Why Does My MagSafe Charger Get So Hot? How to Fix?

Wireless charging has been warmly welcomed by iPhone users ever since it was introduced. It eliminates tangled cables on desks or power outlets and saves you from constantly plugging and unplugging your device.

However, it's not a perfect solution. Many users ask: why does my MagSafe charger get so hot?

An overheating charger not only affects charging efficiency but may also shorten your iPhone battery's lifespan.

This guide will walk you through how to identify, trace the cause, and fix the problem when your Apple MagSafe charger gets hot. Let’s begin!

 

 

What's “Normal Heat” vs “Excessive Heat”?

In fact, if you check the manuals and user guides, you'll find that it's normal for your iPhone to feel slightly warm while charging. However, normal heat and excessive heat are two completely different things.

You should first learn how to distinguish between them, and the most direct way is by noticing how the charger and phone feel to your touch.

Normal Heat

During normal charging, the surface of your charger and iPhone may feel a bit warmer than usual (especially when using fast charging), but it shouldn't be uncomfortable to touch.

Excessive Heat

However, if your phone and Apple MagSafe charger getting hot to the point where it feels uncomfortably hot or even painful to touch, that's a warning sign. At this stage, your iPhone may intermittently stop charging or display an overheating alert.

In more serious cases, your charger may show discoloration, warping, or even emit a burnt smell. If that happens, immediately unplug the charger to prevent potential fire or explosion risks.

Why Do Magsafe Chargers Get So Hot?

There can be many reasons behind the MagSafe Charger get so hot issue, including charging environment, efficiency, and charger quality.

To completely prevent this problem from happening again, you must first identify which cause fits your specific device situation.

1. High Ambient Temperature

If you charge your iPhone with a MagSafe Charger in a high-temperature environment, such as under direct sunlight or inside a hot, enclosed space, the external heat will make the charger warm up faster and also reduce its natural cooling ability.

2. Poor Heat Dissipation

Placing your charger and phone on soft, non-breathable surfaces like a bed or sofa, or accidentally covering them with something like a pillow, will trap the normal heat generated during charging. As a result, the temperature of both the charger and phone will rise significantly.

3. Using the Phone While Charging

Using your phone during charging, especially for high-power tasks like gaming, navigation, or watching videos, can overload the device. This makes both the charger and phone heat up excessively on both ends.

4. Using Fast Charging

Whether wired or wireless, remember: the faster the charging speed and the higher the wattage, the more heat will be generated.

This leads to excessive heating of both the phone and charger, especially now that wireless charging power has increased from 7.5W to 15W or even higher.

5. Using Uncertified Chargers

Many third-party brands have launched their own wireless chargers in addition to Apple's original ones. However, not all of them meet Apple's safety standards. Poor compatibility, substandard materials, or cost-cutting designs may cause improper heat dissipation and even charging failure.

6. Using an Incompatible Phone Case

If your phone case is not MagSafe-compatible, or is too thick or made with metal, it can block proper heat dissipation, causing heat to build up and the charger to get hot.

7. Misaligned Charging Position

When your iPhone is not perfectly aligned with the MagSafe Charger, the charger has to work harder to transfer energy. This extra energy gets wasted and converted into excess heat.

How to Cool Down Your MagSafe Setup

After checking your charging environment, habits, charger, and phone case based on the points above, you've probably already identified the reason that applies to your situation.

Now, let's move on to the next step: learn how to fix it by addressing each potential cause one by one.

1. Adjust the Charging Location

When charging, place your iPhone and MagSafe charger in a cool, ventilated area—away from direct sunlight, heat sources like radiators, or heat-trapping surfaces such as beds.

Make sure nothing covers them. A hard tabletop or open desk area is ideal.

2. Avoid Using Your Phone While Charging

Try not to use your iPhone while charging, especially when the battery is below 20%.

Before you start charging, close all running or power-consuming apps to reduce the phone's workload.

If you must use your phone, remove it from the charger first.

3. Check or Replace the Charger

When you notice your charger getting hot, unplug both your iPhone and the charger, and let them cool down for a few minutes.

Then, inspect the charger for any discoloration, warping, or physical damage, and see if it remains hot after being unplugged.

Next, check whether your charger is Apple-certified or officially recommended. If not, it's best to switch to an original or fully compatible model.

One of the top options is the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, a MiFi-certified wireless charger for iPhone that can power your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously. It's compact and portable, features a 60° adjustable charging angle, and delivers up to 15W of power.

 

 

For even faster and cooler charging, try the Anker Prime Wireless Charging Station (3-in-1 Stand). It delivers up to 25W Qi2 MagSafe fast charging and uses a TEC active cooling system to keep the surface below 36°C.

4. Handle the Phone Case

A thick or metal case can trap heat and block the magnets, making your MagSafe setup run hot. If your case isn’t MagSafe-compatible, take it off and test again.

Try charging your iPhone once without the case. If it stays cooler, the case is the problem. Switch to a thinner MagSafe-compatible case made of TPU or polycarbonate to help reduce heat and improve charging stability.

5. Realign the Charger and Phone

After placing your iPhone on the MagSafe charger, always double-check that both are perfectly aligned to ensure efficient energy transfer and reduce unnecessary heat generation.

6. Check for Software Updates

Sometimes, new iOS updates include optimizations that improve charging efficiency and heat control.

So make sure your iPhone system is always up to date to enhance charging performance and prevent overheating.

Conclusion

Now you know why your MagSafe charger might get hot. The reason could be your iPhone, the charger, the phone case, or your charging habits. Check each one carefully to find the cause.

It’s normal for your iPhone and charger to feel a little warm while charging. But if either becomes too hot to touch or the charging stops, it’s time to act.

For safety and long-term performance, always use original Apple or Apple-certified wireless chargers like those from Anker. They’re built to control heat and keep charging steady and safe.

FAQs

Is it bad to keep iPhone on MagSafe charger all the time?

It’s safe to keep your iPhone on a MagSafe charger if both are in good condition. iPhones have a system that slows charging around 80% to protect the battery.

You can let it finish later or remove the phone once it’s full. Just make sure your charger stays cool and is Apple-certified for safe, steady charging.

Is it normal for a wireless charger to get hot?

Yes, that’s normal. Both your wireless charger and iPhone can feel a bit warm while charging because some heat is created as power transfers to the device.

However, if either gets too hot to touch, there could be a problem. Unplug them, let them cool down, and check for any damage or setup issues before using them again.

Is it normal for an Apple charger to get hot?

Yes. When charging, your Apple charger converts AC power from the outlet into DC power that your iPhone can use. This power conversion naturally generates heat. Meanwhile, your iPhone also works to distribute the power to the battery, which adds a bit more warmth.

So, feeling some heat while charging is completely normal, as long as it doesn't get too hot or cause charging interruptions.

Is it bad if your charger gets hot?

It can be, but not always. Even during normal operation, your charger may become warm. The key difference between normal heat and problematic overheating lies in how it feels.

If your charger feels warm but still comfortable to touch—no discoloration, warping, or burning smell, and your phone is charging normally—there's nothing to worry about.

However, if it feels too hot to touch or your phone stops charging unexpectedly, that's a sign something's wrong and needs attention.