User profile for user: victoriasol
victoriasol Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

iPhone 16 Pro Max Overheating During Camera Use After iOS 26.2 - Troubleshooting Steps Tried

I'm experiencing significant performance issues on my iPhone 16 Pro Max after updating to iOS 26.2 and would appreciate any troubleshooting suggestions from the community.


Device Information:


  • iPhone 16 Pro Max (3 months old)
  • iOS 26.2
  • Battery Health: 100%
  • Apple hardware diagnostics: Passed with no issues detected


Primary Issue - Camera Overheating:

When using the camera app, the device becomes extremely hot to touch within minutes and triggers a temperature warning. This occurs regardless of ambient temperature - I've tested in environments ranging from +1°C to +26°C with the same result. This issue has persisted for 3 weeks since the iOS 26.2 update. The overheating is accompanied by rapid battery drain during camera use. This did not occur prior to the iOS 26.2 update.


Additional Performance Issues:


  • Overall system responsiveness has decreased noticeably
  • Battery drains faster than expected given the 100% battery health status
  • Performance was excellent before updating to iOS 26.2


Troubleshooting Steps Already Completed:


  • Hard reset
  • Cleared camera app cache
  • Checked for background apps consuming resources
  • Verified battery health in settings
  • Reduced screen brightness
  • Disabled location services temporarily for testing
  • Tested in various ambient temperatures (+1°C to +26°C)
  • Completed Apple Store hardware diagnostics (no defects found)


My Question:

Has anyone else noticed camera overheating with temperature warnings on iPhone 16 Pro Max specifically after iOS 26.2? Are there additional troubleshooting steps I should try before the next software update? Any insights would be appreciated.

iPhone 16 Pro Max

Posted on Feb 12, 2026 5:08 AM

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User profile for user: LD150
LD150
User level: Level 10
102,554 points

Posted on Feb 12, 2026 8:55 AM

My take on Apple diagnostics is they don't find everything.

My take on your problem is to backup, restore to factory, set up manually, no quick start, no backup, no extra apps. Ie vanilla state.

If it still overheats to the point of issuing a warning then insist on a warranty replacement. You must be able to demo it in store.

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User profile for user: LD150
LD150
User level: Level 10
102,554 points

Feb 12, 2026 8:55 AM in response to victoriasol

My take on Apple diagnostics is they don't find everything.

My take on your problem is to backup, restore to factory, set up manually, no quick start, no backup, no extra apps. Ie vanilla state.

If it still overheats to the point of issuing a warning then insist on a warranty replacement. You must be able to demo it in store.

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User profile for user: Smilin-Brian
Smilin-Brian
User level: Level 9
60,721 points

Feb 12, 2026 6:46 AM in response to victoriasol

Thank you for responding with your concerns, victoriasol.


There appears to be an issue with the camera and/or related sensors.


Have you updated to iOS 26.3 yet?


Try the following steps:


Now, if that doesn’t help resolve the issue, then try ➢ this helpful guide for a possible solution.


If that’s unhelpful, then Force your iPhone to restart:

  1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
  3. Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo (this might take longer than 10 seconds).



If that was too difficult, then simply ask Siri: "Restart".


If that didn’t help, then I recommend service.


Service Checklist:



Click ▶︎ Get started with camera service.



Need more help?



Click ▶︎ Check Repair Status. 🔧



Good luck! 👋🏼😉


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User profile for user: Jeff Donald
Jeff Donald
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 8
46,284 points

Feb 12, 2026 6:27 AM in response to victoriasol

That’s the extent of what Apple will publicly state about an iOS update. Do not expect any specific details. It’s kind of an industry standard that developers are tight lipped about specific bug fixes.


When you had remote diagnostics done, did they give you the support ticket number? If so, call Apple Support and ask for an update on your case. If you don’t have the number, they should be able to find your case via your iPhone serial number. Note, when you call Apple Support will require you to update to iOS 26.3. They will not waste time continuing to troubleshoot an issue that is possibly resolved by just an update.



