Why does my Samsung Galaxy J3 heating up or overheating and how to fix it? [Troubleshooting Guide]

Overheating issues are often associated with rapid battery draining problem in mobile devices. And that is what most people thought so. However, many cases of overheating issues are tied to a software problem. Something in the system is causing the device to overheat. What exactly are the triggers and what options do end-users have as remedy? These are the main questions that will be addressed in this posting.

To make it more specific, let us tackle a pertinent issue on the Samsung Galaxy J3. So if you happen to land into this page while searching for some help in dealing with a pertinent issue on the same device, then you better keep reading. Aside from the possible causes, this content also highlights some helpful workarounds and potential solutions to the problem at hand.

Before we proceed, if you have other issues with your phone, make sure you visit our Galaxy J3 troubleshooting page for we have already published articles that tackled the most common issues with this device. Browse through the page to find problems that are similar with yours and feel free to use our solutions and workarounds. If you think you still need our help, you can also contact through our questionnaire.

What triggers your Galaxy J3 to heat up or overheat?

Overheating problem in mobile devices like the Galaxy J3 can be due to faulty hardware like a bad battery. A glitching app can also cause the device to overheat especially when that app is in use or running in the background. If the symptom instigates and persists after installing a new app, then that app must be the culprit. You can try to remove the suspected app and see if that will fix the problem. The same symptom can occur when a software bug penetrates the system. Software updates for instance, either an app update or new Android firmware versions rolled out and implemented on the device. In this case, overheating problem on the Galaxy J3 can be tagged among other post-update issues triggered by some bugs, and which should likely be addressed by another update containing the necessary fix.

RELATED POSTS:

Below are other factors that can cause your Galaxy J3 to heat up or overheat:

The processor is too busy. This means that it has a lot to process. Perhaps, a certain app is going rogue and causing the processor to overheat. If the device overheats while playing complex video games or streaming videos, take a break and let your device cool down for some time.
While charging. The phone also heats up when charging. Though it normally happens to every device, it can be an issue when it gets to the point where you can no longer bare to hold your phone as it is too hot. Usually cases like this are tied to the use of non-OEM chargers or incompatible third-party charging accessories. Don’t charge your device in a place with extremely hot temperature.
Very hot ambience. Extremely hot temperature can also cause a device to heat up quicker than normal when in use. The same thing can happen when multiple complex apps are running simultaneously. A lot of power is required to carry out multitasking processes. The more workload the processor needs to do, the more it heats up your device.
Bad battery. In the case where a depreciating battery is to blame and it overheats more often, it’s an indication that the battery needs to be replaced.

To determine the underlying cause, think of what has happened before the onset of the problem. Doing so will help you isolate and fix it in no time.

How to fix your Galaxy J3 that is overheating?

To save time and effort in troubleshooting, try to eliminate physical or liquid damage from the possible causes. Once you’ve confirmed no hardware damage is present, you may now begin troubleshooting the device’s software. Here are your options.

Troubleshoot software

To eliminate software problems from the possible culprits, try to troubleshoot the software beforehand with the following options:

Boot into Safe Mode and diagnose apps. Booting your device into safe mode will bypass or disable third-party apps thus it will help you determine whether or not a third-party app is inflicting trouble. Here’s how to boot your Galaxy J3 into safe mode:

Make sure your device is powered off.
Press and hold the Power button past the screen with the device name.
Release the Power button when the Samsung logo appears then press and hold the Volume Down key immediately.
Keep holding the Volume Down key until the device finishes restarting.
You will then see a Safe Mode label at the bottom left side of the screen.
Release the Volume Down key then.

Now use your device the way you normally do then observe if it is still heating up or overheating. If it doesn’t then that means a third-party app is the trigger. Try to remember which from your recent apps installed is the culprit then uninstall the app. To uninstall the app in safe mode, follow these steps:

Tap Apps from the Home screen.
Tap Edit.
Tap the red minus (-) icon on the downloaded application to uninstall it.
Tap OK on the prompt to confirm action.

You can also use the Application Manager to uninstall the suspected app(s). Here’s how:

Tap Apps from the Home screen.
Navigate to Settings-> Applications-> Application manager.
Tap the app you want to uninstall and then tap Uninstall.
Tap OK to confirm action.

