As the East Coast of the US faces high winds and flooding from Hurricane Erin, the West Coast is about to be hit with a brutal heat wave. Along with increased danger from wildfires, the hot temperatures also create risks for your personal tech, specifically your smartphone. 

Phones are more sensitive to extreme temperatures than most people realize. While the Pixel 6A made news earlier this year because of exploding, even the latest iPhone and Android models can overheat quickly if left in the sun or used heavily during hot weather.

When your phone gets too hot, it can slow down, shut off or even suffer long-term damage. High temperatures put stress on the battery and internal components, which can lead to reduced performance and a shorter lifespan. Whether you’re out on a hike, watching videos by the pool, or just leaving your phone on the dashboard, here’s what you need to know about overheating — and how to keep your device safe this summer.

Why is your phone overheating in the first place?

High temperatures — over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Apple — can cause your phone to take precautions to protect its components. Your phone might overheat for many reasons, but here are some of the most common culprits:

• Leaving your phone in direct sunlight
• Keeping your phone in a hot environment, like a car on a hot day
• Using your  phone’s navigation system or other system-intensive tasks in hot conditions
• Overusing your phone when it’s charging
• A faulty battery or charger
• Bugs in the software
• Rogue apps or malware

Your phone might overheat from other causes, like a malfunctioning application or even a suffocating phone case, but the reasons above are the most likely causes of your phone getting too hot.

What does overheating do to your phone?

If the interior temperature of your phone exceeds its normal operating range and the device overheats, you can expect issues:

• You may not be able to use your phone
• Operations on your phone may slow down
• Charging may slow or completely stop
• Your signal may be weakened
• Your camera’s flash may be disabled

There are also possible permanent harmful effects: Overheating can cause lasting damage to the battery, SIM card and other crucial parts inside your phone.

So how can you prevent your phone from overheating?

The most important thing is to keep your phone out of direct sunlight when possible, especially when it’s warm. Your phone might be fine in the grass on an overcast day, but the warmer the temperature, the less your phone can withstand the sun. At the beach, your phone can overheat in just a few minutes in the sun. The same is true if you put it in a sunny spot on the dash or seat of your car. 

Instead, get your phone out of the direct light, whether it’s in your pocket, inside a backpack or under a towel/blanket or dashboard. Anyplace that will keep it away from sunlight will work.

It’s fairly easy to protect your phone from the sun, but high temperatures alone can also cause your phone to overheat. After only an hour, the inside of a car can reach 143 degrees Fahrenheit when it’s 100 degrees outside, for example, so a phone left in your cup holder could quickly overheat and get damaged. The short answer: Don’t keep your phone in a hot environment for an extended period of time, even if it’s not in direct sunlight. That includes your car, a sauna, the kitchen, the middle of the desert or anywhere near a fire.

Your phone’s optimal internal temperature should be somewhere between 32 degrees and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees and 35 degrees Celsius). To prevent overheating, Apple recommends keeping the device in a place where the temperature is between negative 4 degrees and 113 degrees Fahrenheit (negative 20 degrees and 45 degrees Celsius).

While it might be tempting, don’t stick your phone in the freezer to cool it down. The Apple community boards have lots of warnings about the damage you can do to your phone by putting it in an icebox.

Steps You Can Take Right Now to Avoid an Overheated Phone

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You should also follow these tips to prevent your phone from overheating

• Don’t use graphics- or processor-intensive apps when your phone is charging. That includes massive mobile video games like PUBG Mobile or streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu.
• Update your phone system software and apps to the latest software available. A bug in the software can cause overheating issues, so always stay up-to-date with your software.
• Steer clear of third-party chargers. You’ll be fine almost always, but a cheaply designed charger could cause your phone to overheat.

While you’re here, check out how to make your Android feel new again with these five tips.