How to Resolve Overheating on Your iPad

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Remove external protective cases

   Thick folio covers and rugged protective shells can trap heat during charging or high-intensity tasks. Remove the iPad from its case to allow direct airflow to the aluminum chassis, which acts as a heat sink. Allow the device to sit on a hard, flat surface away from direct sunlight.

   Note: Avoid using the iPad on soft surfaces like blankets or beds, as these obstruct ventilation.
2. 1 min

   Identify resource-intensive applications

   Navigate to Settings > Battery to view the battery usage list. Identify any applications consuming a disproportionate percentage of energy over the last 24 hours. Tap the app icon and force-quit it by swiping up from the bottom of the home screen or App Switcher interface.

   Note: If an app consistently draws high power, consider deleting and reinstalling it.
3. 45 sec

   Disable background activity

   Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle the switch to Off. This prevents applications from updating content while not in active use, reducing CPU load and heat generation. This is especially effective if your iPad heats up while idle.

   Note: You can also choose to disable this setting only for specific high-demand apps.
4. 30 sec

   Lower screen brightness

   High display output is a primary source of thermal load. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen and drag the brightness slider to the 50% mark or lower. Alternatively, enable Auto-Brightness in Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

   Note: Turning on Dark Mode can also help reduce the energy demands on the display panel.
5. 2 min

   Check for iPadOS updates

   Software bugs can occasionally cause runaway processes that spike CPU usage. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for available patches. Install any pending updates to ensure your system firmware is optimized for thermal management.

   Note: Always perform updates while the device is cool to prevent a mid-update shutdown.
6. 1 min

   Perform a forced restart

   If the iPad remains unresponsive or warm, perform a hard reboot to clear the system cache. For iPads without a Home button: press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears.

   Note: This does not erase your data; it merely terminates all hung background processes.