For years we’ve been confused about whether it’s okay to charge our iPhones overnight. Charging advice seems to constantly change — it’s enough to give us whiplash. While the current determination is that charging your phone overnight won’t wreck your battery because newer models have smarter devices that avoid overcharging, that isn’t the end of this story.
Apple issued an ‘important’ warning about charging your phone overnight, but the caveat is that it’s not the actual charging process that is potentially detrimental; it’s where and how you are charging your phone:
@scottpolderman Apple issues a warning about charging your iPhone overnight. #iphonetips #iphone #apple #charging #iphonetricks #tech #trythis
Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself and your phone safe.
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Lack of Ventilation is an Issue
When Apple recently updated its online user guide, it warned iPhone users not to charge their phones in bed. Instead, it says, finding a place to charge your device where it can be properly ventilated is key to staying safe and avoiding risks associated with your iPhone overheating during the charging process.
Apple warns against charging your phone on a soft surface, such as a mattress. Falling asleep with your phone charging on your bed can also lead to it accidentally winding up trapped beneath a blanket or pillow, which causes overheating. The best place to charge your phone is on a flat, hard surface that allows for proper dissipation of heat and ventilation.
Keeping Cords At a Distance is Important
Tech experts also want to remind us that charging cords should not be so close to us that they touch our skin for long periods of time (which can happen if you charge your phone in bed and fall asleep). Whether you are using Apple-certified charging cords, which are recommended, or cheaper cords, the risks are similar for both. Charging your phone on a bedside table or other surface that provides distance between you and your phone is a key way to keep yourself safe from any injury and avoid overheating.
