Stay cool: Essential tips to keep tech from overheating

SALT LAKE CITY — As Utah’s summer temperatures soar, your body isn’t the only thing that needs protection from the heat. Your electronic devices are also vulnerable to overheating.

Picture this, you’re running errands, you leave your tablet in the car, and when you come back, its blazing hot. Now you’re worried that you’ve ruined your device.

“In everyday life that might happen, you might leave your device in the car,” Mike Langston with AT&T Rocky Mountain Region told KSL NewsRadio

The quick fix? Throw a blanket on it.

“We recommend keeping it out of direct sunlight covered with a blanket, putting it under your seat can help,” said Langston. “We hear a lot about people leaving [devices] in cars or just having it on the ground while they’re outside.”

Covering phones, tablets, laptops, and smartwatches can greatly reduce the risk of tech overheating. And yes, a case can be considered a cover. 

“We also recommend keeping a case on your phone that’ll help prevent (it) from overheating and (protect) it as well,” said Langston.

What happens to devices when they overheat?

“When devices overheat, three things you’ll see (are) a reduction in performance, reduced battery life, and a reduced lifespan of the device itself,” Langston said.

The Apple Support website says that using iOS devices in high-temperature conditions might cause your device to regulate its temperature. This can permanently shorten battery life, according to the Apple Support website.

Tips to keep tech from overheating

Langston has three tips to keep tech from overheating.

“Make sure your device is up to date … turning on your software updates to make sure all apps are working properly. This will help your device run more efficiently and help prevent overheating.

Keep your device out of direct sunlight. Most people do this by leaving it outside or in the car. Extreme heat can potentially damage your wireless device.

And finally, charge your device at night. That way, you don’t have to charge it during the heat of the day.”

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