If your iPhone 12 is overheating even in a cool room after updating to iOS 18.4, it’s likely due to background processes or software bugs introduced with the update.
To address this, start by restarting your iPhone to clear any temporary issues.
Make sure all your apps are up to date, as outdated apps may not be optimized for the latest iOS version.
Enabling Low Power Mode under Settings > Battery can help reduce background activity that contributes to overheating.
You should also turn off Background App Refresh by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, and disable Location Services for apps that don’t need it through Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
If the problem continues, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings—this won’t erase your data but will reset system settings that could be causing issues.
If none of these steps resolve the overheating, it's recommended to contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for further diagnosis, as it may be a deeper software or hardware issue.