Does VPN heat up your smartphone: expert opinions
Sophia
2026-08-05
Read time
3 minutes
Many users notice that when a VPN is turned on, their mobile devices start to heat up significantly, which is noticeable even on powerful models. Experts explain this phenomenon by the increased load on the processor during traffic encryption, and also warn of safety risks associated with the use of some free services.
Reasons for mobile device overheating
Anton Averyanov, CEO of ST IT, notes that the operation of any app for bypassing blocks increases the load on the gadget. The device has to continuously encrypt and decrypt traffic, as well as redirect it through third-party servers. This leads to excessive energy consumption and an increase in processor temperature, especially when transmitting large amounts of data or constantly trying to reconnect due to an unstable connection.
Eldar Murtazin, leading analyst at Mobile Research Group, holds a different opinion, linking the heating primarily to the total volume of transmitted information. According to his estimation, a VPN increases traffic volume by only 5-10%, so it cannot cause severe overheating on its own, and users simply pay more attention to it. Denis Kuskov, head of TelecomDaily, confirms that any resource-intensive application heats up the device in a similar way during prolonged operation.
Ways to reduce the load on your phone
To minimize heating, Denis Kuskov advises running the service only when necessary, rather than keeping it active constantly. Expert Timofey Voronin warns against extreme cooling of the smartphone in a refrigerator or under water, as sudden temperature changes damage the battery. Instead, it is enough to put the phone aside and close background programs.
Data leak risks when using free services
The main danger when using such services lies in their reliability. Anton Averyanov warns that free programs can collect browsing history and device data for subsequent transfer to third parties. Eldar Murtazin adds that the creators of free applications profit from selling user information to data brokers, through whom the data can get to scammers, and Denis Kuskov calls for a careful approach to choosing a provider due to frequent leaks.
Additional factors of overheating and maintenance recommendations
In addition to VPNs, the causes of temperature rise can be malware, tight phone cases that prevent cooling, or overly active background processes. To normalize the situation, it is recommended to temporarily remove the case, turn on airplane mode for a few minutes, delete unnecessary files, and close unused programs. If these measures and restarting the device do not help, you should contact a service center.
Legal regulation and restrictions in Russia
In July 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law according to which the use of IP-masking technologies is recognized as an aggravating circumstance in committing crimes. At the same time, Anton Gorelkin clarified in the State Duma that ordinary citizens can use such services for lawful purposes without restrictions.
At the end of July 2026, Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin announced the preparation of a bill toughening criminal liability for committing crimes using information technology, artificial intelligence, and proxy servers. According to him, the introduction of a universal norm will help prevent such offenses more effectively.
Earlier, representatives of regulatory bodies stated that in April 2026, restrictions did not affect the corporate use of secure connection technologies for legal purposes. However, although the use of such services itself is not prohibited by law, some domestic platforms have begun to restrict access for users with an active VPN at the request of the Ministry of Digital Development.
Connecting through the trusted HiroVPN service will help you bypass restrictions safely and protect your sensitive data from leaks without harming your device.
