Say you’re in the middle of an hours-long conversation in a voice channel over the Discord app while at the same time playing your favourite mobile game. Suddenly, a notification pops up—you need to fix your Galaxy Z Fold 3 overheating issue.
Your phone slows down so badly. The worse part is that this seems to happen more frequently now. Thankfully, you can do many things to prevent and stop this overheating problem.
We’ll walk you through 15 fixes and a couple of other tips below. Let’s begin!
Why Does Your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 Overheat?
Overheating is a common problem for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and any other mobile phone. However, this foldable has additional risk factors for overheating.
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 can overheat when its Snapdragon 888 chipset runs energy-intensive processes, is charged with an incompatible charging device, or has software-related issues making it work harder than it should.
It’s a good thing that there are ways you can prevent or troubleshoot overheating.
How to Fix the Overheating Issue of the Galaxy Z Fold 3?
Once the notification about overheating pops up on a device’s screen, it will start pre-set measures to help cool the phone down (this varies per device). However, output from you, the user, is also crucial to stop the overheating.
You can fix an overheating Galaxy Z Fold 3 by cooling it down physically, pausing its use for quite some time, and ironing out any problems in its software that are overworking the device. Charging it with the correct peripherals also helps.
Most of our tips for fixing the overheating issues of the Galaxy Z Fold 3 are doable at home, save for replacing the device’s battery (which can lead you to a professional maintenance specialist if you’re not adept with tinkering with phone internals).
Let’s proceed.
FIX 1. Don’t use your phone in warm places.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 1 |
| Time to perform fix | varies |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
You might be in the middle of using your phone when it suddenly pops out a notification that your device is overheating.
This scenario is highly possible when using your phone for high-intensity activities like mobile gaming in the middle of summer or shooting photos in hot and humid places.
The environment where we and our devices are can affect their proper functioning.
Samsung explicitly states that the average temperature that its products should be used is between 0° and 35° C (32° and 95° F); anything above or below can break the phone.
Thus, to avoid overheating your Z Fold 3, ensure you are in an area with temperatures well within what’s considered normal and optimum. Airconditioned rooms are the best places to go to.
Also, avoid using or placing your phone in direct sunlight, on warm surfaces, or in a parked car.
FIX 2. Remove any insulating phone accessories.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 1 |
| Time to perform fix | 5-10 seconds |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Phone accessories include cases, skins, earphones, glass protectors, and any other stuff that you stick to or put your phone in for added features or protection. Some of these accessories, like tempered glass, do not really affect device temperature.
Although many phone cases in the market boast of cooling features, users must still be vigilant in checking the temperature difference their cases can contribute to their mobile phones.
However, those made with insulating material like leather might make a mobile phone feel warmer than it would without anything touching its surface.
The insulating material can worsen an already overheating phone because it traps the heat from the device instead of dissipating it. Therefore, removing any phone case is advisable to help an overheating phone cool down.
FIX 3. Fan, do not freeze.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 1 |
| Time to perform fix | 5-15 minutes |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, electric or hand fan |
The typical knee-jerk response of many users when their phone overheats is to stick it in the freezer for that “quick” cooling effect. However, the truth is the effectiveness of this method is doubtful—in fact, the experts say it does more harm than good.
Freezing your Galaxy Z Fold 3 when it overheats is a big no-no because it can cause condensation on the device’s insides. Having water around its electrical components can lead to corrosion, mould, or a whole lot of other issues in the long run.
The best action for an overheating problem is to stop using the phone and let it cool down, preferably over a cool (not cold) surface like an ordinary tabletop or in front of a fan. This allows gradual cooling that will not pose any adverse effects.
Don’t lay your phone down on insulating materials like the sofa, mattress, or pillow because the cooling process will get longer. You’d want to cool down your phone as soon as possible for the least possible damage.
FIX 4. Use a compatible charger.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 1 |
| Time to perform fix | varies |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, compatible charging brick and cable |
Many of us have been guilty of borrowing someone else’s charger to charge our devices.
We understand sometimes the moment just can’t help it. Maybe you forgot to charge your phone at home the night before, forgot to bring a power bank, or had bad luck and broke your power brick or charging cable.
However, for the Z Fold 3, this can also be directly attributed to the non-inclusion of a power brick in the box.
