The one common cell phone mistake millions will make in coming months

Another hot summer means people are looking for sunscreen, shades and air conditioning to keep themselves cool. But what about your mobile phone?

While you may be enjoying the warm weather, your phone may be sweltering – damage that could cost you serious money down the road.

Heat from the sun’s rays can damage your mobile device’s internal circuitry and even shorten battery life. Over time, continued exposure to heat can even lead to data loss or screen damage, among other performance issues.

So if you notice that your phone feels warmer than usual when you’re at the beach or pool, here are some safe strategies to cool it down and give your device an endless summer.

Keep your phone away from other electronics

Resting your phone on another piece of technology, such as your laptop or tablet, increases the proximity of more heat that can contribute to overheating on a hot day.

Shut it down

When it is not in use, it may be wise to turn off your telephone stops. Think of it like a car idling, which gets hotter than a car with the engine off.

By keeping all that electricity from being unnecessarily pumped through your phone’s circuit, you prevent it from overheating.

Take the case off

On a hot day, your phone case can act as an extra layer of insulation and retain heat like a sweater.

You don’t bundle yourself up, so if possible, give your phone a breather by letting it go Naturally.

No direct sunlight

So direct solar attention is the last thing your phone needs move it to a shaded area to reduce the amount of heat coming from above.

Dim your phone’s screen

If your screen feels warm to the touch, it could mean that your device’s central processing unit (CPU) is overheating. So, try lowering the brightness of your phone’s touchscreen and give the CPU a much-needed break.

Update the operating system and your apps.

Mobile developers are often figuring out how to make their software more efficient for your phone. So running your apps and operating system on the latest version consumes less power from your device, keeping it cool in the process.

Remove unused apps.

Some apps may be running in the background on your phone, making your CPU work overtime to power your phone and heat it up in the process. Removing unused apps will help reduce the load on your device, keep the temperature down and increase the processing speed.

Close unnecessary apps.

Alternatively, you can also search your phone for apps you are not using and close them. Each additional app opened requires more effort from your phone to work, which increases body temperature.

Use a correct and undamaged charger.

A shoddy third-party charger or even a good charger that has seen better days can pump electricity into your mobile device in a way that contributes to overheating. If you notice your phone getting unusually warm, it’s always a good idea to check for damage around the cable, port, and plug.

Avoid using your phone while charging.

Just charging your phone can cause it to heat up, so running a lot of apps on top of it can sometimes get it over the edge and closer to heat damage.

Stay away from sudden temperature changes. In a crisis, you may be tempted to take drastic measures with an overheating phone, but don’t. Do not place your device in places that are too cold, such as the refrigerator or freezer. Many of the materials in your phone can expand in heat or contract in cold, and sudden changes can contribute to wear and tear.

Do not put your phone under water.

This one may seem obvious, but even if it’s IP68 certified waterproof, don’t submerge your mobile device in water to keep it cool and fresh.

Ultimately, if you can’t stop your phone from overheating no matter what you try with the above tips and tricks, then your safest bet is to just turn it off.

Disabling it will prevent further damage to your phone until you can get an expert to see what might be wrong with it.

Of course, there’s always the chance that the phone is beyond saving, whether it’s due to the heat damage or something that contributed to the overheating. In this case, you should consider trading in your phone to technical recycling specialists such as Environyor back to the manufacturer, if you have a warranty deal, such as AppleCare.

When the fun of the summer months comes to an end, you don’t want to be sorry. Plus, you want all those vacation photos on your phone’s camera roll. So take good care of your device and beat the heat.