phone running so you can avoid that dreaded “Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down” alert.
- Don’t leave your phone in your car - You shouldn’t store your iPhone in places where temperatures reach above 113-degrees, according to Apple. And in the summer, your parked car can definitely exceed that. You’ll also want to keep your device out of direct sunlight because it absorbs heat.
- Avoid playing games or shooting video - Phones tend to heat up on their own when we use graphics-intensive apps, like playing video games, streaming video or recording videos. Using the GPS or navigation system also raises the device’s temperature. Reduce these activities and dim your screen’s brightness to use less power and help prevent it from overheating.
- Close apps you’re not using - Close the apps that continue working in the background when you’re not actively using them. Go into “Low Power Mode” to automatically reduce background activity like downloads and automatic mail retrieval and to conserve battery life.
- Remove your phone case - It can trap heat inside your phone and keep it from cooling down.
- Don’t put your phone in the fridge - Sticking it in the cooler or a freezer may seem like a quick way to cool your phone down, but it can lead to thermal shock and potentially cause your screen to crack, according to a blog post from Phoozy, which makes thermal sleeves to protect mobile devices in hot and cold climates alike.
Source: CBS News