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

An unexpected fact: in winter, the Eiffel Tower shrinks by 15 cm. It’s all because of 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 microchips! Moreover, it is equipped with a lithium-ion battery, which is sensitive to cold. Here’s how low temperatures affect your smartphone and what you can do about it.

Why does an iPhone turn off in the cold?

In most cases, the reason lies in the lithium-ion battery. In the cold, the ions lose their properties, and internal resistance increases. As a result, the battery capacity drops. Because the battery can no longer provide the current needed for the smartphone to function, the iPhone shuts down. This can happen even if it still has 20-30% charge left.

Which iPhones turn off in the cold?

Any iPhone can shut down in the cold if it’s regularly used outside its temperature range. However, older models suffer more from the cold because their batteries are more “worn out.”

In our article about iPhone batteries, we mentioned that a standard lithium-ion battery is designed for 500 charge cycles, which is about two years of active use. Once this threshold is reached, the battery capacity decreases by 15-20%. When it drops to 80%, the battery needs to be replaced because it can no longer support the processor’s power requirements. This is hard to miss: the iPhone shuts down in the cold, loses performance, and drains quickly overall.

Therefore, all else being equal, an iPhone 11 will discharge faster in the cold than a new iPhone 15.

At what temperature does the iPhone turn off?

Apple states that the iPhone’s operating temperature is between 0 and 35°C. If you use it at a lower (or higher) temperature, the device’s behavior changes. For example, even at -1°C, performance may drop, or the iPhone may start draining quickly, eventually turning off.

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

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

This is a misconception: all smartphones with lithium-ion batteries struggle in the cold. However, there’s a key difference: iPhones have a thin metal and glass body. While they look nice, they freeze quickly. In contrast, many Android devices have plastic bodies, which conduct heat less effectively than aluminum and glass, allowing them to withstand colder temperatures. Additionally, unlike Apple, many Android devices are thicker, which also contributes to better cold resistance.

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

You need to warm it up: once the phone reaches an optimal environment, its normal operating time will be restored. However, remember that gadgets don’t like sudden temperature changes, so you shouldn’t place a “frozen” device on a heater or hold it near a car’s heater — condensation could form. It’s also not recommended to immediately plug it in for charging. If the iPhone turned off and won’t turn on, give it 10-15 minutes at room temperature to “recover.” Only after that should you connect it to a charger.

iPhone “glitches” in the cold

Cold weather can change the behavior of the device, sometimes leading to it shutting down. However, users may encounter other issues as well. At extremely low temperatures, the touchscreen might malfunction. Some owners also notice that the camera works worse in the cold. For instance, instead of an image, a black screen may appear, or the flash and focus may stop working properly.

Sound familiar? Warm up your phone, and its functionality will be restored.

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

• Charge your device to 100% before leaving home. It’s simple: the more charged the device is, the slower it will drain.
• Use headphones to talk on the phone, while keeping the smartphone in a warm pocket.
• Use cases. In winter, they not only protect the iPhone from damage but also help prevent it from freezing quickly.
• Don’t leave your smartphone in the car if it’s parked outside, even for a short time.
• Keep the iPhone close to your body: in a jeans pocket or inside your jacket. Don’t put it in a bag or backpack.
• Replace the battery in an older model if its capacity is below 80%. This can be done at an authorized service center like iSupport in Azerbaijan.

Conclusion

Now you know why the iPhone shuts down in the cold. Its thin glass and aluminum body quickly freezes, causing chemical reactions in the battery to slow down. As a result, the smartphone may “glitch” and drain quickly, eventually turning off. Older models especially suffer from this.

It’s hard to give a definitive answer as to whether all iPhones turn off in the cold. It depends on many factors: temperature, the age of the model, the smartphone’s charge level, and even the material of the case.

If your iPhone shuts down in the cold and won’t turn on, bring it into a warm environment and let it heat up. The phone’s functionality will be restored. But remember: electronics don’t like sudden temperature changes, so don’t place the device on a heater or stove, and don’t connect a “frozen” iPhone to a charger.

What to do if your iPhone turns off in the cold?
The most effective solution is to replace the battery. Go to “Settings” > “Battery” > “Battery Health & Charging.” If the “Maximum Capacity” is below 85-80%, it’s time to visit a service center.

We recommend contacting iSpace, an authorized Apple service center in Azerbaijan. Their engineers follow corporate standards, ensuring reliability and quality of repairs. Professional equipment and original components are used for the work, which iSpace receives directly from Apple.

So, if you want the same battery installed as in new iPhones at the factory, head to iSpace. The cost of the part depends on the phone model. Upon completion, you will receive a warranty for the work done.

Contacts, repair stages, and instructions on how to prepare your iPhone for service are available here.  

Service center iSupport is waiting for you on the address: 

Yeni Hayat Plaza
Mob.+994 (50) 766-00-25
Tel.+994 (12) 493-54-34
Be – B: 08:00 – 21:00
B: 10:00 – 21:00