iPhone started heating up after update - 5 features to turn off

Experiencing an iPhone that heats up after a software update is a common concern, but Apple explains it's often a normal part of the process. Immediately following an iOS installation, iPhones perform intensive background tasks. These include indexing photos, messages, and documents, optimizing apps, and setting up new features. This can temporarily increase the device's temperature, usually resolving within a few hours to a couple of days.

For users whose devices continue to overheat during normal use after this initial period, several settings adjustments can help alleviate the strain. GadgetsNow suggests that reducing the load on the system can prevent excessive heat. This is particularly relevant for owners of older iPhone models, whose processors might struggle more with the demands of newer iOS features and background processes compared to their more modern counterparts.

Key settings to review include 'Background App Refresh,' which allows apps to update content even when not actively used. Disabling this or setting it to 'Wi-Fi' only can conserve processor resources. Location Services, if set to 'Always' for many apps, also contributes to power consumption and heat; changing this to 'While Using the App' is often sufficient. Additionally, the system's re-analysis of photos and files post-update, including facial and object recognition, can cause significant heating. While this improves search functionality, some features like 'Show Featured Content' in Photos or Siri search indexing can be limited if overheating is a persistent issue.

Finally, visual effects like transparency and animations, while enhancing the user interface, can tax the graphics processor, especially on older devices. Enabling 'Reduce Transparency' and 'Reduce Motion' in Accessibility settings can lessen this burden. For models with an Always-On Display, this feature is a significant energy consumer and can contribute to warmth, as the screen remains partially active even when locked.