Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iPhone 7 randomly overheats?

C

colbertnation

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 20, 2009
163
259
So while doing nothing intensive except listening to music, my iPhone 7 (edit: 256 GB AT&T) started overheating. And I don't mean it felt warm, it was starting to hurt my skin just holding the device.

I couldn't figure out what caused it to happen, but I shut it down, let it cool down, and restarted it. I checked the battery section, and saw that the camera (for being in use for a minute) had a 15% impact on the battery in the past 24 hours, causing my battery to drop from 95% to 81% in the 10 minutes I noticed the overheat and had to restart. The restart seemed to have solved the problem.

What I did not get however, is that I did not use the camera in that time. The only thing that I did (besides music) was use the Messages app to pick out a picture to send. But in iOS 10, that feature makes it so that the camera activates in that tiny screen where your keyboard would be. (Which is an annoying feature, anyone know how to turn it off?). My guess is that something went wrong with that, maybe causing the camera to stay on?

Has anyone else noticed any overheating issues?

Edit: To clarify, this is separate from the processor intensive restore process. Also not when iOS Photos app is scanning pictures when it's on lock screen and connected to power.

The issue so far hasn't been replicated. On my end, it appears that the restart so far has fixed it. But I'm being cautious here since there isn't really enough time since that overheating event and now to really tell.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
I can't speak for the new phone, but both my 5 and 6+ did this after the first few hours...yeah it felt very hot, battery % dropped. I was told that this the phone is "indexing, syncing" Apparently "normal" after first time use.

This issue did go away after 8-10 hours on the first day.

If it doesn't go away after 24-maybe 48 hours...then I would contact Apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: determined09
PhillyGuy72 said:
I can't speak for the new phone, but both my 5 and 6+ did this after the first few hours...yeah it felt very hot, battery % dropped. I was told that this the phone is "indexing, syncing" Apparently "normal" after first time use.

This issue did go away after 8-10 hours on the first day.

If it doesn't go away after 24-maybe 48 hours...then I would contact Apple.
Click to expand...

↑
I was using my iPhone 7plus in the car today. It was charging and running waze (nav program). The outside temp. was 81 and air was on in the car. The iPhone 7 plus overheated and turned off giving overheating message. Before powering off the display got progressively darker until the phone completely powered down. I held the phone near the AC vent and it did finally "cool off" I have used every other iPhone in this same manner and have never had one power down due to overheating. The outside temp wasn't even that hot 81F. The phone did recover however I am somewhat concerned because I use my iPhones everyday for navigation in the car. I really can't have a phone that powered down at moderate temperature. I have an apt. with Apple tomorrow. Will let you know what they have to say.
Just got back from the Apple store. The phone heated up again while using WAZE and charging in the car. Outside temp. was 83F. Phone screen dimmed so dark that I was unable to see anything tried to close the app. but the screen touch was unresponsive. The screen remained dark for about 10 minutes...lucky I was at Apple and they were able to see how dark it had become. They ran diagnostics on the phone and did see that the heat sensor had triggered. They had no explanation for what was happening. They seem to feel that the phone is operating normally... I've never had any other iPhone perform like that. Bottom line, they are ordering a one time warranty replacement under my apple care. If it continues to happen they will try a software reload.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp and determined09
Is these the 258GB iPhones? There are some other people that also had to get there iPhones replaced due to this problem
 
  • Like
Reactions: Paul830
Paul830 said:
↑
I was using my iPhone 7plus in the car today. It was charging and running waze (nav program). The outside temp. was 81 and air was on in the car. The iPhone 7 plus overheated and turned off giving overheating message. Before powering off the display got progressively darker until the phone completely powered down. I held the phone near the AC vent and it did finally "cool off" I have used every other iPhone in this same manner and have never had one power down due to overheating. The outside temp wasn't even that hot 81F. The phone did recover however I am somewhat concerned because I use my iPhones everyday for navigation in the car. I really can't have a phone that powered down at moderate temperature. I have an apt. with Apple tomorrow. Will let you know what they have to say.
Just got back from the Apple store. The phone heated up again while using WAZE and charging in the car. Outside temp. was 83F. Phone screen dimmed so dark that I was unable to see anything tried to close the app. but the screen touch was unresponsive. The screen remained dark for about 10 minutes...lucky I was at Apple and they were able to see how dark it had become. They ran diagnostics on the phone and did see that the heat sensor had triggered. They had no explanation for what was happening. They seem to feel that the phone is operating normally... I've never had any other iPhone perform like that. Bottom line, they are ordering a one time warranty replacement under my apple care. If it continues to happen they will try a software reload.
Click to expand...

Oh wow! Ok...thats NOT an indexing issue obviously.
Glad they reordered another one but "They seem to feel that the phone is operating normally" - No, thats far from normal! Ugh, I've had good experiences with Apple "Geniuses" and some pretty poor ones at my nearby Apple Store.
 
Mine got hot in the first couple of hours, when it was restoring from back up and updating all of my apps, etc. Didn't give warning or anything. Just got warm. Hasn't happened since.

Edit: My previous phones all did the same.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp, Fp_821 and Newtons Apple
Iphone 7 here..not hot..quite the opposite..it was like an ice box, felt like I was getting frostbite, took it back and they replaced it..no problems since
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
This needs a sticky. My 7plus is cool always even on intence tasks.

