iPhone turns off in the cold: causes and solutions to the problem

Why does iPhone hate winter so much and what to do?

iPhones, more than any other smartphone, do not like the cold. They can turn off even at sub-zero temperatures, and then “come to their senses” for many hours. We talk about why this happens, the dangers of using an iPhone in the cold, and how to deal with this problem in this article.

Why does the iPhone behave so badly in the cold?

First, let's figure out why, in fact, the iPhone begins to work inadequately or even turns off in the cold. There is no secret here; the culprits are the lithium-ion batteries of Apple smartphones. At temperatures below 0°C (and in practice even below 5°C), battery ions begin to lose their properties. As a result, internal resistance increases and capacitance is lost.

Due to the loss of capacity, fortunately, only temporary, at sub-zero temperatures, iPhones can turn off, while still having a large percentage of charge remaining. Lithium-ion batteries stop delivering the current required to operate the smartphone, and the iPhone simply physically cannot continue to work.

How can cold affect the operation of a gadget?

1. The touch screen will not respond to user requests.

No matter how hard you try to click on this or that icon, there will still be no sense - there is no reaction. And if you try to do this for too long, you can even inadvertently damage the screen, and then you simply cannot do without expensive repairs.

2. Rapid battery discharge.

Most of them contain lithium and cadmium, and the threshold for the normal reaction of these chemical elements is only in the positive plus, that is, in a word, if the temperature decreases from the established positive temperatures, then there will be no reaction between them, which means that the production electricity is simply impossible. And the battery itself will operate in fast discharge mode.

3. Frequent device reboot.

This is the gadget’s reaction to a lack of energy - as already described, the battery’s composition stops entering into a chemical reaction, it does not have enough “strength” to start normally and begin its usual work. It is impossible to make a call or send messages - all this simply requires a sufficient amount of energy, that is, charging the battery itself.

Which iPhones suffer the most in the cold?

But why then does one iPhone with 50% charge work calmly in the cold, while another with 70-80% turns off in the same conditions? The fact is that lithium-ion batteries have a limited number of operating cycles, after which their capacity decreases. For an average iPhone, the number of such cycles is about 800-900. When actively using a smartphone, the “critical” moment comes after two or two and a half years of using the device.

The conclusion from this is simple: old iPhones that have been in use for two years or longer suffer the most in the cold. This is why requests about how to properly use an iPhone in winter in Russia are so popular, because we have old, but still quite capable models of Apple smartphones in use.

A detailed guide on how to determine the number of charge cycles for your iPhone battery is available here . And this instruction describes a method that allows you to do this without using a computer.

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Why do many other smartphones work without problems in winter?

Many smartphones from other manufacturers can easily withstand 30-degree frosts, so what’s the problem with iPhones that can’t work for even ten minutes at −5°C? The first reason is the case materials. The aluminum from which the cases of the last several generations of iPhone are made has high thermal conductivity (220 W/(m K) and as a result freezes very quickly. The glass typical of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s, models widely used in Russia and the CIS countries, does not It has a high thermal conductivity (1.15 W/(m K), however, this is enough for the smartphone to freeze and start working incorrectly or turn off.

Plastic is another matter. It conducts heat worse than metals and glass (0.15-0.20 W/(m K), thanks to which smartphones in plastic cases can withstand extremely low temperatures. For example, smartphones from the Samsung Galaxy S line (up to the sixth model) with plastic cases, they work perfectly even when the thermometer drops to −35°C.

The second reason is the small thickness of iPhone cases. In thin smartphones, the battery becomes unstable much faster than in thick ones. Considering that almost no iPhone can be called “fat,” we get the high instability of Apple smartphones to frost.

How to restore a smartphone after disconnection

If your smartphone could not withstand the cold weather and turned off, you need to do the following:

• Enter a warm room and give the smartphone time to warm up (15-20 minutes is enough), then turn it on;
• If you need to stay outside, put your iPhone in a warm pocket as close to your body as possible. This will also help warm it up for further use.

Important! Under no circumstances should you place your phone on the battery or wrap it in warm blankets or anything like that. Otherwise, condensation will form in the housing.

