How To Resolve iPhone Overheating Issues Following the iOS 26 Update

Dealing with iPhone Overheating After Upgrading to iOS 26

If you recently updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 26 and noticed it’s running hotter than it used to, trust me, you’re not alone. Lots of folks have been reporting similar issues. The thing is, sometimes it’s just a software glitch, background processes looping endlessly, or hardware interactions that got tweaked—or triggered—all because of the update. Here’s what I tried, and what actually made a difference for me, because honestly, it was frustrating at first.

The First Things to Try: Reset Settings & Basic Checks

My first move was to do a quick reset of all settings. It’s a bit of a classic, but sometimes these updates mess with configurations. Head over to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone (or just Reset if you’re on older iOS versions), then tap Reset All Settings. This resets Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, Bluetooth device pairs, and some other preferences—but it won’t wipe your apps or personal data. Trust me, this clears out a lot of quirks that can cause increased CPU activity and heat, especially after a major update.

It’s not a guaranteed fix, but more than once I’ve seen a quick reset reduce overheating. Make sure to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and tweak a couple of things afterward, but it’s a quick shot worth trying before diving deeper.

Check VPNs & Background Apps—They Can Be Hidden Heat Sources

Next, I looked into VPNs and background apps. Sometimes, if you’re using a VPN or certain apps that run persistently, they can keep your CPU busy and heat up faster. To test this, I went into Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and turned off or disconnected the VPN. It was surprising how much heat even a single VPN connection could generate. Worth a quick test—disconnecting these might help your device cool down pretty quick.

Also, I double-checked apps running in the background. On newer iPhones, swiping up (or double-clicking the side button) brings up the app switcher. Swiping away apps that you don’t need running in the background reduces resource load. Sometimes after an update, certain apps get permissions or behaviors that cause them to run more aggressively, so cleaning that up helped a bit.

Clear Up Storage—It’s Like Giving Your iPhone a Breath of Fresh Air

Another thing that finally helped was freeing up space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If your device’s storage is nearly full—say, under 10% free—you’re inviting overheating issues. Data has to be constantly moved, cached, or swapped, which stresses the processor. I started deleting or offloading unused apps, clearing cache, removing old videos, photos, or downloaded files. A few gigs freed up made a noticeable difference in temperature behavior.

Physical & External Factors — Don’t Forget About the Case!

Sometimes, it’s simple—your case can trap heat. I’ve experienced this myself; on my older device, a thick silicone case kept things heating up during gaming or camera work. Just removing the case temporarily, especially when the phone gets hot, really helps. Also, avoid the sun or hot environments if your device is already warming up. Providing it a bit of airflow isn’t a bad idea—especially during intensive tasks or while charging. Trust me, pulling that thick cover off at the right moment can be a game-changer.

Consider Downgrading if Necessary

If all else fails, and your device’s temperature stays stubbornly high, you might need to roll back from iOS 26 to an earlier version like iOS 15 or 14. Yeah, I know—it sounds intimidating, but it’s doable. You’ll need a computer—Mac or Windows—and tools like ipsw.me or third-party apps like 3U Tool. Connect your iPhone with a Lightning cable, download the appropriate firmware (IPSW), enter DFU mode (which takes a bit of trial and error), and then restore the firmware. This can actually bring temperatures back to normal if the update’s thermal management is broken or glitching.

Keep in mind, downgrading might wipe some features or cause app compatibility issues, so back up first. This step isn’t one to take lightly, but it finally worked for me to get my phone cool again. Just be patient, it can take a few tries to get everything right.

In Summary—What Worked for Me & What to Double-Check

Honestly, troubleshooting overheating after a major update is kind of a mix of small things—resetting settings, killing background apps, removing cases, freeing storage—and sometimes, more drastic measures like downgrading. It’s a bit of trial and error. Also, watch out for apps or VPNs that stay active all the time or cause CPU spikes.

If your device still runs hot despite all this, it could be a hardware issue—like a failing battery or overheated CPU—and at that point, contacting Apple Support might be the best move. Also, keep an eye out for future updates—they often fix bugs related to thermal management in subsequent patches.

Hope this helped — it took me way too long to figure out this overheating mess. Anyway, hope this saves someone else a weekend.