Wifes 7 and other 7 are overheating badly. Cant even touch the back. Both are 256g. Restored, set as new phone etc etc. same issue. After talk time, music or facetime.

Returning both. For exchange. Her coworker is experiencing the same thing. Although others i know are fine, but with plus models so cant compare.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp and determined09
(Has happened with previous iPhones) - The first 24 hours or so my iPhone 7 battery life wasn't too great and was warm at times. Now things are working fine. If the overheating continues and battery life drops after a few days, I would check with Apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp and determined09
Paul830 said:
↑
I was using my iPhone 7plus in the car today. It was charging and running waze (nav program). The outside temp. was 81 and air was on in the car. The iPhone 7 plus overheated and turned off giving overheating message.

Bottom line, they are ordering a one time warranty replacement under my apple care. If it continues to happen they will try a software reload.
Click to expand...

Wow. I think mine would've done something similar had I not shut it down early.

determined09 said:
Is these the 258GB iPhones? There are some other people that also had to get there iPhones replaced due to this problem
Click to expand...

Yes, 256GB AT&T. Interesting, are there any threads on it on here or on Apple forums that you know about?

Guda.FL said:
This needs a sticky. My 7plus is cool always even on intence tasks.

Wifes 7 and other 7 are overheating badly. Cant even touch the back. Both are 256g. Restored, set as new phone etc etc. same issue. After talk time, music or facetime.

Returning both. For exchange. Her coworker is experiencing the same thing. Although others i know are fine, but with plus models so cant compare.
Click to expand...

Interesting! That's very similar to my issue. I know someone had mentioned that when connected to power and on lock screen, iOS 10 is indexing and scanning your photos for their new features. But this happened away from a power source, and while on music.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
Mine iPhone 7+ did the same. Really warm when I downloaded the iOS 10 beta on my 6s plus also.


Iphone 7+ - I went in and killed the background refresh apps and rebooted my phone a few times. Problem solved and is back to normal. I have experienced this on multiple iPhones so not the least bit worried.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
Seems to be att 256g issue mostly from info i gathered. Be intersting to see what comes of it.
 
Paul830 said:
↑
I was using my iPhone 7plus in the car today. It was charging and running waze (nav program). The outside temp. was 81 and air was on in the car. The iPhone 7 plus overheated and turned off giving overheating message. Before powering off the display got progressively darker until the phone completely powered down. I held the phone near the AC vent and it did finally "cool off" I have used every other iPhone in this same manner and have never had one power down due to overheating. The outside temp wasn't even that hot 81F. The phone did recover however I am somewhat concerned because I use my iPhones everyday for navigation in the car. I really can't have a phone that powered down at moderate temperature. I have an apt. with Apple tomorrow. Will let you know what they have to say.
Just got back from the Apple store. The phone heated up again while using WAZE and charging in the car. Outside temp. was 83F. Phone screen dimmed so dark that I was unable to see anything tried to close the app. but the screen touch was unresponsive. The screen remained dark for about 10 minutes...lucky I was at Apple and they were able to see how dark it had become. They ran diagnostics on the phone and did see that the heat sensor had triggered. They had no explanation for what was happening. They seem to feel that the phone is operating normally... I've never had any other iPhone perform like that. Bottom line, they are ordering a one time warranty replacement under my apple care. If it continues to happen they will try a software reload.
Click to expand...
Don't forget there's also the new photo recognition scanning , going on in the background
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
Newjackboy said:
Don't forget there's also the new photo recognition scanning , going on in the background
Click to expand...

It doesn't scan in the background with any other apps running, I've noticed. It only does so when it's completely "free," locked, and charging. So using Waze wouldn't trigger the photo scanning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
Paul830 said:
↑
I was using my iPhone 7plus in the car today. It was charging and running waze (nav program). The outside temp. was 81 and air was on in the car. The iPhone 7 plus overheated and turned off giving overheating message. Before powering off the display got progressively darker until the phone completely powered down. I held the phone near the AC vent and it did finally "cool off" I have used every other iPhone in this same manner and have never had one power down due to overheating. The outside temp wasn't even that hot 81F. The phone did recover however I am somewhat concerned because I use my iPhones everyday for navigation in the car. I really can't have a phone that powered down at moderate temperature. I have an apt. with Apple tomorrow. Will let you know what they have to say.
Just got back from the Apple store. The phone heated up again while using WAZE and charging in the car. Outside temp. was 83F. Phone screen dimmed so dark that I was unable to see anything tried to close the app. but the screen touch was unresponsive. The screen remained dark for about 10 minutes...lucky I was at Apple and they were able to see how dark it had become. They ran diagnostics on the phone and did see that the heat sensor had triggered. They had no explanation for what was happening. They seem to feel that the phone is operating normally... I've never had any other iPhone perform like that. Bottom line, they are ordering a one time warranty replacement under my apple care. If it continues to happen they will try a software reload.
Click to expand...

Was it in direct sun ie windshield
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp
I have been having the same issue with my 7+ 32gb ATT. I can't even restore my iPhone because I keep getting the over heat warning and have to turn the iPhone off for it to cool down. Lets see how things are in a day or two. Otherwise I will have to get the iPhone replaced.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dianp and determined09
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back