After the iPhone warms up, it is recommended to force it to restart (press the “Power” and “Home” buttons at the same time, and then wait until the mobile phone turns on) in order to reset the software errors that have appeared and the smartphone will begin to function normally again.

What does Apple say about this?

According to Apple's official website, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch (4th generation and later) operate normally in ambient temperatures between 0 and 35°C. Apple mobile devices can be stored at temperatures from -20 to 45 °C. Apple representatives warn that in low temperature conditions, the batteries of the company's devices begin to discharge rapidly, as a result of which they may turn off.

But what about the advice, Apple? How should we use iPhone in low temperature? The company gives, perhaps, the ideal answer to this question and recommends not using the iPhone in any way if the temperature drops below 0°C. Thanks Apple! Fortunately, there are ways to keep your iPhone in working condition at sub-zero temperatures, and some of them are truly effective. We talked about them below.

Apple products are not designed for winter

The other day, columnist for the popular American portal Gawker Jordan Sargent came up with a similarly titled piece. I will not translate his text word for word, but I will give some theses. And I’ll share my experience, since the topic of Apple devices and winter (not Californian) is quite sensitive. At least for me and many of my friends.

First, Sargent claims that he finds it unpleasant to touch his MacBook. Because the laptop is all metal and terribly cold. For example, in the morning. Well, as you know, American houses are really cool in winter, and at night it can reach 15-16 degrees. The author of the article also says that he turns into ice when touching his MacBook after carrying it down the street in a backpack for 20 minutes in the cold season. Personally, I’m not too concerned about everything described (and this is a feature of any metal laptop), but everyone has the right to express their opinion.

Sargent also has an unpleasant story with the Apple Earpods headphones - in winter they are like two pieces of ice in the ears, and the wires harden and get in the way. Well, the iPhone, according to him, turns off without warning at 30% of the battery charge. This is the most interesting thing about the iPhone.

Judging by my experience, the experience of friends and reviews online, iPhones really die quickly in the cold. Moreover, it does not have to be frost of -15-20 degrees or more. A strong wind is sufficient, which, as is known, gives a much lower “feeling” temperature.

Let me clarify right away - we are talking about USE of the device on the street. Otherwise, some people begin to claim that your phone is simply defective, but my iPhone does not turn off in any frost. Mine also does not turn off if you keep it in your bag or pocket and sometimes take it out to answer a call or check messages. But if you USE the phone, that is, surf the Internet, take photos, read social networks, use maps and a navigator, then he can live outside in winter in a matter of minutes. In this case, the device does not show instantaneous discharge on the battery indicator; it simply turns off without warning. If you warm the device well in your inner pocket for a while, the iPhone will turn on again and display the percentage of charge that it had when it was turned off.

Much depends on the current battery charge level. If it is close to 100%, then the iPhone will live for a longer time (depending on the wind and temperature, about 20-40 minutes). If the charge is below 30-50%, then the phone will probably die almost immediately. The tube will go out faster if you use a camera.

Of course, a lot also depends on the age of the device and the condition of the battery. When I had a year and a half year old 5S, it turned off almost immediately even at -1-2 °C with strong winds. I carried an external battery with me, but it didn’t help either. Only it helped to “start up” (turn on), but then the phone turned off again.

I bought my sixth iPhone in the summer, so I couldn’t immediately test its frost resistance. But I've been checking since December. Again, wind and temperatures below -4-5 degrees are critical for it. Lasts longer than the old 5S, but still cuts out. A friend recently bought herself a brand new 6S - according to her reviews, it also lasts no more than half an hour in the cold.

As an experiment, I even ordered a fur case for my iPhone from AliExpress, but it does not significantly extend the life of the phone in the cold.

I think the reasons for this “behavior” of iPhones in winter are clear. The devices are very thin, in an all-metal case, and their battery capacity is low (in return, energy consumption is optimized). When you use the pipe outside in winter, you feel how it almost instantly turns into ice. Especially if the phone does not have a cover/case. Many people, by the way, don’t take out their phone on the street also because their hands freeze faster than their iPhone. I am persistent in this regard + I use gloves for touch screens.

