Why Xiaomi Phones Are Heated During Games and How to Fix It

Have you noticed that your smartphone Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO It turns into a stove during game sessions, and overheating is one of the most common problems for gamers, and it's not always related to breakdown, and 80 percent of the time it's due to settings, background processes, or iron. But if high temperatures are ignored, it can lead to trottling (automatic performance decline), rapid battery wear, or even chipset failure.

In this article, we will analyze 7 key reasons for Xiaomi smartphones overheating during games - from banal dust in the connector to hidden "energy-intensive" functions. MIUI. You will learn how to check the temperature of the processor without third-party applications, what settings to turn off before starting a game, and when it is time to sound the alarm. K60 Pro) we have prepared separate cooling recommendations.

Spoiler: If your phone is heated to 45-50ยฐC in intense play is normal for most Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek Dimensity chipsets, but if the temperature is above 55.ยฐC, and the body burns hands - it's time to act.

1.Why all Xiaomi smartphones warm up when gaming (and that's OK)

The first thing to understand is that any smartphone heats up under load, and even the flagship liquid-cooled models (Xiaomi 14 Pro, Black Shark 5 Pro) can't completely dissipate the heat generated by the processor and graphics accelerator.

  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ Process physics: A chipset (like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) consumes up to 10 to 12 watts of power when fully loaded, almost like a light bulb. All of that energy is converted into heat.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Performance compromise: Xiaomi optimizes its phones for gaming, but at the expense of heat generation.Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Dimensity 1080 accelerates to 2.6 GHz, which inevitably leads to heating.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Battery: The game consumes 300-500 mA of current per hour, and lithium-ion batteries are heated by rapid discharge.

The manufacturer lays a safe heating threshold โ€“ usually 45-50.ยฐC for the hull and 60-65ยฐC for the processor. When exceeded, trottling (forced frequency reduction) is triggered, and FPS It's a heat protection, not a breakdown!

โš ๏ธ Warning: If the phone turns off at temperatures below 60ยฐC is a sign of a sensor or battery failure.

๐Ÿ“Š What chipset is your Xiaomi?
Snapdragon 8xx
Dimensity 9xxx/8xxx
Snapdragon 7xx/6xx
Dimensity 7xxx/6xxx
Other

2. TOP-7 Why Xiaomi is overheating in games (and how to fix them)

Now, to the specific causes that you can fix yourself, we've arranged them by frequency, from the most common to the rarest.

๐Ÿ”น Reason 1: Background processes and โ€œjunkโ€ applications

MIUI It's known for its love of background processes, and even if you shut down all apps before you play, the system can continue to do so:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฒ Update weather, news, Mi Fit widgets.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Sync data with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
  • ๐ŸŽง Working with Bluetooth (for example, if headphones are connected).

How to clean:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.
  2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner โ†’ Show system processes.
  3. Sort by CPU usage and forcefully stop the unnecessary ones.

โ˜‘๏ธ Optimization before the game

Done: 0 / 4

๐Ÿ”น Reason 2: High screen brightness and refresh rate

Screen. AMOLED Xiaomi is one of the main "eaters" of batteries and heat sources in smartphones. K50 Gaming with a 120 Hz screen and a brightness of 500 nits consumes 30-40% more energy than at 60 Hz and 200 nits.

The best settings for games:

ParameterRecommended valueSaving heat
Brightness40-50% (or adaptive)15%
Frequency of update60 Hz (if the game does not support) 90/120 Hz)20%
AutobrightnessDisconnect (to avoid jumps)10%

How to change it:

Settings โ†’ Display โ†’ Screen refresh rate โ†’ 60 Hz


Settings โ†’ Display โ†’ Brightness โ†’ Manual control (40โ€“50%)

๐Ÿ”น Reason 3: Aggressive graphics settings in the game

Many games (such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile allow you to manually select the quality of graphics. High settings (Ultra) HD, 60 FPS) force the processor and video accelerator to work at the limit, which leads to overheating.

Recommendations for settings for popular games:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ PUBG Mobile: Smooth + Ultra (balance) FPS heater).
  • ๐Ÿน Genshin Impact: Medium + 30 FPS (for Snapdragon 7xx).
  • ๐Ÿ”ซ Call of Duty: Mobile: Low + Max Frame Rate (if smoothness is important).

๐Ÿ’ก

In games with Game Turbo support, select Balance profile instead of Performance, which will reduce heating by 10-15% without a critical loss. FPS.

๐Ÿ”น Reason 4: Dust and pollution connectors

Over time, the charger, speaker and microphone jacks get dust that acts as a heat insulator, especially for phones with a removable back cover (such as the Redmi). 9A) or without protection IP53/IP68.

How to clean:

  1. Turn off the phone and get it out. SIM-map.
  2. Use a plastic toothpick or soft brush to clean the connector USB-C.
  3. For speakers, a balloon with compressed air is suitable (do not blow with your mouth!).

โš ๏ธ Note: Do not use metal objects (needles, paper clips) โ€“ they can damage the connector contacts or antennas. NFC.