The problem with borrowing chargers is the high chance that the one you borrowed isn’t compatible with your device.
You can end up with an overheated phone if your charger has a higher power rating than your device can handle. It can also degrade the quality of the battery or, worse, cause untoward incidents when overcharged.
Make sure to check your Z Fold 3’s compatible accessories at Samsung’s official website for the best compatible charger. You can also read online forums of other Z Fold 3 device owners to find out what chargers and cables are crowd favourites.
Lastly, use original charging devices and replace any broken or frayed charging cables immediately.
FIX 5. Lower the screen brightness.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 3 |
| Time to perform fix | 5-10 seconds |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
One thing that contributes to the overwork of your device is a very bright screen. Your phone uses more battery power and heats up faster in this state.
It isn’t friendly to the eyes, too, so it’s one of the first things you should adjust to reduce the chances of your phone overheating.
Here’s how to change the brightness of your Galaxy Z Fold 3 to a lower one:
Step 1: Open the Quick Access panel by swiping your finger down from the upper edge of the screen. |
| Step 2: Depending on the panel’s settings, you might need to swipe down once more to expand it and fully see the brightness slider. You’re good if the slider is already on top of the panel after the first swipe. |
Step 3: Tap or slide to set your device’s screen brightness. The left part of the slider has a lower setting.  |
You can do this with your device, either folded or unfolded (we just have an unfolded one here, for example).
FIX 6. Close apps running in the background.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 2 |
| Time to perform fix | 2-5 seconds |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Although the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has 128GB of Random Access Memory (RAM), it isn’t advisable to keep many apps running in the background since doing so can still slow down the device.
Having too many apps open also adds to the list of things that can make the device overheat.
Here’s how to close apps running in your phone’s background:
Step 1: Tap the Recents icon ( ||| ) at the navigation bar of your screen. |
Step 2: You’ll see your recent and open apps as cards. Flick each app’s card up to close them one at a time, but the best way is to tap Close all to end all apps simultaneously. |
FIX 7. Enable Power Saving mode.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 2 |
| Time to perform fix | 2-5 seconds |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Like other Samsung phone models, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has a power saving mode that allows users to save battery by intentionally dialing down performance and limiting some device functions.
Activating power saver mode will keep the phone’s charge longer and lower the chances of overheating.
Here’s how you can enable power saving:
Step 1: Open the quick access panel from the top edge of the screen. |
Step 2: Search for the Power saving mode shortcut tap. If it isn’t in the panel, tap the kebab menu (︙) at the upper right corner and add it to the panel. |
If you want to tweak the features available in power saving mode, tap and hold the power saving mode icon to enter its settings.
FIX 8. Restart your phone.
Even machines, like your mobile phone, need to rest to maintain proper functioning in the long term (even AI might need some sleep, too). This can come in a long version, like an extended period when it’s turned off, or in a shorter period, like a device restart.
Turning your Galaxy Z Fold 3 off and then on again is one of the first things you should always do when troubleshooting any issue with your phone.
Below, we’ll cover a few techniques for restarting your Galaxy Z Fold 3.
How to restart your device using only your screen
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to perform fix | 10 seconds |
| Things you need | Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Step 1: Open the Quick access panel from the top edge of your screen. Swipe down one more time to expand it and reveal additional options.  |
Step 2: Find the power symbol between the Search and Settings icons at the top right. Tap it to open the device’s power options. |
Step 3: Choose Restart. Allow your Z Fold 3 a few seconds to finish restarting. |
How to restart your phone using its physical buttons
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Time to perform fix | 10 seconds |
| Things you need | Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Step 1: Press the Volume Down and Power buttons to make your Z Fold 3’s power options visible on the screen. |
Step 2: Select Restart and wait for the device to finish rebooting. |
FIX 9. Uninstall problematic apps in Safe Mode.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of steps | 3 (or 4) |
| Time to perform fix | 10 seconds – 30 minutes |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Apps that turn out to be incompatible with the rest of your phone’s software might also overtax its processor, leading to the device overheating.
Suppose your phone is becoming substantially slower or heating up quicker than it should after an app update or a new install. In that case, you should try booting the device in Safe mode and finding out if any apps are affecting it negatively.
