Because heat is being generated, it’s not abnormal for your charger to get a bit hot sometimes while charging. However, finding that your phone charger constantly gets hot while charging can become alarming and unnerving.

So here are eight possible reasons your phone charger is overheating:

1. The Charger Isn’t Compatible With Your Phone

Using a charger not designed for your phone can cause your charger to heat up. Chargers built specifically for your phone are usually programmed to provide the exact amount of power required; incompatible chargers aren’t.

Using a charger with an output rating lower than your phone requires will overload the charger. Your phone will be drawing more power than the charger can handle.

When a charger is overloaded, it has to work harder to supply sufficient power to your device. As a result, your charger gets hot, and if the heat does not cool down on time, it may cause a fire.

2. You’re Using a Faulty or Defective Charger

A phone charger is defective when components in the charger are not performing optimally. If parts of your charger cannot handle the power or voltage flowing through them, it can lead to overheating.

Numerous defective chargers are on the market, especially counterfeit ones produced with low or no safety measures. But your charger can become faulty if you misuse it by wiggling and bending the cable in extreme ways.

3. You’re Using an Ultra Fast Charger

Fast charging generates more heat than normal charging. To curb this heat generation, phone manufacturers sometimes implement power management in the charger instead of the phone. So while your phone stays cool, your charger handles most of the heat.

If you’re using an ultra-fast charger, your charger being hot is likely normal, and it should remain fine if you avoid things, like charging under direct sunlight, that’ll contribute more heat.

4. You’re Charging in a Hot Environment

Charging your phone in a hot car or under direct sunlight will likely cause your charger to overheat.

Remember that your charger is generating heat; this heat, combined with the heat from your surroundings—extreme heat—can damage your charger’s internal components. Damaged internal components lead to short-circuiting and overheating.

5. You’ve Plugged Your Charger Into a Defective Power Strip

Connecting your charger to a power strip does not necessarily cause your charger to overheat. However, if the strip is faulty, it can cause your charger to overheat.

Moreover, power strips typically have a certain amount of power they can handle. Plugging numerous devices into a power strip can cause the strip to overheat and damage connected devices, including your charger.

6. The Charger Is Too Old

Over time, the components of your charger wear out and degrade. Once this happens, they may become unable to effectively handle the heat generated from the current, causing the charger to overheat.

Note that subjecting your charger to physical stress can wear it out much faster, leading it to overheat.

7. You’re Using a Counterfeit Charger

Using counterfeit accessories is always risky. Fake chargers do not typically maintain the standard safety measures required for electronic accessories, so they are not uncommon to overheat.

Moreover, counterfeit chargers mostly use poor-quality materials that can’t perform optimally, causing your charger to overheat and, in extreme cases, explode.

8. Your Phone Is Faulty

If damaged, several components in your phone can cause your charger to overheat. This includes your phone battery, hardware, or even software. When your phone is faulty, it may drag more power from your charger, leading to overheating.

So if your charger keeps overheating and you’re using a compatible, healthy charger and power strip, it might be time to have a qualified technician check your phone.

8 Ways to Keep Your Phone Charger Cool

A constantly hot charger can be a source of concern. Thankfully, there are several ways to help your charger stay cool.

1. Although it might be convenient to buy and use any charger that fits your phone, especially if you’ve misplaced your out-of-the-box charger, it’s best only to use the correct, recommended charger for your iPhone or Android device.
2. Otherwise, only buy and use genuinely-manufactured chargers in good condition.
3. It’s best to charge your phone in a cool, ventilated area.
4. If you must plug your charger into a power strip, ensure it has the appropriate ratings and is high quality.
5. Try not to charge your phone overnight or for an extended period. Overcharging can cause your charger to heat up and damage its internal components.
6. If you’re not using your charger to power your phone, unplug it from the socket. Unplugging your charger helps you prevent overheating and damaging your charger.
7. Avoid wiggling or bending your charger cables. Better still, try not to use your phone while charging.
8. Don’t use your chargers past the recommended shelf life. If your charger keeps getting unusually hot while charging your phone, it might be time for a replacement.

Don’t Let Your Charger Overheat

Once you understand why your charger gets hot, you can take steps to rectify any present issues or prevent further heating. This way, you’ll keep your charger cool and healthy, which will, in turn, prevent you and your phone from any hot charger-related risks.