GADGETS, LIKE PEOPLE, don’t like overheating. Running at excessive temps can decrease performance, damage components, and shorten a device’s life span. That’s why laptops use heat sinks, fans, and vents to modulate temperature, and most computers, phones, and tablets shut down when they begin to swelter. That said, prevention is the best strategy for avoiding long-term problems.
On scorching days, keep your electronics off the ground and out of direct sunlight. Better yet, tuck them into the folds of a towel or stash them in a tote bag to block relentless rays. Juggling fewer tasks helps processors chill out, so shutting down power-hungry apps, disabling location tracking, and nixing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can help.
A temperature-monitoring app can keep tabs on things. You should start worrying when a gadget exceeds…