Phone Overheating After Update? Common Causes Explained



Phone Overheating After Update? Common Causes Explained

If your phone started overheating right after a software update, you’re not imagining it. AvNexo users across the UK — from London and Manchester to Leeds, Bristol, and Edinburgh — regularly report temperature warnings, battery drain, and warm devices within days of installing updates. This happens on both Android and iPhone, and in most cases, it’s not a hardware failure.

The key is understanding what updates actually change under the hood and why phones often behave differently in the first few days after installation.

Why Updates Often Trigger Overheating

Software updates don’t just add features. They rebuild system components, re-index data, retrain background processes, and sometimes introduce bugs. All of this can temporarily push your phone harder than normal.

AvNexo testing shows that most post-update overheating falls into predictable categories.

Background Re-indexing and Optimisation

After an update, your phone quietly works in the background:

  • Re-indexing photos, messages, and files
  • Rebuilding app caches
  • Optimising apps for the new OS version

This activity can last hours or even days. Users in Birmingham and Nottingham often notice phones getting warm even when idle — especially overnight.

This is normal behaviour, but it does generate sustained CPU activity and heat.

Apps Not Yet Optimised for the New Version

One of the most common causes of overheating after updates is app incompatibility.

Some apps haven’t been fully optimised for the new OS yet. They may:

  • Loop background processes
  • Fail to sleep properly
  • Use excessive CPU or network resources

Social media apps, navigation tools, and finance apps are frequent offenders. AvNexo users in London reported that removing or updating a single app stopped overheating completely.

Network Behaviour Changes After Updates

Updates often reset or modify network behaviour, which directly affects heat.

5G Re-scanning and Signal Hunting

After updates, phones may aggressively search for the best 5G connection. In cities like Sheffield, Leeds, or parts of Greater London where 5G coverage fluctuates, this causes constant network switching.

Phones on EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three all behave this way when signal strength is inconsistent.

More radio activity equals more heat.

Carrier Settings Refresh

Updates often refresh carrier profiles. During this period, phones may reconnect repeatedly to the network, especially in weak indoor signal areas.

This explains why overheating sometimes only happens indoors or on trains.

Battery Calibration After Updates

Many updates reset battery calibration data.

Until the system relearns your usage patterns:

  • Charging may generate more heat
  • Battery percentage may drop faster
  • Thermal limits may trigger earlier

AvNexo users in Bristol and York noticed charging-related overheating for several days after updating, which later resolved on its own.

Increased Background Permissions

Some updates silently re-enable permissions:

  • Location access
  • Bluetooth scanning
  • Background data syncing

Apps that previously slept may suddenly wake frequently. This is especially noticeable on Android devices.

Visual and Animation Changes

New animations, transitions, or UI effects can slightly increase GPU load.

While each change is minor, combined with background optimisation and network activity, it can push temperatures over warning thresholds — particularly on older devices.

How Long Post-Update Overheating Should Last

Based on AvNexo user reports across the UK:

  • 24–48 hours: Very common and usually harmless
  • 3–5 days: Still normal if gradually improving
  • More than a week: Likely an app, network, or settings issue

If overheating continues beyond a week during light use, it’s time to intervene.

What You Should Do Immediately After an Update

Restart Your Phone

This sounds basic, but many users skip it. Restarting clears stuck optimisation processes.

Update All Apps

App updates often follow OS updates closely.

App Store / Play Store → Update all

Users in Manchester reported major heat reduction after updating apps within 24 hours.

Check Battery Usage

Settings → Battery → Usage

Look for apps consuming power in the background. One misbehaving app can cause most overheating issues.

Temporarily Disable 5G

Settings → Mobile Network → Preferred network → 4G / LTE

This is especially effective in unstable 5G areas on EE and O2 networks.

Charging Habits That Make Things Worse

After updates, phones are already working harder. Combining that with poor charging habits increases heat:

  • Fast charging while using the phone
  • Wireless charging on warm surfaces
  • Charging with thick cases on

AvNexo users in London noticed fewer warnings simply by charging overnight without touching the device.

When Overheating Signals a Real Problem

Post-update overheating may indicate hardware issues if:

  • The phone overheats while idle in cool environments
  • Temperature warnings appear daily without heavy use
  • The device shuts down unexpectedly
  • The battery drains extremely fast

In these cases, the update may have exposed an already degraded battery or failing thermal sensor.

What Not to Do

  • Do not factory reset immediately
  • Do not install “cooling” apps
  • Do not ignore repeated temperature warnings

Most issues resolve with observation, app updates, and minor setting changes.

Conclusion

Phone overheating after an update is common, expected, and usually temporary. It’s caused by background optimisation, app incompatibility, network behaviour changes, and battery recalibration — not sudden hardware failure.

UK users across London, Manchester, Birmingham, and beyond consistently see improvements within days when they update apps, manage networks wisely, and adjust charging habits.

Understanding this prevents panic, unnecessary repairs, and bad decisions. AvNexo users who follow these steps protect both performance and battery health — and avoid chasing problems that fix themselves with time.

Meta description: Phone overheating after an update? Learn the real causes, UK user experiences, and practical steps to stop temperature warnings safely.


Related AvNexo Guides


Post a Comment