Fix It Jerry — Kuala Lumpur

Phone Overheating? Here's What's Causing It

Symptom Diagnosis

Last updated: 5 July 2026

Some warmth during gaming, video calls, or fast charging is normal. A phone that gets hot during light use — or hot enough to show a temperature warning — is telling you something is wrong. Here's how to find the cause.

When Overheating Is Normal (and When It Isn't)

Normal: warm during gaming, GPS navigation, camera/video, or fast charging.
Normal: brief heat when restoring a backup or updating the OS.
Not normal: hot during calls, texting, or while idle in your pocket.
Not normal: heat concentrated near the charging port or rear camera.
Not normal: a temperature warning screen or sudden shutdown.

Step 1 — Quick Checks You Can Do

Remove the case and let the phone cool away from direct sunlight.
Check Settings > Battery for an app using heavy power in the background.
Update or uninstall the app that heats the phone up.
Try a different charger and cable — a faulty charger causes charging heat.
Restart the phone to clear a stuck background process.

Common Hardware Causes

If it still overheats after those checks, the cause is usually physical. A degraded or swollen battery generates heat as it struggles to hold charge. A failing Power IC or Charging IC can dump excess current as heat, especially while plugged in. Dust and aged thermal material inside the phone also trap heat. These are board- and component-level issues that need proper diagnosis.

Possible Causes & Repairs

Worn / swollen battery → Battery replacement (RM 180–600, 30–60 min)
Power IC fault → Power IC repair (RM 200–600, 1–2 days)
Charging IC fault (heat while charging) → Charging IC repair (RM 200–700, 1–2 days)
Software / rogue app → OS reinstall & optimisation (RM 100–300, 1–2 hrs)
Dust & internal cleaning → General servicing (RM 80–200, same day)

Why It's Worth Fixing Quickly

Sustained heat permanently degrades the battery and can damage the mainboard and screen over time. What starts as mild overheating can turn into a swollen battery or a dead device. If your phone runs hot regularly, get it diagnosed before the damage spreads — diagnostics at Fix It Jerry are free.

What NOT to Do

Don't put the phone in the fridge or freezer — condensation causes water damage.
Don't keep using or charging a phone that's swollen or shows a heat warning.
Don't charge under a pillow or on a bed — trapped heat makes it worse.
Don't ignore heat near the charging port; it often signals an IC fault.