๐Ÿ”น Reason 5: Faulty battery or charger

If the phone is warming even when the game is turned off (for example, while charging), the problem may be in the battery or power supply.

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ The phone discharges in 2-3 hours without load.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Charging is jerking or interrupted.
  • ๐ŸŒก๏ธ The body is heated in the battery area (center of the back cover).

How to check:

  1. Install the AccuBattery app and check out Battery Health (normal 80โ€“100%).
  2. Try charging your phone with another cable and power supply.
  3. If the temperature during charging exceeds 40ยฐC - Rechargeable battery requires replacement.

๐Ÿ”น Reason 6: Outdated firmware or errors MIUI

Xiaomi regularly releases updates that optimize power consumption and heat generation.If your phone runs on an older version MIUI (for example, MIUI 12 instead MIUI 14), the chipset may not work inefficiently.

How to update:

Settings โ†’ About phone โ†’ System update โ†’ Check for updates

If the update doesnโ€™t help, try resetting (but backup first!):

Settings โ†’ Additional โ†’ Recovery and Reset โ†’ Resetting settings

๐Ÿ”น Reason 7: Hardware problems (chipset, heatpaste, radiator)

If all of the above methods have not worked, the problem may be:

  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Dried thermal paste between the processor and the radiator (relevant for phones over 2 years old).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง A radiator that has gone away (for example, after a fall).
  • ๐Ÿ’ฅ Damaged chipset (occurs after flashing or overheating).

In these cases, you need to disassemble the phone in the service center. The average cost of replacing the thermal paste for Xiaomi is 1,500-3,000 โ‚ฝ.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the phone is not warming evenly (for example, only in the top), it is a sign of a problem with the radiator or antenna modules.

3.How to check the temperature of the Xiaomi processor without root

To know exactly how critical overheating is, you need to measure the temperature of the chipset. You don't have to take your phone apart. MIUI or third-party applications.

๐Ÿ“Š Method 1: Integrated monitoring MIUI (new-model)

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has a hidden diagnostic mode to activate it:

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
  3. Go to the Battery Information tab.

Here you'll see the battery temperature.

  • ๐ŸŸข 30โ€“40ยฐC - optimal.
  • ๐ŸŸก 40โ€“50ยฐC - permissible under load.
  • ๐Ÿ”ด 50ยฐC+ โ€” heat-up.

๐Ÿ“Š Method 2: Annex CPU Monitor AIDA64

For detailed diagnosis, install CPU Monitor from Google Play. It shows:

  • The temperature of each processor core.
  • CPU loading and GPU real-time.
  • Battery and body temperature.

Critical value for Snapdragon 8xx Dimensity 9xxx: If at least one core is heated above 70ยฐC, stop playing immediately and let the phone cool down.

๐Ÿ“Š Method 3: Test through 3DMark Geekbench

If you want to check the stability of the chipset under load, run a stress test:

  1. Install. 3DMark (Wild Life Stress Test).
  2. Run the 20 cycle test.
  3. Keep a watchful eye on the temperature chart (ideally, it should not exceed 65).ยฐC).
What to do if the temperature jumps?
Temperature jumps (for example, from 40)ยฐC to 60ยฐC per second) may indicate problems with the thermal sensor or battery contacts, in which case only diagnostics in the service will help.

4. Features of overheating in Xiaomi models: what you need to know

Not all Xiaomi smartphones heat up the same way, POCO F5 Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 could be cooler than Redmi Note 12 Pro with Dimensity 1080, despite a weaker chipset.

๐Ÿ“ฑ Flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14 series, Mix Fold)

These models are equipped with a liquid cooling system (for example, Loop LiquidCool in Xiaomi 13 Pro), which dissipates heat more efficiently than copper radiators in budget phones.

  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ In games, 4K/120 FPS (For example, Genshin Impact, the temperature still rises to 45โ€“50ยฐC.
  • ๐Ÿ’ง Liquid cooling may lose efficiency over time due to evaporation of the coolant (after 2-3 years).

๐Ÿ“ฑ Smartphones (Black Shark) 5/6 Pro, Redmi K60 Gaming)

These devices were created specifically for gamers, so they have:

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Physical triggers (extra buttons) that donโ€™t overheat.
  • ๐ŸงŠ Improved cooling: for example, Black Shark 5 Pro has a 3-speed system with a steam camera.
  • โšก Storm Mode, which overclocks the chipset, but also warms it more.

Advice for Black Shark owners:

Settings โ†’ Black Shark Lab โ†’ Performance Mode โ†’ Select Balance instead of Storm

๐Ÿ“ฑ Budget models (Redmi Note) 11/12, POCO M5)

In phones with Snapdragon chipsets 6xx or Helio Gxx overheating is more often associated with:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Weak cooling system (aluminum radiator only).
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Trottling: the processor artificially slows down when heated to 50ยฐC.
  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Cheap Chargers That Warm Your Phone Even Without Load.

For these models, it is recommended that:

  • Play 60 mode FPS (higher).
  • Use game boosters (such as Game Turbo).
  • Avoid simultaneous play and play.