You cannot uninstall preloaded apps on your device but you can uninstall any updates that you have recently applied. You may consider the latter an option if you suspect that the recently installed app update is causing your device to heat up.

Wipe cache partition. Wiping the cache partition can help clears the system cache partition on your device from any corrupted files and segments that might have triggered an issue to occur while the device is in use. The system cache partition stores temporary system data and allows the system to quickly access various apps. The thing is that cached files in this partition can also become cluttered and out-of-date. This is why it is highly recommended to perform cache clearing periodically so as to keep the system running smoothly. No data and personal settings will be affected in the process, so you may also want to consider this as an option to try on. Here’s how it’s done:

Turn off the phone if necessary
Press and hold the Power button, Home button, and Volume Up button at the same time.
At the Samsung logo, release the Power button but keep holding down the other two buttons.
When the Android logo appears, release Home and Volume Up buttons.
From the Android System Recovery menu, press Volume down repeatedly to navigate to and highlight Wipe cache partition.
Press the Power button to confirm the selected option
Once the cache is cleared, “Reboot system now” should be highlighted
Press the Power button to confirm and restart your device.

Update firmware on your Galaxy J3. Software updates are necessary to keep your device system more optimized, robust, and stable. Updates also contain bug fixes to address existing problems caused by software bugs. This might be the key to fixing the overheating problem on your device especially if it is triggered by software bugs. Thus if you haven’t already, check for available software update for your Galaxy J3 then implement it on your device. Here’s how:

Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi and has ample power available. Then follow these steps:

From the Home screen, tap the Menu Key.
Tap Settings.
Tap About phone.
Tap Software updates.
Check for Updates.
If a new software update is available, tap the option to Download Now.
Wait until it’s finished downloading the update file then the option to Install update.

Your device will then power down and then back on. Afterwards, a screen will show up saying that the installation has been completed.

Tap OK to continue using your device.

Master reset (optional). If none of the previous methods is able to fix the problem and your Galaxy J3 is still overheating, then you may opt for a master reset this time. Doing so will help you rule out the possibility of a more complex software issue causing the device to overheat when used. However, all your personal data will be erased in the process as it will wipe your device completely and then restore it to factory defaults. Any broken segments or files in the system will likewise be eradicated and rectified in the process. Should you wish to proceed, backup your device then follow these steps:

Tap Apps from the Home screen.
Tap Settings.
Select Backup and reset.
Tap Factory data reset.
If you are using an SD card, select the option to Format SD card to delete all data stored on your microSD card. Corrupted files from the microSD card can also trigger certain issues to occur when using the device.
Tap Reset Phone to continue.
Then tap Delete All.

Wait until your device has finished deleting your personal data and restores the Android platform to its original state. By then, you can proceed with the initial setup.

Troubleshoot hardware

If the problem persists after troubleshooting the software, then more likely the hardware is at fault. Try the following methods to troubleshoot the hardware then.

Remove SD card. As mentioned earlier, SD cards can also contain some corrupt data which likewise may affect the device functions. Overheating problems in some mobile devices have been tied to SD card problems. To rule this out, try removing any SD card and observe how your device acts without the microSD card inserted.

Remove and re-insert the battery. The battery is also another factor to consider in this case. Make sure that your battery has no traces of possible damage like dents, swell, or scratches. Prior instances of liquid exposure can damage the battery and one of the symptoms is overheating.

Calibrate the battery. It is recommended to conduct battery calibration once every three months. Doing so will help optimize and prolong the lifespan of your battery. The entire process involves using the device normally until the battery is completely drained. Recharge the battery until it gets full (100%) and then use your device again until the battery is depleted or emptied. Charge the device again until it gets full (100%) and that should do it. Battery calibration is also a recommended solution to power (battery) and charging issues.

Consider repair or replacement options

If none of the aforementioned solutions is able to fix the problem on your Galaxy J3 that is overheating, then you should now consider having your phone diagnosed by an authorized technician for possible hardware damage fixing or replacement of certain components, if necessary. Or you may likewise contact your device carrier or Samsung Support to escalate the problem and seek further assistance in performing more advanced troubleshooting with the required tools on their end.

Posts you may also like to read: