What to Do When Your iPad is Getting Hot

Worried about how hot your iPad is getting? Here's what you can do

by Jordan Baranowski
Jordan Baranowski is a former Lifewire writer and educator with experience writing for SVG, The Nerd Stash, and Feast Magazine.
Updated December 10, 2019

If your iPad has been around for a while, there's a good chance it can get warm on occasion. There are many reasons this might happen, but it's only something to worry about if it happens frequently or the temperature gets extreme. Let's look at a few reasons why your iPad is getting hot and what you can do about it.

Why Is My iPad Getting so Hot?

There are a lot of different things that can cause your iPad to get too hot, but they all generally break down into a couple of categories:

  • iPad is using a lot of its internal processing power: This could occur when restoring from a backup or if your device is doing something intensive, like retagging photos after a major software update. Your iPad also uses a lot of power when playing games with heavy 3D-graphics or using augmented reality apps.
  • iPad is in hot, external conditions or direct sunlight for extended periods: This is amplified if you're using your iPad in those conditions, like using GPS in a hot car.

What Problems Can iPad Overheating Cause?

Again, some heat is normal during heavy use, but you may notice a few features not working if your iPad is overheating, including:

  • Apps slowing down or stopping.
  • Camera flash stops functioning.
  • Charging slows down or stops completely.
  • Display dimming.

If the temperature is getting dangerously high, a warning message should appear on your screen.

iPhone temperature warning
 Apple

How to Fix iPad That's Getting Too Hot

Don't panic if your iPad starts to get warm, but be aware of it and do what you can to help cool it down.

One thing to never, ever do if your iPad is getting too hot is to put it in a freezer or in front of an air conditioning unit. The rapid cooling can cause condensation to form and damage the internal mechanisms of your device.

  1. Get it somewhere cool. Take the iPad out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. Again, you shouldn't need anything drastic, but give it an opportunity to cool down.

  2. Stop using apps. Close down any apps that are running, especially games that have a lot of 3D graphics or apps using augmented reality. These apps tend to use more processing power, raising the internal temperature of your iPad.

  3. Don't use iPad while charging. Charging your iPad can raise the temperature a good amount, especially if it's in use while charging.

  4. Turn it off. This will cool it down very quickly, and a good restart could be what your iPad needs.

  5. Apple Repair. If you notice your iPad is frequently overheating, especially when it's not in heavy use, there's most likely something wrong with the internal mechanisms of your device. Take it in to the Apple Store so they can diagnose the problem.