5. Myths about Xiaomi overheating: what not to be afraid of

There's a lot of rumors on the Internet about overheating smartphones, and let's see what's true and what's fiction.

โŒ Myth 1: If your phone is warm, it will break in a monthยป

Modern chipsets (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, Dimensity 9200) are designed to work at temperatures up to 85-90ยฐC (although it's uncomfortable for the hands) The real life of the processor is only reduced when the processor is constantly overheated above 70.ยฐC for months.

โŒ Myth 2: โ€œTaking a charge while playing kills the phoneยป

This is partly true, but not critical. Xiaomi's modern smartphones support fast charging (67W, 120W), It's really heating up:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ The battery suffers more from deep discharges (below 10%) than from charging while playing.
  • โšก If you play and charge at the same time, use the original power supply (not cheap analogues).

โŒ Myth 3: โ€œA refrigerator or fan will save you from overheatingยป

Dramatic cooling (such as putting your phone in the refrigerator) is harmful!

  • ๐Ÿ’ง Condensate inside the housing (short circuit).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Microcracks on the board due to temperature drop.

Acceptable cooling methods:

  • ๐ŸงŠ Put the phone on a metal surface (such as an aluminum stand).
  • ๐Ÿ’จ Direct a room fan (not ice air) to it!).

โŒ Myth 4: All Chinese phones are hotยป

For example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra with Loop LiquidCool in tests warms less than the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra at the same loads. Overheating depends on the:

  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Assemblance qualities (e.g, POCO X3 Pro warms up stronger than Redmi K40 because of the cheap radiator).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Software optimization (MIUI It is better at handling heat than, for example, Realme. UI).

6.Covers and accessories: how they affect temperature

Many users don't realize that a cover or protective glass can make overheating worse, so let's figure out which accessories are safe and which are not.

๐Ÿ“ฑ Covers: which to choose for gamers

Bad covers:

  • ๐Ÿงฅ Silicone โ€“ poorly pass heat, create a โ€œgreenhouse effectยป.
  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Armoured cases with metal inserts - can block the heat sink.
  • ๐Ÿ’Ž Thick covers (more than 3 mm) - worsen air circulation.

Nice covers:

  • ๐ŸงŠ Thin polycarbonate (e.g. Spigen Thin Fit).
  • ๐ŸŒฌ๏ธ Mesh (with ventilation holes).
  • ๐Ÿ’ง Refrigerated with liquid cooling (e.g. Black Shark Cooling Backplate).

๐Ÿ”‹ External batteries and chargers

If you are playing and charging a power bank phone at the same time, watch out for:

  • โšก Power: Use power supplies with Quick Charge support 3.0/4.0.
  • ๐Ÿ”ฅ Temperature of the cable: If USB-C The cable is warmed up - replace it.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Charging mode: In games it is better to turn off Fast Charging:
Settings โ†’ Battery โ†’ Battery settings โ†’ Disable โ€œQuick Chargingโ€

๐ŸŽง Headphones and headsets

Bluetooth headphones (Redmi Buds, Xiaomi FlipBuds) do not warm the phone by themselves, but:

  • ๐Ÿ”Š Active use of Bluetooth 5.2/5.3 increases the load on the processor 5โ€“10%.
  • ๐ŸŽค The microphone in the headset can force the phone to additionally handle noise reduction.

Tip: Use wired headphones or a low latency gaming headset (such as Black Shark Dart) for gaming.

7 When it's time to bring your phone to service: signs of serious problems

If you've tried all the tips, but the phone is still warming like an iron, it may be a hardware malfunction.

  • ๐ŸŒก๏ธ Phone heats up to 50ยฐC+ without load (e.g. in standby mode).
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ The battery swelled (see above the raised back cover or screen glass).
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ The phone turns off at a temperature below 60ยฐC.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Artifacts appeared on the screen (stripes, flickering) when heated.
  • โšก Charging is jerky or the phone does not hold a charge for more than 2-3 hours.

Average repair prices in official Xiaomi services (2026):

Problem.Cost (โ‚ฝ)Duration of repairs
Replacement of thermopaste1 500โ€“3 0001-2 days
Cleaning the cooling system1 000โ€“2 0001 day
Battery replacement2 500โ€“5 0002-3 days
Chipset repair/replacement5 000โ€“15 0005-7 days

โš ๏ธ Note: If the phone is warranty, do not open it yourself - this will void warranty obligations.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Overheating

โ“ Why the Redmi Note 11 Pro is warmer than the Redmi Note POCO X4 Pro, although they have the same chipset (Snapdragon 695)?
The reason for the different cooling system: POCO X4 The Pro has a larger copper radiator.The Redmi Note 11 Pro saves on heat sink (a thin aluminum radiator). POCO The Redmi Note 11 Pro also comes with a cheaper screen that warms up stronger at high brightness.
โ“ Can I play Xiaomi while charging if it's warm?
You can, but with reservations: ๐Ÿ”Œ Use the original power supply (not cheap analogues). โšก Turn off Fast Charging in Battery Settings. ๐Ÿ“‰ Make sure the temperature does not exceed 50.ยฐC (use it) CPU Monitor).