The one common mistake millions will make in coming months that wrecks their phone batteries – and how YOU can prevent it

Another scorching summer means people are looking to sunscreen, shades and air conditioning to keep themselves cool. But what about your cell phone?

While you might be enjoying the hot weather, your phone could be sweltering — incurring damage that can cost you serious money down the line.

Heat from the sun’s rays can damage your mobile device’s internal circuits and even cut down its battery life. Over time, continued heat exposure can even lead to data loss or screen damage, among other performance issues. 

So, if you notice that you phone feels warmer than usual when you’re out at the beach or by the pool, here are some failsafe strategies to help cool it down and give your device an endless summer.  

Keep your phone away from other electronics 

If you are resting your phone on another piece of tech, such as your laptop or tablet, you are increasing its proximity to more warmth that may contribute to overheating on a hot day.

Switch it off  

When it’s not in use, it might be wise to shut down your phone stops. Think of it like a car in idle, which runs hotter than a car with its engine switched off. 

Keeping all that electricity from needlessly pumping through your phone’s circuitry helps prevent it from overheating.

Take off the case 

On a hot day, your phone’s case can act as extra layer of insulation, trapping heat like a sweater. 

You won’t be bundling up yourself, so when possible let your phone have a breather by letting it go au naturel.

No direct sunlight

Direct solar attention is the last thing your phone needs, so move it to a shaded spot to reduce the amount of heat coming at it from above.

Dim your phone’s screen

If your screen feels warm, it may mean that your device’s central processing unit (CPU) is overheating. So, try lowering the brightness of your phone’s touchscreen and give its CPU a much needed break.

Update the operating system and your apps. 

Mobile developers are often figuring out how to make their software more efficient for your phone. So, running your apps and operating system on the latest version will use less of your device’s energy, keeping it cool in the process. 

Delete unused apps. 

Some apps may be running in the background on your phone, leaving your CPU working overtime to power your phone and heating it up in the process. Uninstalling any unused apps will help lessen the load on your device, keeping its temperature down and its processing speed up. 

Shut down needless apps. 

Alternatively, you can also comb through your phone for apps you are not using and shut them down. Each additional app that’s open is demanding more effort from your phone to run, raising its body temperature.

Use a correct and undamaged charger. 

A shoddy, third party charger or even a good charger that has seen better days can pump electricity into your mobile device in a way that contributes to overheating. If your noticing unusual warmth from your phone, it’s always a good idea to check for damage around the cable, port, and plug.

Avoid using your phone while it’s charging.

Just the process of charging your phone can cause it to get warmer, so running a lot of apps on top of that can sometimes bring it over the edge and closer to heat damage.

Steer clear of sudden temperature changes. In a crisis, you might be tempted to take drastic measures with an overheating phone, but don’t. Avoid putting your device anywhere too cold like the fridge or freezer. Many of the materials in your phone can expand in the heat or contract in the cold, and sudden changes can contribute to wear and tear.  

Don’t put your phone underwater. 

This one may seem obvious, but even if it’s IP68 certified waterproof, please don’t dunk your mobile device underwater to keep it cool and refreshed. 

Ultimately, if you can’t stop your phone from overheating, no matter what from the tips and trick above that you try, then your safest bet is to just turn it off. 

Keeping it shut down will help prevent any further damage to your phone, until you can get an expert to have a look at what might be wrong with it.

Of course, there’s always the chance there’s no saving the phone, whether it’s from the heat damage or something that contributed to the overheating. In this case, you might want to consider trading your phone in to tech recycling specialists, like Envirofone, or back to the manufacturer, if you have a warranty deal, like AppleCare.

When the fun of the summer months comes to a close, you’ll want to have no regrets. Plus you’ll want all those vacation photos on your phones camera roll. So take care of your device and beat the heat.