Apple Issues Warning For People Who Leave Their iPhone On Charge While They're Asleep

By Khadija Pervez in Science and Technology On 22nd August 2023
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A considerable number of individuals tend to routinely connect their phones for charging just before going to sleep. However, Apple has now issued an advisory urging us to exercise greater caution in the way we charge our iPhones.

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It might seem like the logical choice to charge your phone overnight. After all, constantly needing to monitor notifications while charging throughout the day can be inconvenient.

Nonetheless, Apple has chosen to release a cautionary notice targeting individuals who plug in their phones as they're about to go to bed.

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Although the technology giant hasn't urged us to completely halt the practice of charging our phones overnight, it has emphasized the necessity of ensuring that our phones are not being charged in environments where they might overheat.

For those who have ever found themselves inadvertently falling asleep while scrolling through Instagram, this piece of advice is directed at you.

The cautionary message elaborates that charging an iPhone while it's enclosed and lacks proper ventilation could lead to harm.

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This warning is accessible in the 'Important safety information for iPhone’ document on the Apple website. It outlines how iPhone users should 'refrain from prolonged skin contact with the charging cable and connector while it's connected to a power source, as it may cause discomfort or injury'.

Additionally, the document cautions against 'sleeping or sitting on the charging cable or connector'.

Apple's concern doesn't solely pertain to merely sleeping with a phone on charge; it also explicitly advises against placing phones beneath a duvet or pillow.

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"Use common sense to avoid situations where your skin is in contact with a device, its power adapter, or a wireless charger when it’s operating or connected to a power source for long periods of time."

"For example, don’t sleep on a device, power adapter, or wireless charger, or place them under a blanket, pillow, or your body, when it’s connected to a power source."

"Keep your iPhone, the power adapter, and any wireless charger in a well-ventilated area when in use or charging. Take special care if you have a physical condition that affects your ability to detect heat against the body."

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Although the idea of falling asleep and having your phone overheat to the point of causing a fire might appear unlikely, it's actually not as farfetched as it seems.

A member of Kent Fire Rescue took to TikTok to deliver a cautionary message about the potential hazards of charging phones overnight.

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Speaking on the social media platform, they warned: "We get a lot of questions here at Kent Fire Rescue about why you shouldn't charge phones overnight. So here are the reasons why."

"Number one: you can't smell anything when you're asleep, so if it starts to burn, the fire won't wake you up."

@kentfirerescue This is a highly debated topic on our TikTok, but if you ARE able to do so, it’s much safer to charge any electrical items when you’re there and awake ✔️ #firesafety #firefighting #kentfire #firefighters #kentuk #fireservice #firesafetytips #firefightertiktok #firefightersoftiktok ♬ Keeping Your Head Up (Jonas Blue Remix) [Radio Edit] - Birdy

"Number two: it only takes three breaths, right, to knock you unconscious."

"Number three: lots of people have cheap or faulty phone chargers, or even genuine ones have been known start fires."

"If you're able to, we advise you to charge your phone when you're there and awake from a fire service point of view. It's much safer."