If your iPhone 16 feels unusually warm, it's often a temporary issue you can fix quickly. The most common culprit is a background app or process working overtime. A simple force restart usually clears this up and is my go-to first step.
Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen. This doesn't erase any data, and it can stop whatever software task is causing the heat.
Remove the Case and Check Your Environment
Take your iPhone 16 out of its case, especially if it's a thick or insulating one. Cases, while protective, can trap heat against the phone's body and prevent it from dissipating properly. Let the phone sit on a cool, hard surface for a few minutes to see if the temperature starts to drop.
Also, consider where you're using the phone. Leaving it in direct sunlight, like on a car dashboard or by a sunny window, will cause it to overheat rapidly. The same goes for using it in a hot car or while it's tucked under a blanket. Move it to a cooler, shaded spot immediately.
Stop Intensive Tasks and Close Apps
If you're in the middle of a graphically intense game, recording a long 4K video, or using augmented reality apps, these activities make the processor work very hard. I'd pause what you're doing and close the app by swiping it away from the app switcher. Give the phone a few minutes to cool down before resuming.
Also, check for apps running in the background. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to see all your open apps. Swipe up on any you aren't actively using to close them. Background app refresh for non-essential apps can also generate heat, which you can manage in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.
Check Your Charging Setup
Wireless charging, particularly at the full 25W MagSafe speed, generates more heat than wired charging. If your phone is hot while charging, try switching to a wired USB-C connection. Make sure you're using an Apple-certified or MFi-certified USB-C cable and a compatible power adapter.
MagSafe chargers need precise alignment with the ring of magnets in the back of your iPhone 16. A thick case can misalign the charger, causing it to be less efficient and generate excess heat. Try charging without a case to see if that resolves the overheating issue. Also, avoid using the phone for demanding tasks while it's fast charging, as this combines two heat-generating activities.
Update to the Latest Version of iOS
Software bugs can sometimes cause abnormal processor activity and overheating. Apple frequently releases iOS updates that include performance improvements and bug fixes. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to see if a newer version of iOS 26 is available.
Install any available update, preferably while your phone is cool and connected to power. It's a good idea to do this over Wi-Fi. After the update completes, the phone may run a bit warm as it re-indexes files and data in the background, but this should settle down within a day.
Review Battery and Charging Settings
Head to Settings > Battery > Charging. Here, you can see if a feature like "80% Limit" or "Optimized Battery Charging" is active. These features are designed to improve battery lifespan by managing charging patterns, but they can sometimes behave unexpectedly after a software update.
You can temporarily turn off Optimized Battery Charging to see if it affects the heating issue while plugged in. Also, check the Battery Health section in Settings. While a degraded battery can cause issues, it's less likely on a newer device like the iPhone 16 unless there's a defect.
Reset All Settings
If the overheating persists and isn't linked to a specific app or activity, a misconfigured setting might be the cause. You can try resetting all settings. This won't delete your photos, messages, or apps, but it will revert all system settings (like Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, and privacy permissions) back to their defaults.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, and then choose "Reset All Settings." Your phone will restart. Afterward, you'll need to reconfigure things like Face ID and notifications, but it can clear out any software glitches causing thermal problems.
Check for Physical Blockages
While less common on a new phone, it's worth inspecting the USB-C port. Shine a light into the port to see if any lint or debris has become compacted at the bottom. This can interfere with a proper cable connection and sometimes cause electrical issues that lead to heat.
If you see debris, carefully try to remove it with a non-metallic tool, like a plastic toothpick. Be very gentle to avoid damaging the delicate pins inside the port. A clean port ensures a secure connection for both data transfer and efficient charging.
Identify a Problematic App
Sometimes, a single app is the source of the trouble. Go to Settings > Battery. Scroll down to see battery usage by app for the last 24 hours or last 10 days. Look for any app showing a high percentage of battery use that doesn't match how much you actually used it.
An app with a background activity ratio that seems off could be malfunctioning and using excessive CPU resources. Try force-closing that specific app, or check for an update in the App Store. If no update is available and the problem continues, you might consider deleting and reinstalling the app.