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User profile for user: Jeff Donald
Jeff Donald
Community+ 2026
User level: Level 8
46,284 points

Feb 12, 2026 9:56 AM in response to victoriasol

Apple Support can run remote diagnostics over the phone or chat by guiding you into diagnostics mode on your iPhone and using cloud-based tools like AST2 (Apple Service Toolkit 2) via diagnostics.apple.com. This tests hardware like battery, camera, and logic board remotely after you enter the device’s serial number. It’s available through official support channels without physical access. It’s not as comprehensive and through as in store diagnostics.


At an Apple Store, technicians use the full AST2 suite on-site, which includes comprehensive hardware tests (e.g., display sensitivity, dead pixels, detailed battery cycles, camera functions etc.) and hands-on inspections not possible remotely. They can perform physical checks, like sensor tests or component swaps, beyond cloud diagnostics.


I suspect remote diagnostics has missed the actual cause of the overheating. There’s nothing we can do here. Apple and Apple Support do not participate in the communities here. They only moderate our posts to insure all user guidelines are followed in regard to content and user behavior. Everyone responding here are just fellow community members and Apple users.

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User profile for user: victoriasol
victoriasol Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Feb 12, 2026 5:31 AM in response to rierikaflower2023

Thank you for the suggestions. To clarify:


Overheating occurs in ALL environments:


  • Indoors with controlled temperature
  • Various ambient temperatures tested: +1°C to +26°C
  • No direct sunlight exposure
  • Happens regardless of location or conditions


Charger is not relevant - the overheating occurs during camera use, not during charging.


Reset all settings - I've already performed hard resets and completed all standard troubleshooting steps listed in my original post, including Apple Store hardware diagnostics which found no defects.


The issue is specifically tied to iOS 26.2. The device performed flawlessly before this update under identical usage conditions. The problem has persisted for 3 weeks across all environments and usage scenarios.

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User profile for user: victoriasol
victoriasol Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Feb 12, 2026 6:00 AM in response to Jeff Donald

The hardware diagnostics were completed remotely through Apple Support, not at a physical Apple Store. During that remote diagnostic session, Apple Support confirmed no hardware defects were detected. They informed me the issue would be escalated to senior advisors and that I would receive a callback to discuss further. I have not received any followup contact.


Regarding iOS 26.3 I'm hesitant to update without more information. From what I've observed in community discussions, user experiences are mixed.

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User profile for user: victoriasol
victoriasol Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Feb 12, 2026 7:42 AM in response to Jeff Donald

I have the case ID from the remote diagnostics session where they confirmed no hardware defects and promised escalation with a callback. That callback never came. When I tried to follow up, the support contact option had been removed from my account. I cannot call, chat, or access any support channels through my Apple ID despite having the case ID.


This is why I'm asking the community. I understand support would require updating to 26.3 before troubleshooting, but given that iOS 26.2 broke a flawless device and I have no way to contact support if 26.3 makes it worse, plus, community reports are mixed.


I'm trying to gather information from users who've updated before making a decision.

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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
User level: Level 10
185,858 points

Feb 12, 2026 8:39 AM in response to victoriasol

That's the thing I'm trying to figure out, if anyone with camera overheating issues saw improvement with 26.3. It seems like users are experiencing different problems that aren't consistent across devices, which makes it hard to predict if updating will help or hurt.


It has only been 2 days since the update was released. It is going to take weeks before any trends might appear.


When you say that the phone is "overheating", are you saying that a picture of a red thermometer appears on the screen with a message that the phone is overheating and will need to cool down before you can continue using the phone?


I have had no issues with any of the iOS 26 releases. This is also true with the more than a billion users that have updated. On a user to user site for users that are having problems, you should expect to see posts from users that are having problems.


In fact, if an update did nothing at all except restart the iPhone, there would be some users who post to say that the latest update messed up their phone.





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iPhone 16 Pro Max Overheating During Camera Use After iOS 26.2 - Troubleshooting Steps Tried

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