If your iPhone or iPad gets too hot or too cold

Find out about the operating temperatures and temperature management of iPhone and iPad.

Use iOS and iPadOS devices where the ambient temperature is between 0º and 35ºC (32º to 95ºF). Low- or high-temperature conditions may cause your device to change its behaviour to regulate its temperature. Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.

Store your device where the temperature is between -20º and 45ºC (-4º to 113ºF). Don’t leave your device in your car because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range.

Your device may get warm

You may notice that your device feels warmer when you:

  • Set up your device for the first time

  • Restore from a backup

  • Charge your device wirelessly

  • Use graphics-intensive or processor-intensive apps, games or features, including augmented reality apps

  • Stream high-quality video

These conditions are normal and your device will return to a normal temperature when the process is complete or when you finish your activity. If your device doesn't display a temperature warning, you can keep using your device.

If your device gets too warm

iOS and iPadOS devices have built-in protections to prevent overheating. If the interior temperature of your device exceeds the normal operating range, your device will protect its internal components by attempting to regulate its temperature.

Avoid these conditions and activities because they may change the performance of your device:

  • Leaving your device in a car on a hot day.

  • Leaving your device in direct sunlight for an extended period of time.

  • Using certain features in hot conditions or direct sunlight for an extended period of time, such as GPS tracking or navigation in a car, playing a graphics-intensive game or using augmented-reality apps.

If the interior temperature of your device exceeds the normal operating range, you may notice these changes:

  • Charging, including wireless charging, slows or stops.

  • The display dims or goes black.

  • Mobile radios enter a low-power state. The signal may weaken during this time.

  • The camera flash is temporarily disabled.

  • Performance slows with graphics-intensive or augmented reality apps or features.

Also, if you're navigating, your device may show this alert and turn off the display: "Temperature: iPhone needs to cool down." Navigation still provides audible turn-by-turn directions. When approaching a turn, the display will illuminate to guide you through the turn.

If your device gets too cold

Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very cold conditions outside its operating range may temporarily shorten battery life and could cause your device to turn off. Battery life will return to normal when you bring your device back to higher ambient temperatures.

Your iOS or iPadOS device may not charge or could stop charging if it gets too cold.

If a Charging On Hold notification appears

If this message appears on the Lock Screen: “Charging On Hold. Charging will resume when [device] returns to normal temperature”, find out what to do.

If a temperature warning screen appears

If your device exceeds a certain temperature threshold, it will present a temperature warning screen similar to this:

Image shows temperature warning.

An iPhone showing this message may still be able to make emergency calls.

To resume use of your device as quickly as possible, turn it off, move it to a cooler environment (away from direct sunlight) and allow it to cool down.

If a Restore Paused notification appears

If your device exceeds a certain temperature threshold while restoring from an iCloud backup, your restore may pause temporarily. This message appears: “Restore Paused. Restoring from iCloud will resume when this [device] cools down."

This pause keeps your device within an acceptable operating temperature. Your restore will resume when the device cools down.

About the safety standards

iOS and iPadOS devices comply with the safety standards for Safety of Information Technology Equipment, IEC 60950-1 and IEC 62368-1. Many countries and regions have adopted these safety standards:

  • UL 60950-1 in the United States

  • CSA 60950-01 in Canada

  • EN60950-1 in Europe

  • AS/NZS 60950:1 in Australia and New Zealand.

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