Why Is My iPhone So Hot After the iOS 18.5 Update? Here is How to fix the issue.

If you’re like me and you recently updated your iPhone to iOS 18.5 and suddenly it feels like it’s been sunbathing in the Sahara, you’re definitely not alone. I literally thought something was wrong with my phone because the back was getting way too warm, especially when I wasn’t even doing anything intense like gaming or video editing. Just scrolling through Instagram or texting and boom—hot pocket iPhone.

So, I went down the rabbit hole (aka Google and Reddit) to figure out what’s going on, and honestly, it’s a mix of things. Let’s break it down together and maybe help each other chill out—literally.

1. It’s Kinda Normal Right After an Update

This is probably the most common reason and actually not something to panic over. After you install a major iOS update like 18.5, your phone does a whole bunch of stuff in the background—indexing, optimizing apps, syncing data, redoing settings, etc. Basically, it’s working overtime behind the scenes to settle into the new software.

I noticed the overheating started within the first few hours after updating, and apparently, that’s exactly when it’s most common. Your phone’s processor is just working a lot harder than usual. Some people say it can take a few hours to a couple of days to calm down. For me, it took about a day and a half before things started cooling off.

2. Battery Drain + Heat = Bad Combo

Another thing I noticed was my battery was draining way faster than usual. Like I’d charge it to 100%, and within a couple of hours of just light use, it would be down to 60%. And when your battery’s under stress, it heats up. It’s kinda like when your laptop’s fans start blasting when you open too many tabs—it’s the same kind of deal.

A lot of people said certain apps hadn’t been updated yet to work well with iOS 18.5, so they were kinda bugging out and eating up battery. I checked my battery settings (Settings > Battery > Battery Usage), and saw one or two apps (cough cough, Facebook and TikTok) using a ton of background activity. I turned off background app refresh for them and that seemed to help a little.

3. iOS 18.5 Might Be Buggy (At Least for Now)

Let’s be honest, sometimes new iOS updates aren’t perfect right out the gate. iOS 18.5 is still pretty fresh, and while Apple usually squashes bugs fast, early versions can come with some weird issues—including overheating.

Some people on Reddit were talking about a potential bug that messes with the thermal management system. That’s basically the thing that keeps your phone from getting too hot. If that’s glitching, it could definitely explain why your iPhone feels like a hand warmer.

I haven’t seen Apple officially say anything about it yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they release a small patch (like 18.5.1 or something) soon to fix it.

4. Widgets and Live Activities Can Be Sneaky Heat Monsters

One random thing I noticed—after updating, I had a couple of new widgets and live activities turned on. I don’t know if iOS 18.5 just re-enabled stuff I turned off before or added new stuff automatically, but these can use your location or refresh in the background constantly, which adds up.

I had a weather widget on my lock screen and a calendar thing showing live countdowns. Both of those seemed small, but after I removed them, my phone actually cooled down noticeably. So definitely check your widgets and kill anything you don’t really need.

5. iPhone Case Might Be Trapping the Heat

Okay this one sounds kinda dumb but hear me out. I have a super thick rubber case that’s awesome for drops (I’m clumsy) but probably not great when your phone’s trying to cool off. After the update, when my phone was heating up more than usual, I took the case off just to test it—and yep, it actually stayed a bit cooler without it.

If you’re using a really heavy or thick case, maybe try going case-less (at least for a bit) and see if that helps. It’s a small thing but might make a difference if your phone’s already struggling.

6. Location Services Always On? Might Be Worth Checking

Another sneaky heat culprit is your location settings. After the update, some apps seemed to reset themselves and started using my location “Always” instead of “While Using.” This can seriously heat up your phone, especially if you’ve got multiple apps pinging GPS all day long.

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, and scroll through all your apps. If you see any set to “Always” that don’t really need it, switch them to “While Using” or “Never.”

What You Can Do Right Now:

If your iPhone’s been getting too hot since the iOS 18.5 update, here’s a quick checklist that helped me:

Wait 24–48 hours after the update—it may just need time to settle.
Restart your phone (simple but underrated).
Turn off background app refresh for apps you don’t need.
Check which apps are draining your battery.
Remove unnecessary widgets and live activities.
Take off your case for a bit and see if it helps.
Tweak location services for apps using it too much.
If it’s really bad, try a full reset or even reinstall iOS via iTunes (kind of a last resort though).

Final Thoughts

iOS 18.5 seems like a decent update overall, but yeah, the overheating thing is annoying. For me, the issue got better after a day or two, but I totally get how it’s stressful when it feels like your phone is literally cooking your hand.

Hopefully, Apple drops a patch soon if it turns out to be a legit bug. In the meantime, try those quick fixes and keep an eye on it. And hey, if nothing works and your phone still feels like a mini volcano, don’t be afraid to hit up Apple Support.

If you’ve been dealing with the same thing, let me know what worked (or didn’t work) for you. I’m still experimenting with stuff, and honestly, it’s always nice to know I’m not the only one freaking out over a warm phone!

Also read: https://thephoneyguy.com/is-apple-launching-a-foldable-phone-in-2026/