During the summer months, the temperature inside your car can reach considerable levels if it is left exposed to direct sunlight. Unfortunately, high temperatures are extremely harmful to delicate electronic devices such as smartphones. By changing some settings or simply keeping your smartphone out of direct sunlight, you can easily keep it cool and in perfect condition.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using the Smartphone in Warm Environments
Step 1. If you need to use your smartphone, place it near the vent of the car's air conditioning system with the air conditioning on
If you need to use the device while in the car, purchase a smartphone holder to install in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and mount it near the central air conditioning vents. Turn on the air conditioning so that the smartphone stays cool.
- Always respect the laws governing the use of your smartphone while driving in force in the area where you reside. Remember that your priorities while behind the wheel are your safety and that of others.
- Car smartphone holders can be purchased at any electronics store or on the web. They are designed to hold the device in place by means of a magnet or a suitable clamp.
- Be careful during the cold season because this type of media and the device itself will tend to heat up due to the hot air that will come out of the car's heating vents.
Step 2. Avoid using features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection if you don't really need them
Some apps and device features remain active in the background, consuming a percentage of the device's CPU computing power. Access your smartphone settings to disable all the features you are actually using.
- Some smartphones are equipped with a function for managing energy saving when the remaining battery charge drops below a certain threshold, which allows you to automatically stop all apps that run in the background and that are not needed, allowing you to reduce the heat produced by the device.
- GPS location services and video games use a large percentage of the CPU, causing the device to overheat rapidly. If you don't need to use these types of services, turn them off.
- Social networking and instant messaging apps, because they use "push" notifications, tend to drain the device's battery quickly.
Step 3. Activate Airplane Mode or turn it off completely if you don't need to use it
If you are not waiting for a phone call or do not need to use the data connection, turn on the "Airplane mode" on your device. When the smartphone is constantly looking for the network signal, it overheats very quickly.
Step 4. Do not recharge your smartphone if it has reached a high operating temperature so as not to overheat it
When the device is charging, the battery naturally tends to heat up due to electrochemical processes. If the battery temperature is already above normal, charging the smartphone will simply increase it, which will have a negative impact on the life cycle of the battery itself. Make sure the device's battery is fully charged before getting into the car.
Step 5. If your smartphone is very hot, take it out of the protective case
The latter acts as a thermal insulator, contributing to the overheating of the device. If you need to leave the smartphone in the car interior, remove it from its cover.
Choose a cover that has a soft or light color. Light colors tend by nature to reflect the sun's rays, while dark ones tend to absorb them and therefore accumulate heat
Method 2 of 2: Place the Smartphone in a Safe Spot
Step 1. Keep the device out of direct sunlight
Since the temperature inside the car tends to be much higher than outside, the smartphone may overheat during the summer months and the battery may be damaged. Place the device in the car center console or trunk so that it is protected from sunlight entering the windows and windshield.
- If possible, park your vehicle in shady places out of direct sunlight.
- Do not place it inside the glove box, as the heat produced by the vehicle's engine or transmission could aggravate the situation.
Step 2. Place the device under the seat for easy access
Keep a small fanny pack or pouch under the driver's seat and place your smartphone in it. When you need to leave the device in the car, place it under the seat after putting it inside the pouch or bag. In this way the smartphone will be protected from sunlight (and from prying eyes).
Step 3. Use a reflective sun visor to cover the windshield and possibly the side windows when you park your car in a sunny spot and need to leave your smartphone in the car
After parking, place a sun visor on both the windshield and the rear window to block access to most of the sun's rays. The sunlight, instead of reaching the inside of the car, will be reflected outside by the sun visor.
This type of car protection can be purchased at any supermarket, auto parts store or online
Step 4. Cover your smartphone with a white sheet or towel that reflects sunlight
Place the device on the bottom of the rear seat footrest covered with a white cloth or towel. Since the heat tends to rise, the one indicated will be the coolest spot in the car.
A cloth or towel with very dark shades will tend to absorb heat and consequently overheat the smartphone instead of keeping it cool
Step 5. Place your smartphone inside a cooler bag so that it stays cool
Keep a cooler bag on the back seats of the car so you can stow your smartphone inside when you're not using it. The thermal insulation of the bag will keep it cool and away from sunlight and the heat present in the passenger compartment.
