What to do if your iPhone turns off and won’t turn on in the cold

Unexpected fact: in winter, the Eiffel Tower shrinks by 15 cm. This is all due to thermal expansion: when the air gets colder, the steel contracts, and when the temperature rises, it returns to its original position.

What can we say about the ultra-thin iPhone, which consists of many metal elements and microcircuits! In addition, it is equipped with a lithium-ion battery: it is sensitive to cold. We tell you how low temperatures affect your smartphone and what to do about it.

Why does my iPhone turn off in the cold? 

In most cases, the cause lies in the lithium-ion battery. In the cold, ions lose their properties and internal resistance increases. As a result, the battery capacity decreases. Due to the fact that the battery no longer supplies the current necessary for the smartphone to operate, the iPhone turns off. This happens even if it has 20-30% charge left. 

Which iPhones turn off in the cold? 

Any if the smartphone is regularly used outside the temperature range. But the older models suffer the most from the cold. Because their battery is more “worn out”.  

In the article about iPhone batteries , we said that a standard lithium-ion battery is designed for 500 charge cycles. This is about 2 years of active use. When this threshold is reached, the battery capacity is reduced by 15-20%. And when it drops to 80%, the battery needs to be replaced: the current one no longer draws processor power. It’s hard not to notice: the iPhone turns off in the cold, loses performance and generally runs out of charge quickly.  

Therefore, all other things being equal, the conditional iPhone 11 will discharge faster in the cold than the new iPhone 15. 

At what temperature does the iPhone turn off? 

Apple claims the iPhone’s operating temperature is between 0 and 35°C. If you use it at a lower (or higher) temperature, the behavior of the device changes. For example, even at -1°C, performance may decrease or the iPhone will begin to discharge quickly and then turn off. 

Fortunately, all these inconveniences are temporary. You just need to warm up the iPhone and it will work again. 

Why does the iPhone turn off outdoors, but other smartphones don’t? 

This is a misconception: all smartphones with lithium-ion batteries do not tolerate cold well. But here we need to make an amendment: iPhones are equipped with a thin body made of metal and glass. They look beautiful, but freeze quickly. In turn, many Android gadgets have a plastic body. It conducts heat less well than aluminum and glass, so phones can withstand lower temperatures. In addition, unlike Apple, there are many thick Android devices on the market: this is also a plus for frost resistance. 

What to do if your iPhone won’t turn on?  

You need to warm it up: when the phone reaches the optimal environment, the normal operating time will be restored. But remember: gadgets do not like temperature changes, so you should not put a “frozen” device on the battery or keep it near the stove in the car – condensation may appear. Also, do not immediately put the device on charge. If your iPhone turns off and won’t turn on, give it 10-15 minutes at room temperature to let it come to its senses. And only then connect it to charging. 

iPhone glitches in cold weather 

Frost basically changes the behavior of the device until it turns off. But sometimes users encounter other problems. At extremely low temperatures, the touchscreen may not work correctly. And some owners are faced with the fact that the camera works worse in the cold. For example, a black screen appears instead of an image or the flash or focus does not work. 

Sound familiar? Warm up your phone and its performance will be restored

How to prevent your iPhone from turning off in the cold? 

1. Charge your device to 100% before leaving home. It’s simple: the more charged the device, the slower it will discharge. 
2. Talk on the phone using headphones. And let the smartphone remain in a warm pocket. 
3. Wear covers. In winter, they not only protect the iPhone from shocks, but also prevent it from instantly freezing. 
4. Do not leave your smartphone in your car if it is parked outside. Not even for long. 
5. Keep your iPhone close to your body: in your jeans pocket or in the inner compartments of your jacket. Do not put it in your bag or backpack.  
6. Replace the battery in the older model if its capacity is below 80%. This can be done at an authorized iSupport service center in Azerbaijan. 

Conclusion 

Now you know why the iPhone turns off in the cold. The thin case made of glass and aluminum freezes quickly, which slows down the chemical reactions in the battery. As a result, the smartphone can “glitch” and quickly discharge until it turns off. Used models especially suffer from this. 

It is difficult to unequivocally answer the question of whether all iPhones turn off in the cold. This depends on many factors: temperature, age of the model, charge level of the smartphone, and even the materials of the case. 

If your iPhone turns off in the cold and won’t turn on, take it somewhere warm and let it warm up. The phone’s functionality will be restored. But remember: electronics do not like sudden temperature changes, so do not place the device on a battery, stove, or connect a “frozen” iPhone to charge.