A Galaxy Tab S9, S10 Ultra or A9+ that runs warm is usually inside what Samsung calls normal: it says devices may feel warm while charging without harm, and lists the factors that raise temperature. Those are use outside 32 to 95 degrees F, a heat source or a parked car, long sessions of gaming or GPS, a non-Samsung or defective charger, and the first setup with data transfer. If the tablet is too warm, Samsung says to disconnect the charger and close apps until it cools, try a different Samsung-approved charger on a hard flat surface, turn off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when unused, lower brightness and update the software. It may then dim, slow, pause charging or close apps, and returns to normal by itself.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S10 Ultra and A9+ gets hot or shows a temperature warning”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Setup or a large restore
What separates it It is warm right after unboxing or moving data across because of setup or a large restore
How to confirm Samsung lists initial setup and data transfer as warming factors; wait for it to finish
- 2
Long gaming, navigation or DeX sessions
What separates it It is warm on the back near the top edge because of long gaming, navigation or DeX sessions
How to confirm Close the apps and let the tablet rest until it cools
- 3
Sun, a hot car or a heat source
What separates it Warm after sitting on a dashboard or near a radiator
How to confirm Move it to a cooler place within 32 to 95 degrees F
- 4
A poor charger
What separates it It is warm mostly while charging because of a poor charger
How to confirm Use a Samsung-approved charger on a hard, flat surface
- 5
A thick case
What separates it The phone is warmer in its case than when it is taken out of the case
How to confirm Remove the case for an hour and compare
- 6
A failing battery or fault
What separates it The phone is hot while idle with the screen off and nothing obvious running
How to confirm Stop charging and contact Samsung, since a failing battery or fault needs a technician
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which tablet and the One UI version
- What was running when it warmed, and whether it was charging
- Whether an overheating notification appeared on the screen
- The room temperature and whether it was in the sun
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUnplug and close apps
ReversibleUnplug and close apps, by disconnecting the charger and closing running apps until the tablet cools.
Move it to a cooler place
ReversibleMove it to a cooler place, and keep it within 32 to 95 degrees F and out of the sun.
Try a Samsung-approved charger
ReversibleTry a Samsung approved charger, and charge the tablet on a hard flat surface, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Turn off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when unused
ReversibleTurn off Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth when unused, and lower the brightness too, to cut the heat.
Update the software
ReversibleOpen Settings, Software update and install anything waiting, then restart the phone and see whether the fault has cleared.
Remove the case
ReversibleRemove the case, so that heat can escape from the back of the tablet, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Samsung
ReversibleContact Samsung, and if it is still too hot to touch, contact Samsung Support with the model.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Chips
- Tab S9: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2; Tab S10 Ultra: MediaTek Dimensity 9300+; Tab A9+: Snapdragon 695 5G, per Wikipedia.
- Operating range
- Samsung's normal range is 32 to 95 degrees F, per its temperature article.
- Part numbers
- No part number is needed. Samsung identifies the tablet by model in Settings, About tablet.
- Tools and supplies
- A shaded, cool surface, a dry towel to stand the tablet on and a flashlight to read the model label. Do not use ice or a hair dryer.
- Repair cost
- iFixit lists the Tab A9+ at $220 to $320 at launch, useful when weighing a quote.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, Galaxy Tab A9+.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it is too warm to touch after cooling, contact Samsung
- !If it powers off repeatedly with an overheating message, book service
- !If the back lifts or the screen bows, stop charging and get it inspected
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Ambient range, heat factors, what to do and the overheating notifications.
Tab S9 8,400 mAh battery, 45 W USB Power Delivery PPS, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, microSDXC up to 1 TB, IP68, S Pen and Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 5.3.
Tab S10 Ultra 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 11,200 mAh battery, 45 W fast charging, Dimensity 9300+, IP68 and dedicated microSDXC slot.
Tab A9+ 11-inch TFT LCD, 7,040 mAh battery, Snapdragon 695 5G, 64 to 256 GB storage and its update commitment of three OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
Exact questions
Common questions
Should I keep using DeX if the tablet is warm?+
Samsung's temperature article says to close running apps until the device cools. DeX runs several windowed apps at once, so end the session, let the tablet rest, and restart it later on a Samsung-approved charger on a hard, flat surface.
Can a charger placed on a soft surface make it warmer?+
Samsung's article says to charge the device on a hard, flat surface. A bed or sofa traps heat around the tablet and charger, so move it to a table before you suspect the tablet itself.
Do I need to worry about a warm tablet that is not charging?+
Only if it stays too warm to touch after it has cooled. Samsung lists gaming, navigation, sun and long multi-app use as normal warming factors, so stop the activity, wait, and contact Samsung if it does not settle.
Is it normal for the tablet to warm while charging?+
Samsung says devices may feel warm under certain conditions like charging, and that this does not affect lifespan or performance.
What is Samsung's temperature range?+
Samsung's article gives ambient temperatures between 32 and 95 degrees F as normal operating conditions.
What happens if it gets too hot?+
Samsung says the phone or tablet may power off, close apps, temporarily stop charging or dim the display, and shows a notification.
Will performance return?+
Samsung says after the device cools down, performance returns to normal automatically.
Why is the S10 Ultra warm during gaming?+
Wikipedia lists a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chip in a 14.6-inch tablet, and Samsung names processor-intensive gaming as a heat factor.
Does the A9+ get warm in the same way?+
Samsung's factors apply to any Galaxy tablet: heat, long use, a poor charger and initial setup.
Does 5G make it warmer?+
Samsung's battery article says a 5G device holds a 4G connection alongside 5G, so it may get warmer than on LTE alone.
Should I use a fan?+
Samsung's article says to close apps and let the device cool. It does not recommend cooling accessories.
Is DeX a heat source?+
Samsung does not say so, but running DeX with external displays and apps raises load, and Samsung names long multi-app use as a factor.
Can a wrong charger cause heat?+
Yes. Samsung lists charging with a non-Samsung, incompatible or defective charger and cable as a factor.
When should I contact Samsung?+
If the tablet is still too warm to touch once it should have cooled, per Samsung's article.
Does Safe mode help find heat causes?+
Samsung's battery article uses Safe mode to test whether a downloaded app is the cause of drain, and heat often follows the same app.
Will a reset stop overheating?+
Only if a software fault is the cause. Back up, and treat a factory reset as a last test.