Published on June 26, 2026
When temperatures rise this summer, your phone can feel it too! However, with a few easy steps from Cricket Wireless, you can protect your phone from the sun and keep it cool and performing smoothly through the summer and beyond.
How do I know if my phone is in danger of overheating?
Extreme heat can affect your phone in more ways than you might expect. It can drain the battery faster, slow down performance, and in some cases even cause the device to shut down. To prevent this, some phones will display a heat warning if the internal temperature gets too high. However, there are some additional warning signs that your phone may be in danger of overheating.
Look out for the following:
- The phone feels unusually hot, especially on the back near the battery or processor
- Performance slows down, apps lag, or the screen becomes less responsive
- The phone battery drains much faster than normal
- Charging slows, pauses, or the phone won’t charge
- The screen dims automatically
- Apps crash or the phone restarts unexpectedly
How can I prevent my phone from overheating?
It’s not just rising temperatures that can cause your phone to overheat, how you use it is just as important. However, a few simple habits can prevent your phone from overheating in the summer and perform more efficiently year-round.
- Throw some shade - Keep your phone out of direct sunlight especially in cars or on windowsills. Try to keep your phone in a cool, shaded place
- Lower screen brightness - Dimming your screen slightly can save your battery. Use battery save mode if available.
- Avoid gaming or video streaming – Apps and features that require more processing are more of a drain on your battery
- Restart your phone - If you feel your phone getting unusally warm, power down your phone for a few minutes and restart
- Check battery health - An aging battery can cause your phone’s temperature to increase
- Turn off features you are not using - Some features like Bluetooth, GPS, or hotspot can drain your battery unnecessarily
You can help keep your phone safe before you even leave for that big summer road trip. Make sure your essential apps like maps and rideshares are downloaded in advance while you’re still home in the air conditioning. This can prolong your battery life when you’re out and about.
How do I keep my phone safe at the beach?
Between the sand, water hazards and the blazing sun, a day at the beach is no day at the beach for your phone! Here’s a few tips to keep your phone out of harm’s way.
- Avoid direct sunlight - Don’t leave your phone on a beach chair or in your car
- Keep your phone dry - Make sure your phone is some place safe before you go swimming. But keep in mind only a small amount of water can damage your phone. Consider investing in a waterproof case to protect your phone. If not, even a simple plastic bag will do in a pinch.
- Avoid getting sand in your phone - Even a small amount of coarse sand could scratch your phone screen, damage your camera lens or even clog your charging port. Don’t place your phone directly in the sand or even handle with sandy hands.
What if my phone overheats?
If your phone does overheat, it can still avoid long-term damage if you:- Move the phone to a cool, shaded place
- If it’s charging, unplug it
- Remove the case temporarily if the phone feels hot while charging or gaming
If my phone overheats, should I put it in the refrigerator or freezer?
No. Sudden changes in temperature can damage your phone. Place your phone in a shaded, dry place at room temperature until it cools down.
Does Cricket Wireless offer a protection plan?
Yes, we offer Cricket Protect, a feature that can be added to your eligible device. If your phone is lost, stolen or damaged, Cricket Protect can help. If you have more questions about Cricket Protect, check out our FAQ page for details.
Help your phone chill out
Summer heat doesn’t have to slow your phone down. With a little shade, and a few smart habits from Cricket Wireless, you can help keep your device ready for road trips, beach days, backyard hangs, and everything in between.