It is worth noting that rapid loss of capacity in the cold is a feature of all batteries, of course. However, iPhones seem to be experiencing problems more often. Perhaps because they themselves do not heat up much and because they are “very metallic”. Or perhaps there are some software settings that give the phone a command to turn off when the “internals” cool down to a certain level. At least I tested my friends’ phones in the cold (Xiaomi Mi4 and Samsung Note 4) - I froze myself, but they never turned off. In the case of Xiaomi, I have an assumption - it’s difficult for it to overcool, since it itself is hot and noticeably heats up even during normal use (like watching a video on YouTube).

Well, finally, let's return to the article from Gawker. The author cites materials from the section on the Apple website “Increasing operating time and battery life.” It follows from them that the ideal operating temperature for Apple devices is from 16 to 22 °C. For the iPhone, anything below 0 degrees is “too cold.” In most regions of Russia, the poor phone has at least 4 months of uncomfortable (more precisely, dangerous and terrible) street temperatures.

Perhaps not visible from Cupertino, concludes Jordan Sargent. After all, the temperature there, even in winter, does not drop below +4-7 degrees. Apple employees are always warm and they are unlikely to have ever encountered their phone unexpectedly turning off due to cold.

“If Jony Ive woke up in the morning and picked up his iPad and winced because it felt like a chicken carcass from the freezer, maybe the tablet would be made of a different material? Who knows...”, the author sums up. How do you evaluate the performance of your devices in the cold season?

Use a case

The solution to the problem of using an iPhone in winter is to put the smartphone in a case. The cover should not be special, with any special protection from frost. Any case that covers the smartphone on all sides will do. An excellent option is a book case, the inside of which is covered with any soft material.

The ideal option is a battery case. Using a case with a built-in battery is a radical way to rid your iPhone of the fear of cold. Your smartphone will be constantly connected to a power source, which will cause it to heat up and operate without problems at low temperatures. The disadvantage of this method is the high cost of battery cases, but if in winter, because of work or for any other reason, you cannot do without a properly functioning smartphone, the accessory will be an excellent investment.

Important! We warn you that charging your iPhone in the cold is not recommended. Before you take your smartphone out, for example, from your jacket pocket, turn off the power! Otherwise, you may damage your iPhone battery.

What to do if your iPhone freezes and turns off?

To begin, leave the device in a warm place. However, it is important to warm up the smartphone gradually - otherwise, due to a sharp temperature change, other serious problems with the gadget may appear.

Also, you should not charge your iPhone right away as this will also harm the device. Wait at least half an hour, then turn on the gadget and charge it. In addition, during the cold season, it is better to always have an external battery with you, with which you can charge the device at any time.

Use a portable battery

An analogue of a battery case, albeit less aesthetically pleasing and convenient, is a power bank. The principle of operation is the same - the iPhone charges, heats up and withstands the cold much easier. Unlike battery cases, portable batteries are cheaper and in most cases have a higher capacity. In addition, many iPhone owners already have a power bank, so there is no need to spend money to solve the “frost” issue.

Use another smartphone as a navigator

A large number of motorists use their iPhone as a navigator. A smartphone doesn’t like it at all in a car that’s frozen overnight and, according to numerous reviews, the iPhone turns off just on the way to work. Stop using your iPhone as a navigator for the winter and, of course, if possible, leave this job to some inexpensive Android smartphone in a plastic case.

There are two more useful tips for car enthusiasts. First, do not leave your iPhone in the car, even for a short period of time. And secondly, connect your smartphone to the cigarette lighter using a charger. In this case, the iPhone will not turn off.

Warm up your iPhone with a demanding game or app

If you know that your iPhone must be in the cold for the next 20-30 minutes, for example, you are taking pictures or having an important conversation on the phone, use an effective “folk” method of counteracting the cold. Launch any resource-intensive game or application on your smartphone. The processor is activated, the iPhone will begin to heat up and function calmly at sub-zero temperatures.

Great free "warm up" apps are Real Racing 3 and Hearthstone .

Warm yourself up

Just as we change our autumn wardrobe to a winter one as the cold weather approaches, so we should “dress up” our favorite gadget. Even the thinnest silicone case will allow your smartphone to cool longer in the cold.

For real effect, use thicker covers and cases. It is better to choose options with leather, fur or felt. Don't neglect voluminous cases with several compartments. An extra layer with business cards and money will be a good barrier to cold air.