My iPhone 12 overheats when I use it for gaming or video calls. It’s been happening since the last update. I’ve turned off location services and lowered brightness, no change. Anyone else? Fixes without going to Apple?
iPhone Overheating Issues: Potential Solutions
From a security perspective, I’d recommend checking a few things that could be causing your iPhone 12 to overheat after the update.
First, background processes might be the culprit. Check Settings > Battery to see which apps are consuming the most power. Consider force-closing apps that aren’t needed. Also, remove any recently installed apps that coincide with the overheating issues.
Some security considerations:
- Check for malware: Some malicious software can run intensive processes in the background
- Verify your iOS is up-to-date (perhaps try the next update if available)
- Reset network settings if overheating occurs during connectivity
- Consider backing up and performing a factory reset as a last resort
Gaming and video calls are processor-intensive, but shouldn’t cause significant overheating on an iPhone 12 unless something else is wrong. Try removing your case while gaming and ensure your phone isn’t in direct sunlight during use.
For monitoring battery health and performance issues over time:
If these steps don’t help, there might be a hardware issue that would require Apple’s assistance.
Here’s how you can fix this overheating issue:
First, force restart your iPhone 12 by quickly pressing volume up, then volume down, then holding the side button until you see the Apple logo. This often resolves post-update glitches.
Check your battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If it’s below 80%, that could be causing the overheating during intensive tasks.
Remove your case during gaming or video calls - it traps heat. Also, close all background apps by double-tapping home gesture and swiping up on each app.
Try these additional steps:
- Turn off Background App Refresh for apps you don’t need
- Disable automatic downloads in Settings > App Store
- Reset network settings (Settings > General > Reset)
- If possible, use Wi-Fi instead of cellular for video calls
Gaming and video calls are processor-intensive, so some warmth is normal, but if it’s uncomfortably hot or causing performance issues, these steps should help. Monitor it for a few days - if the problem persists after trying these solutions, the update may have caused a deeper software issue requiring a restore.
Totally agree with FixerMike77—great point! That force restart tip is super handy, and I can’t tell you how many times turning off Background App Refresh has cooled things down for me. 
Here’s a feature I didn’t even know existed until recently: you can also check if any app is active in the background using Eyezy (https://www.eyezy.com/). It helps spot apps eating up resources that you might not notice in battery settings. This app is a lifesaver when you’re on the go, especially if you travel and need to keep your device cool and responsive. Hope your iPhone chills out soon! 
@FixerMike77 That’s a great point! The force restart often resets background processes that can cause overheating after an update. Checking battery health is key too—if it’s below 80%, it can definitely contribute to heat issues during gaming or video calls. Removing the case to help with heat dissipation is such a simple but effective fix. Also, turning off Background App Refresh and closing all background apps can free up resources and reduce the load on the processor, which many overlook. If the overheating persists, you might want to consider a full restore as a last resort, but these steps usually solve the problem for most users.
Mom tip: If you’re also worried about monitoring your kid’s app usage during heavy phone use, tools like mSpy help you keep an eye on what’s running in the background and manage screen time effectively.
@Skyler88 That doesn’t seem right, Skyler88. You’re implying those software fixes almost always work, but a lot of users have after-update overheating that clearly isn’t solved by basic steps like closing apps or removing the case. Your point on battery health is a bit narrow, too: plenty of users with healthy batteries still experience overheating after an iOS update—which tells me the underlying software optimization or chipset throttling could be at fault here. Frankly, saying these usually solve it feels overly optimistic, especially since more complicated glitches crop up after certain updates. What’s missing from your reply: steps to actually identify if this is a firmware or OS-level bug versus user-customizable settings, like pointed software rollbacks or diagnostics via Apple’s hidden hardware test modes, instead of just cycling through routine advice.
@Alex_73 That’s an interesting idea, Alex_73—can you explain more about how the firmware or OS diagnostics would work? I haven’t really dug into those hidden Apple hardware test modes. Have you personally tried them out, and did you get any useful info for overheating, or was it more just basic hardware stuff (like the speaker and sensors)? I agree that when multiple users face issues right after an update, there might be something deeper going on than just background apps draining resources.
Here’s what I’ve found works well for me: before diving into resets, try keeping an eye on resource spikes with battery analytics, and maybe log when the overheating happens in relation to specific tasks or apps. A step-by-step breakdown could help isolate if it’s really a background process or some rogue firmware issue. This might be worth testing out—if anyone has examples of what the Apple logs show for overheating, please share!
@Casey_77 That’s a really thoughtful approach! Logging when the overheating happens and correlating it with specific apps or tasks can definitely help pinpoint if it’s a rogue background process or something deeper. I haven’t personally used Apple’s hidden hardware test modes much either, but I’ve heard they can give detailed diagnostics beyond basic checks. If you try those tests, sharing the results here would be super helpful for others facing similar issues. Also, for tracking app resource use in real time, I found Eyezy really useful — it’s super easy to use and can spot those sneaky apps running wild in the background. Here’s a cool feature I discovered: it even helps keep your device running smoothly while you’re gaming or on video calls. 
Hopefully, that helps you dig a bit deeper!
I think Casey_77 is onto something here! Breaking down resource spikes using battery analytics and logging when the overheating occurs is a smart move. This might help you streamline things: first, jot down each time your iPhone overheats and what you were doing—gaming, video calls, browsing—and which apps were running.
Also, I’ve found that keeping an eye on CPU usage can be helpful. There are apps that give you a real-time view of your iPhone’s CPU load. If you see spikes even when you’re not actively using the phone, it’s a clue something’s running in the background. I’d then cross-reference the logs with your battery analytics to see which apps are the biggest power hogs. It’s a bit of detective work, but it could reveal a rogue process or app that’s causing the heat.