How to fix an Apple iPhone XR that is overheating after installing a new update [Troubleshooting Guide]

Overheating problems in iPhones are usually attributed to software errors, particularly rogue apps. Many iPhone owners also bump into the same problem after installing a new update on their respective devices. Post-update overheating problem on an iPhone is usually inflicted by an update bug or simply due to some apps that are acting up after the system transition. In worst cases, overheating problems can be due to some bad hardware components including a damaged battery or other relevant iPhone components. For hardware-related issues, service is often needed.

There are various ways that will help you rule out software problems that might have caused your iPhone to overheat. Highlighted in this post are some recommended procedures that are applied to an iPhone XR device. Feel free to refer to this walkthrough whenever you end up facing the same overheating dilemma after installing the latest system update on your iPhone XR.

For those who are looking for a solution to a different problem, drop by our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most common issues with this phone. Browse through the page to find issues that are similar with yours and use the solutions we suggested. If they don’t work for you or if you still need our help, contact us anytime through our iPhone issues questionnaire.

First solution: End all background apps then restart your iPhone.

Rogue apps are usually the main culprits of iPhone overheating. And the apps that are more prone to becoming rogue are those that are left opened or suspended during the update — the background apps. Thus you need to work on them first. So here’s what you should do then:

From the Home screen, swipe your finger up and then pause.
Swipe right or left to navigate through apps preview.
Then swipe up on each app preview to end/clear individual apps.

After clearing all background applications, restart your iPhone to dump junk files and temporary data that are stored as cache on the phone memory. Any of these files might have been corrupted from the update and eventually triggers the phone to heat up so quickly. Here’s how to soft reset or restart your iPhone XR:

Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears and then drag the power off slider to the right.
After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power/Side button again until the phone reboots.

Alternatively, you can force restart your iPhone XR with these steps:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Then, press and hold the Power button on the side of the phone and then release when the phone reboots.

Wait until your iPhone boots up and then try to use it as you normally do. If the phone is still overheating, then you need to troubleshoot further.

Second solution: Install pending app updates.

Other apps that have gone rogue after the recent system transition can also be rectified by updating them. Any app could become rogue after installing a new iOS version especially if they’re out of date. In that case, the problem can resolve by updating the application. To manually check for and install pending app updates on your iPhone XR, simply follow these steps:

Tap to open the App Store then scroll down to Updates section.
Navigate through the list of apps with pending updates.
Tap the Update button next to the name of the app, to manually update individual apps.
If multiple app updates are available, then just tap the Update All button to install all app updates at once.

After installing all pending updates for your apps, restart your iPhone to implement the recent changes and to refresh your apps.

Third solution: Uninstall then reinstall rogue apps.

The iOS 12 platform offers a better way of viewing and managing battery usage, allowing you to view your phone’s battery health status and to manage battery consumption for your apps. You can also use this information to identify rogue apps that trigger massive battery draining or overheating problem on your device. To check the battery usage details on your iPhone XR, follow these steps:

Tap Settings from the Home screen.
Select Battery.

To determine the current battery health status of your iPhone battery, tap on Battery Health. An estimated health percentage of your iPhone will display. If it shows that the battery health is poor, then you may have to do something to improve battery health so as to make it strong enough to operate at peak performance.

To view more details about battery usage, scroll down then tap the Last 24 Hours or Last 10 Hours tab. By default, your iPhone will show the last 24 hours of your iPhone battery usage. Review the details to determine which from your apps is using the most of your iPhone power at the given period of time. If you see any unusual power consumption by an application, then you may need to manage that app and make it power-efficient or simply remove the bad app from your phone.

Alternatively, you can reinstall rogue apps on your iPhone XR with these steps:

From the Home screen, tap and hold on an app icon until the icons start jiggling.
Tap the X on the app that you want to uninstall.
Read the warning prompt, and then select Delete to confirm deletion of the app.
Reboot your iPhone XR (soft reset) after deleting bad apps.
Then open the App Store.
Search for and select the preferred app from the App Store search results.
Tap the Cloud icon or Get button to download and reinstall the app.

Reboot your iPhone after reinstalling apps then test your device to see if it still overheats afterward.

Fourth solution: Reset all settings.

It is recommended to reset all settings after updating your device to prevent having errors due to invalid system overrides. Some updates automatically change or override your iPhone settings and that could result to either good or bad outcome. Apparently in this case, you’re getting a bad outcome and that’s what you need to correct. To clear out any incorrect or invalid settings that caused the phone’s battery or power system to act up, follow these steps to reset all settings and restore the original options and values on your phone:

From your Home screen, tap on Settings.
Select General.
Scroll down to and then tap on Reset.
Select the option to Reset all settings.
If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.
Then confirm settings reset.

Follow the rest of the onscreen prompts to complete the entire process. When the reset is finished, your iPhone should reboot. You then can start enabling individual options and features you want to use again on your phone such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Fifth solution: Restore factory settings on your iPhone XR (master reset).

A master reset or factory reset can be considered among the last options if your iPhone is still overheating after applying all prior solutions. This reset may be necessary to get rid of any complex errors that might have ruined the phone’s power system and eventually caused the device to overheat. Should you wish to proceed with the reset, back up all your important files so you will still be able to recover them later. You can back them up to iCloud or to a computer drive/folder through iTunes. Then you may proceed with these steps whenever you’re all set to reset your iPhone XR to its factory settings:

From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
Select General.
Scroll down to and then tap on Reset.
Select the option to Erase all content and settings.
If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.
Then tap the option to confirm factory reset.

After the reset, your iPhone reboots by itself and then loads all the default settings and configuration. To use your phone again, you can proceed to the initial setup process. Just follow the setup wizard to get things done.

Seek more help

You may escalate the problem to your iPhone provider or contact Apple Support to let them know about the issue you’re having after installing a new iOS update on your iPhone XR. Doing so will prompt them to make further assessments on their end and if necessary, develop a fix patch to address a post-update overheating problem. Alternatively, you can take your iPhone to the nearest Apple service center and have it scrutinized by an authorized technician to rule out hardware damage like a bad battery from the possible triggers.

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