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Why does my phone get hot when charging?

Good advice 27 May 2025 4 min read

It’s normal for a phone or tablet to get warm while it charges – especially with fast charging. If it gets so hot it’s uncomfortable to hold, or shows a temperature warning, it’s usually caused by a poor charger, charging under a pillow or in the sun, heavy apps while charging, or a worn battery. Unplug the charger, let the device cool down, and see the advice below.

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Why does my phone get hot when charging?

When the battery charges, electricity is converted into chemical energy, and that creates heat. The more power that goes in over a short time, the hotter it gets. The glass and metal in the phone conduct the heat out to the surface, so it can feel hot without anything being wrong.

Non-original or faulty charger

Cheap or damaged chargers and cables can deliver uneven power and create extra heat. Use an original or certified charger.

Hot surroundings and poor airflow

If you charge in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or under a duvet or pillow, the heat can’t escape.

Heavy apps while charging

Games, video, navigation and big updates make the processor work while the battery charges. That means double the heat.

Worn battery

An older battery gets hotter and becomes less efficient. If the phone is bulging, or runs out of power quickly, a battery replacement may be the answer. Also see your phone’s battery drains fast.

Tablet or iPad hot when charging

A tablet has a bigger battery than a phone and so charges for longer. That means it can stay warm for longer – usually on the back or near the charging port. The causes are the same: a charger that doesn’t suit the model, heavy apps while charging, hot surroundings or a worn battery. Leave the tablet on a hard table while it charges, and take the case off if it gets very hot. If your iPad also charges slowly, read iPad is slow to charge.

How to stop your phone getting too hot when charging

Use an original or certified charger and an undamaged cable.
Put the device on a hard, open surface – not in bed or under a pillow.
Avoid charging in direct sunlight or in a hot car.
Take off a thick case if the phone gets very hot.
Don’t game or stream while it’s charging.
Keep the software up to date so bugs in apps don’t use unnecessary power.

When should you get your phone checked?

If the phone or tablet gets very hot every time, smells burnt, bulges, or only charges when the cable is held at a certain angle, stop charging and get it checked. The battery or the charging port may be worn. At ITech-Rep in Odense and Nyborg we’ll find the fault, and you’ll get the price before we start.

If your iPhone also gets hot when it isn’t charging, read iPhone getting hot.