Here’s how to boot the Galaxy Z Fold 3 into Safe mode:
Step 1: In the quick settings panel, tap the Power icon to bring up the power options. Hold down the Power off option until you see the Safe mode option.    |
Step 2: Choose Safe mode and restart your phone. When you see “Safe mode” in the lower-left corner of your screen, you’ve successfully booted into Safe mode (third-party apps and widgets will also be disabled).   |
| Step 3: [OPTIONAL] In Safe mode, uninstall any offending apps. Hold down the target app’s icon, then tap Uninstall when a popup appears. |
| Step 4: Restart your phone to exit Safe mode. |
FIX 10. Turn off connectivity features when not needed.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of steps | 4 |
| Time to perform fix | 10 seconds |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Other parts of your mobile phone that might be contributing to its overheating are its connectivity features. These include location services, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data.
Even if they’re left idle, having some or all of these enabled still eats up a part of your device’s system resources. Overheating may also result from this.
Turn off the connectivity features you’re not using to save battery and prevent overheating issues on your Galaxy Z Fold 3.
These connections can be turned off, as shown below:
| Step 1: Swipe down from the screen’s top edge to open the quick access panel from your home screen. If you want to see all available icons and their names, you might need to swipe down once more to expand the panel. |
Step 2: Activate or deactivate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or mobile data by tapping the corresponding icons. You can also deactivate them all at once, including the connection to the SIM card network, by tapping the Airplane mode icon.  |
That’s it. Just enable the necessary connectivity feature when you need it.
FIX 11. Reset all settings.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of steps | 3 |
| Time to perform fix | 10-30 seconds |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
We’re not yet done with tips related to tinkering with your phone’s settings.
If your phone is still overheating while in use, you should also try resetting all of its settings—at times, it’s hard to pinpoint what is wrong with your device software, so we’re glad this trick exists!
All configurations accumulated throughout the device’s use until the reset is erased.
It’s a good idea to reset and fix any settings that might have been preventing your phone from operating normally and making it overheat.
To reset all Galaxy Z Fold 3 settings, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Settings app and select General management to access its sub-menu.  |
Step 2: Tap Reset and choose the type of reset you want to perform. Since we’re troubleshooting for overheating issues, it’s best to select Reset all settings to help unload the phone of arduous processes.  |
Step 3: The phone will ask you to confirm the action, so tap Reset settings. You’ll be asked for your device passcode or pattern as a first confirmation, after which you can hit the final Reset button to be displayed in the menu.   |
From here on, just wait for the phone to complete the reset and restart.
FIX 12. Go to Recovery Mode and wipe the cache partition.
| Difficulty | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Time to perform fix | 20-30 seconds |
| Things you need | Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Files or data you don’t see in your Galaxy Z Fold 3’s internal storage directory may also contribute to its overheating problem.
Lots of extra data build up in the cache of your Android phone as you use it. To maintain your phone’s smooth operation, it is advised that you delete these extra files.
Here’s how to wipe the system cache on your device:
| Step 1: Access your phone’s power options by pressing the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time, or look for the Power icon in the Quick access panel. Once there, tap the Power off button to turn off the phone. |
Step 2: Press the Power and Volume Up buttons and hold until you see the Android Recovery menu. It’s supposed to look like a code over a black screen. |
Step 3: Find your way to the Wipe cache partition option using the Volume Up/Down buttons. Press the Power Button to confirm your selection and enter its sub-menu. |
Step 4: Confirm the wipe by pressing the Volume Down button to select YES, then lock it in with the Power button. You’ll see the cache wipe process happening at the bottom of the screen. |
Step 5: Once the cache wipe is finished, you’ll automatically go back to the Recovery menu with the selector over the first option, Reboot system now. Just press the Power button to restart your phone. |
FIX 13. Update the device software.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to perform fix | 10 seconds – 30 minutes |
| Things you need | Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
Making sure your Galaxy Z Fold 3 is using the most recent device software is always a good idea. This will guarantee you always have the most recent features and fixes for your device, including any that could help further prevent device overheating.
