Why is my iPad Air M3 overheating?

jpanakkal wrote:

My new iPad Air 11 M3 is getting overheated with even simple application of reading a newspaper on line?

It is perfectly normal for an iPad to become warm when being used - more so when using some types of iPad case. High screen brightness and/or CPU intensive Apps will also create more heat.

The key point is that whilst your iPad may become very warm in normal use, the iPad should not become uncomfortably hot to handle.

If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

avishekkumar wrote:

I bought iPad Air M3 last week it was working fine UNTIL I updated with ipadOS 18.5. After the update its heating like anything and battery is draining so quick I can't tell. I regret updating it. Can I go back to my previous iPad OS with minimal hassle? I am a student and use iPad just for notes taking, nothing else. Can apple fix this quick please?

Rolling-back to an earlier version of iOS/iPadOS is not possible.

All System Updates are digitally signed by Apple - and can only be installed whilst the digital signatures remain valid. After release of a new iOS/iPadOS version, the immediately preceding version continues to be digitally signed by Apple - however, usually within a few days, Apple will revoke the digital certificate with which the earlier version is signed.

Perhaps consider that iOS/iPadOS updates include both functional and essential security updates. Restoring an earlier version of the OS would undermine the security of your device and your personal data.  You can, however, perform a factory restore that will reset the iPad and install a fresh copy of the most recent version of iPadOS supported by your iPad.

Before pursuing this more drastic course of action, if your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated or post-update software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist with troubleshooting:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

LAE257 wrote:

I purchased an iPad Air with a M3 chip in April and it has been overheating on and off since purchasing. It gets so hot that I can barely touch it.

<snip>

For example, I just recently turned my iPad on after being off since early yesterday and within three minutes it’s overheating and the screen automatically dims as I’m reading the news. It gets so hot that I cannot handle holding the iPad.

It is not unusual for an iPad to become warm when being used - more so when using some types of iPad case. High screen brightness and/or CPU intensive Apps will also create more heat.

The key point is that whilst your iPad may become very warm in normal use, the iPad should not become uncomfortably hot to handle. If your iPad is becoming too hot to hold, you should take your iPad along to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store - where the technicians can examine and test your iPad for faults.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

I don't have an M3 iPad Air, but have you tried a forced restart to see f the issues persist?

For an iPad without a Home button: Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button. Press and hold the top button until your iPad restarts.

It is perfectly normal for an iPad to become warm when being used - more so when using some types of iPad case. High screen brightness and/or CPU intensive Apps will also create more heat.

The key point is that whilst your iPad may become very warm in normal use, the iPad should not become uncomfortably hot to handle. If your iPad is becoming too hot to hold, you should take your iPad along to the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store - where the technicians can examine and test your iPad for faults.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Exactly, the same issue here, I’ve just recently bought new iPad Air m3, and if I use zoom or video calls, or play game Titan Quest it gets crazy hot, sometimes it even dimes brightness of the display, unbelievable, 600$ for that

Should writing or drawing with your Pencil Pro in Notes be considered CPU instensive?

This is a common use of the app and it should not get uncomfortably hot using a simple app to draw and write with. I have done this on my old IPad 10th gen without issue. This must be an Apple Intelligence issue, is my guess causing high cpu usage for such simple tasks.

Same here. I don’t even need to run heavy apps — it heats up just by using Procreate or taking simple notes.

And I’m not talking about “warm”, I mean really uncomfortable to touch.

Funny how a brand-new device with the “latest chip” can’t handle basic tasks without overheating.

Sometimes when I’m charging and using it at the same time, it just stops charging and says it will resume after the iPad cools down.

Not really what I expected after spending this much.

I bought iPad Air M3 last week it was working fine UNTIL I updated with ipadOS 18.5. After the update its heating like anything and battery is draining so quick I can't tell. I regret updating it. Can I go back to my previous iPad OS with minimal hassle? I am a student and use iPad just for notes taking, nothing else. Can apple fix this quick please?

Thanks for all the steps - I believe many of us know all of those after using Apple products for so long.

I also noticed issues with overheating of my m3 ‘11 inch iPad Air. This is a recent thing, I believe in relation to new iOS update. I bought it on premiere this year and haven’t had such issues before (getting only slightly warm while using pencil), but now it’s impossible to touch and screen is getting dimmed automatically. This happens when I play 2D, not very demanding card game on it. I have followed all your steps and even went to a local Apple Store where they told me to try here by providing online feedback as they also think it is in relation to a software.

Adasqo wrote:

Thanks for all the steps - I believe many of us know all of those after using Apple products for so long.

I also noticed issues with overheating of my m3 ‘11 inch iPad Air. This is a recent thing, I believe in relation to new iOS update. I bought it on premiere this year and haven’t had such issues before (getting only slightly warm while using pencil), but now it’s impossible to touch and screen is getting dimmed automatically. This happens when I play 2D, not very demanding card game on it. I have followed all your steps and even went to a local Apple Store where they told me to try here by providing online feedback as they also think it is in relation to a software.

If you can identify the App that is causing unexpected heating, delete the App from your iPad - and then perform a forced restart.

After restarting the iPad, test your iPad without the offending App installed. If the problem has cleared, reinstall the offending App and re-test.

I purchased an iPad Air with a M3 chip in April and it has been overheating on and off since purchasing. It gets so hot that I can barely touch it. I just can be reading online. I am extremely disappointed because I feel like it’s frying the logic board. I’m not running anything else off of the iPad no pencils nothing and it overheats. I’m not running any apps. I can just be reading Apple news and it starts overheating. For example, I just recently turned my iPad on after being off since early yesterday and within three minutes it’s overheating and the screen automatically dims as I’m reading the news. It gets so hot that I cannot handle holding the iPad. That’s how hot it is getting. I have to completely turn the iPad off and let it cool down. I’m glad that I bought insurance with it because I can see that it’s not going to last. It’s hard to believe that with as hot as it’s getting that it’s not doing damage to the components inside.

H2gcya wrote:

same here, m3 overheating just using pencil pro and writing. I think apple need to perform an internal investigation. This is not simply user or app error that we public can solve.

If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated or post-update software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to assist with troubleshooting:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Just bought a '25 Air M3 last week and get the occasional rt side getting hot issue. Also notice it gets pretty warm when charging today. My old Pro stayed really cool not matter what. Apple going backwards?

My MB Pro with M4 never breaks a sweat and never gets warm.

Mine is also overheating, I had to get a replacement ipad because of noise from the inside compartments, and my new replacement also overheats and makes noise:/