Phone overheating in the Tenerife sun

Because the south of the island regularly pushes phones beyond the conditions they're built for. Apple designs iPhone for ambient temperatures between 0 and 35 °C, and says using it in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life. Direct sun on a sunbed, a phone on a car dashboard, or a pocket against warm skin raise the phone's own temperature far above the air around it.

Heavy use adds its own heat. Apple names GPS navigation in a car, graphics-intensive games and long camera use as things to avoid in heat or direct sun, and Samsung says a phone in a car cradle is likely to get hotter than usual, because sunlight, mobile data, Bluetooth and charging all combine there.

• iPhone: Apple says charging, including wireless charging, slows or stops, the display dims or goes black, the signal can weaken, the camera flash may be disabled and performance drops. If it gets hotter, a temperature warning fills the screen; Apple says an iPhone showing this message may still be able to make emergency calls.
• Samsung Galaxy: Samsung says the phone shows a warning, limits brightness and speed, stops charging, closes running apps and limits calls to emergency calls. A second warning means it will shut down.
• Google Pixel: Google says a hot Pixel may reduce performance and charging speed, turn off the flash or camera, cut mobile data or Wi-Fi, and enter low power mode; if it keeps heating, it turns off to keep you and the phone safe.

1. Get it out of the sun and into the shade or an air-conditioned room. Google says to keep a Pixel away from hot vehicles and direct sunlight.
2. Unplug it and close the camera, games and navigation.
3. Take off the case if it is thick or the phone heats up while charging, as Apple suggests.
4. Let it cool on its own. Don't put it in a fridge, freezer or cold water: sudden cooling can cause condensation inside.

Once it's at a normal temperature, the phone returns to normal by itself. On iOS 16 and later, a Charging On Hold notification means charging has paused until the iPhone cools down; Apple says these protections can't be turned off.

• Keep it in a bag or under a towel at the beach and the pool, not on the sunbed.
• Never leave it in a parked car. Apple's safe storage range is −20 to 45 °C and warns that parked cars can exceed it.
• On a car mount, keep it out of direct sun and avoid charging and navigating at full brightness at the same time.
• Charge in the shade or indoors. Apple's batteries page says charging in high temperatures adds to the damage heat does, and gives 16–22 °C as the ideal comfort zone.
• Calima days add dust to the heat: see Calima and your electronics.

When the phone gets hot indoors, at rest or in normal use, rather than in the sun or under heavy load. Other signs are a battery that drains much faster than it used to, sudden shutdowns at a decent percentage, and a screen or back that starts to lift away from the frame, which points to a swelling battery. Stop pressing on it, don't charge it overnight, and have it checked.

Apple says temperatures above 35 °C can permanently damage battery capacity, so months of Tenerife sun wear batteries faster. Our battery replacement guide explains how to check battery health on iPhone, Galaxy and Pixel.

At A1 Computers, Local 4, Centro Comercial San Eugenio, Av. de los Pueblos 20, 38660 Costa Adeje. The phone is checked to find whether the battery, the charging circuit or something else is at fault, and you get the price before any work starts. Diagnosis costs €15.

Walk in Monday–Saturday 10:45–21:30 or Sunday 10:45–14:00, or ask first on WhatsApp 641 780 077 or by phone on 922 71 35 82.