Every time a new update becomes accessible for download, you will, by default, get a notification. However, if you disabled automatic updates, follow these instructions to manually check for and install updates on your phone.
| Important: To prevent issues, make sure your device has enough battery life before installing any updates—plug it into your wall socket or any other stable power source to be sure. |
Here’s how to update your device’s software:
Step 1: Go to Settings and locate the Software update option at the bottom part of the menu. |
Step 2: Select Download and install—this will make the device check for available updates. If there is, you can proceed with the download (this will be done in be background). |
Step 3: Once the download is completed, you can immediately do the update by tapping Install now. On the other hand, select Schedule install if you’d like to do it later. |
FIX 14. Factory reset your device.
| Difficulty | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Number of Steps | 5 |
| Time to perform fix | 10-20 minutes |
| Things you need | Galaxy Z Fold 3 |
If app uninstalls, file deletions, or cache wipes aren’t helping in stopping your Galaxy Z Fold 3’s overheating, then you could reset it to its factory settings. This will make your phone’s software just like how it was, fresh from the factory.
| REMINDER: Back up, back up, and back up your phone to avoid data loss! Doing this procedure with a full battery or the device plugged in is highly recommended. |
Here’s how to reset the Z Fold 3 to factory settings:
Step 1: Select General management in the Settings app on your Galaxy phone. |
Step 2: Scroll down a bit and tap the option to Reset.  |
Step 3: The reset options are displayed on the following page. Choose Factory data reset to revert your device software to how it was out-of-the-box.  |
Step 4: Review the list of data that will be deleted in the factory reset. Select Reset (you might also be asked to enter your phone’s passcode) if you understand the risks and want to continue. |
Step 5: Confirm your action for the last time by pressing Delete all, and from hereon, let the device get the job done. |
FIX 15. Replace your device’s battery.
| Difficulty | Moderate ●●●○○ |
| Number of steps | varies |
| Time to perform fix | varies |
| Things needed | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, another phone or computer |
Do not hesitate to take your Galaxy Z Fold 3 to the experts if its overheating persists. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially in this stuff.
You can send your device to Samsung itself, a third-party repair service, or replace the battery yourself. The first one is the best option since you could get the service for free if you’re still under warranty and surely get the original parts.
The second option might be a hit-or-miss in quality, even if done for a fee, and there’s a risk of not getting original replacement parts. If you do it yourself, there are many resources for buying parts and manuals for repairing your device online.
We hope you don’t disregard the signs and fail to fix your Z Fold 3’s overheating issue. We’re hoping it won’t lead to anything remotely similar to the exploding batteries of the Galaxy Note 7 of 2016, but who knows?
Tips on Preventing Overheating Issues in Galaxy Z Fold 3
Although we focused on the fixes for phone overheating issues, we still agree that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.”
Here are some tips to prevent overheating your Galaxy Z Fold 3:
- Do not use the device while charging. The battery already heats up a little bit while charging (this is normal), but if it’s also used simultaneously, the internal temperature will surely rise, leading to potential damage.
- Take breaks in using your device. It’s hard not to do this since it’s already a habit for most of us to be glued to our screens, but this is one solid piece of advice to prevent overheating.
- Use the phone in areas with good network reception. Keeping your mobile network reception open even in areas with low coverage can make it overheat because the phone will keep searching for any signal, even if it’s idle.
FAQs on Overheating Samsung Phones
Why is my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 getting hot?
Your Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is getting hot when it’s constantly used to play games, watch videos, and call; running many internal processes simultaneously heats up its Snapdragon 888 processor. The use of incompatible chargers can also make it hot.
Why does my Samsung keep saying that it’s overheating?
Your Samsung might keep saying it’s overheating if frequently used in areas with ambient temperatures beyond 35° C (95° F). It’s best to follow the manufacturer and only use your device in temperatures between 0° and 35° C (32° and 95° F).
How do I stop my Samsung from overheating?
You can stop your Samsung from overheating by immediately taking a break from using it. Let it cool down gradually for a few minutes—NEVER put it inside the freezer.
Can overheating permanently damage my phone?
Overheating can cause permanent damage to your phone’s battery and other parts of the device. Overheating can lower the phone’s overall performance and lifespan significantly.
Can I put my phone in the fridge to cool it down?
Never place your phone in the refrigerator or freezer to cool it off. Doing so can introduce moisture in its internals and may lead to corrosion or mould that could brick your phone.
