While your iPad may heat up slightly with consistent use, it shouldn’t get too hot. So, if your iPad is overheating and you get a temperature warning sign, it could damage your iPad’s hardware. But why is your iPad overheating, and how can you prevent it?
Your iPad may be overheating because of a hot external environment or processor, power-intensive apps, or overuse. You can prevent this issue by using your iPad sparingly, keeping it away from heat sources, switching off background refresh permission, and deleting power-intensive apps.
Let’s take a closer look at the main reasons why your iPad may be overheating, what you can do to prevent it, and what you should do if your iPad overheats on a regular basis.
Is it Normal for an iPad to Get Hot?
It’s normal for an iPad (on Amazon) to get warm when installing an app, updating the iPad, or playing games. However, your iPad shouldn’t heat up like laptops or gaming computers sometimes do since it doesn’t have the same built-in fans as those devices.
The average operating temperature of an iPad is around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything hotter can damage the iPad.
If your iPad gets too hot, it can severely affect the battery life, performance, and other features. Too much heat may damage the iPad’s hardware and cause it to shut down sporadically or slow down.
The easiest way to see whether your iPad is too hot is to check for the temperature warning. If your iPad gets a temperature warning, you won’t be able to use it until it cools down. If you get the temperature warning regularly, you’ll have to check what’s causing it to heat up.
What Causes Your iPad to Get Hot?
Your iPad may get too hot if the external temperature is too high, if you’re playing a graphics-intensive game or using other processor-intensive apps, using it while it’s charging, or if it’s been on for too long. iPads don’t have the same cooling mechanisms as computers or laptops and will heat up much faster.
Some of the main causes of your iPad overheating include:
Being Exposed to a Hot Environment
High external temperatures are usually the main cause behind iPads overheating, especially in the summer. If the weather is too hot, using the iPad in direct sunlight or leaving it in your car for too long can cause it to get damaged. Similarly, placing your iPad close to heat sources such as a stove, fire or heater can cause it to overheat.
If your iPad doesn’t get enough air circulation, it may also get hot. Avoid wrapping it in a cloth, and only use cases made specifically for the iPad, like this Akkerds Case (on Amazon).
Playing Graphics-Intensive Games
Graphics-intensive games are another major cause of overheating in iPhones and iPads. Nowadays, games have much better graphics, but the downside is that they consume more power and generate more heat. While the latest iPads have better gaming capacity, gaming on an older iPad may cause it to overheat.
Using the iPad While It’s Charging
Your iPad will naturally warm up when it’s charging, and using it while on charge can cause it to get very hot. iPhones and iPods don’t heat up easily due to the smaller ARM processors, and the battery will heat up first. Using the iPad while it’s charging may cause the battery to get too hot, which will, in turn, heat up other components.
Using Processor Intensive Apps
Some apps, such as video streaming apps, editing apps, and other high-intensive apps, may cause your iPad to get too hot. Most apps have specifications for which device they can work on, but your device may still heat up if you use processor-intensive apps for too long. Older iPads, for instance, usually heat up with live navigation apps.
Using the iPad for Too Long
While the smaller processors of iPads mean they can be used for extended periods without getting damaged, it’s never a great idea to use your iPad for too long at once. If you’ve been streaming high-definition video or playing graphics-intensive games for several hours, your iPad may get hot, and you’ll have to give it time to cool down.
Newer models have better chips and can last longer without getting too hot, but even they need time to cool down after being used for several hours.
How Do You Stop Your iPad From Overheating?
If your iPad overheats regularly, you’ll have to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem in order to prevent it. However, before doing anything, leave the iPad for an hour or two to cool off since using a hot iPad may damage the hardware. Once the iPad has cooled off, you can look for the exact cause of the overheating problem.
Here are some tips to help you prevent your iPad from overheating, depending on the cause you’ve discovered:
Avoid Leaving the iPad Close to Heat Sources
If your iPad overheats from being too close to a heater or stove or being left in the sun for too long, you can prevent the overheating issue with a little care. Don’t leave your iPad uncovered in direct sunlight or close to heat sources.
If you have to use it in such areas, remove the case temporarily. This will help the iPad cool down much faster.
Don’t Use Your iPad While It’s Charging
Using the iPad while it’s charging can also cause it to heat up. While you can use certain basic apps while it’s charging, avoid watching videos, playing games, or using other power-intensive apps while the iPad is charging.
Force Restart the iPad
Sometimes, a temporary software glitch may cause your iPad to become hot and operate slower. The best way to resolve this issue is to force restart the iPad. To force restart the iPad, press and hold the power and home buttons simultaneously. Release when the Apple logo appears.
For iPads that don’t have a home button, press the volume increase button briefly, followed by the volume decrease button, and then press and hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.
Prevent Power-Intensive Apps From Running in the Background
If the iPad’s background refresh is turned on, some apps will use power and CPU even when off. While most apps use negligible power, some apps may be draining the battery in the background, causing the iPad to overheat.
To find out which apps are power intensive, go into the ‘Battery‘ settings and compare the power usage with how long you’ve used different apps. Once you identify the culprits, you can turn off their background refresh permission.
Lower the iPad’s Brightness
While this is a pretty straightforward tip, it works wonders for cooling your iPad. Try to keep the brightness at 50% or lower while you’re indoors and only increase it when necessary. Keeping the brightness lower will also increase the battery performance, and your iPad’s system will be smoother.
Delete Unsupported Apps
While you shouldn’t be able to install apps that aren’t compatible with the iPad’s system, sometimes certain app updates may cause the apps to use more CPU power than the iPad can handle. If your iPad overheats when you’re using a certain app or playing a certain game, you’ll have to delete the app or uninstall updates.
Repair or Replace the iPad
If you’ve tried everything and your iPad overheats with regular usage, it’s an indication of a hardware problem. In such cases, your only option is to repair or replace the iPad. If you have time on the warranty, you can send it for repair at an Apple store. If the warranty is expired and your iPad is several years old, it may be time to get a new one (on Amazon).