Your phone naturally heats up a little bit when you use it, and it will also adjust certain settings to cool itself down. But it can be helpful to know your device’s temperature and whether it’s reaching a critical point so you can take steps to prevent any major issues.
Overheating can have a range of negative effects on your device, from slowing it down, weakening the signal, or disabling some features to damaging the battery or other components. In addition to common causes like overuse and hot conditions, excessive temperatures can be an indicator that something is awry, such as a bad battery, a software bug, or the presence of malware.
Previously, Google Pixel users had to rely on a third-party app to check their phone temperature—but now you can see live measurements in the built-in Pixel Troubleshooting app.
How to take your Google Pixel’s temperature
If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, the native temperature reading is available with an update to Pixel Troubleshooting. In the app, go to Settings > Battery > Battery diagnostics > Phone is very warm to check your device’s temperature. You’ll get a live, color-coded reading that falls into one of four categories, according to 9to5Google: Cold, Normal, Warm, and Elevated. The app will also provide a description of the current temperature relative to “normal phone use.”
If your device is too warm, you may also see tips for cooling it down, such as closing power-hungry apps or increasing airflow. While some Pixels are already known to run hot, you can also take preventative measures such as keeping your phone out of direct sunlight, avoiding apps that require a lot of processing power while your device is charging, and keeping software and apps updated.
