Why shouldn't you sleep with your phone next to you?

Author: Floy Mosciski  |  Last update: Saturday, September 20, 2025

The blue light from your phone's screen can delay the release of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle. Increases brain activity : Prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation from your phone can damage the blood-brain barrier and accelerate your brain's blood glucose activity.

Is it bad to sleep with your phone near you?

Sleep Disruption: The blue light emitted by phone screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. This can lead to difficulties falling asleep or lower sleep quality. Additionally, notifications and alerts may disturb sleep if the phone is kept nearby.

How far away should you be from your phone when you sleep?

Keep Your Phone at a Distance

Experts suggest placing your phone at least three feet away from your bed.

Is radiation from a phone harmful?

The type of radiation emitted by cell phones is also referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. As stated by the National Cancer Institute, "there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk in humans.

Is it unhealthy to sleep next to charging a phone?

When this heat is unable to be released easily due to confined spaces, it carries the risk of causing burns or, in more severe cases, igniting fires. Consequently, placing a charging phone beneath your pillow is considered one of the most unsafe practices that smartphone users can engage in.

What Happens If You Sleep Next To Your Phone

What are the side effects of using phone at night?

Mobile phone use prior to bedtime or even after lights-out is a common habit among many young adults. However, this unhealthy habit may lead to delayed bedtime, sleep loss, irregular sleep-wake patterns, poor sleep quality, and increased tiredness during the day [2–4].

Why does Apple warn against sleeping next to your phone?

Apple advises customers against sleeping next to their iPhones while they are charging because the gadgets, wires, and chargers can become heated and irritate or even injure skin if rubbed against it for an extended period of time.

How to avoid phone radiation while sleeping?

To watch movies or listen to playlists on your phone, download them first, then switch to airplane mode while you watch or listen. Don't sleep with your phone in your bed or near your head. Unless the phone is off or in airplane mode, keep it at least a few feet away from your bed.

How might your cell phone affect your brain?

What is Happening in the Brain During Screen Time? This study found that increased use of screens among adults may harm learning, memory, and mental health, as well as the potential to increase the risk of early neurodegeneration.

Does phone radiation affect sperm?

CONCLUSIONS. Long–term semen exposure in the area of mobile phone RF–EMR leads to a significant decrease in the number of sperm with progressive movement and an increase in those with non–progressive movement.

Does airplane mode stop radiation?

When you don't need a cellular or data connection, turn on airplane mode on your phone. This will turn off all signal transmission, reducing radiation exposure. Try to keep some distance between your phone and your body. Use a bag or drawer to store your phone instead of hanging it in your pocket.

Can I sleep with my phone next to me on airplane mode?

In airplane mode, your phone will not emit any radio signals, so if you want to be “safe” from those, then yes, it is safe. If you want to be “safe” in the sense that you can be warned of imminent dangers, like earthquakes, then it would be better to not put in in airplane mode, but leave it on normally.

Do flip phones have less radiation?

Every phone has a level of caution called SAR (Specific Absorption Rate). You can find your SAR rating in your handbook that comes with your device. Flip phones have lower SAR rating than smartphones.

How far away should I sleep with my phone?

Some studies reveal there may actually be risks associated with long-term exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR), including sleeping next to your phone. Since everyone's sensitivity to RFR is different, the general consensus is that it's best to keep your cell phone at least three feet away from you when you sleep.

Is it bad to play music while charging your phone overnight?

There is no danger in using your phone while it's charging. When you use your phone while charging, the battery is charging at a slower rate than normal to allow enough power for the ongoing usage.

Is sleeping with AirPods bad?

Sleeping with AirPods can cause physical discomfort, such as ear pain or soreness. Additionally, there's a risk of the AirPods becoming dislodged and causing injury, either by pressure against the ear or by the earbud becoming lodged in the ear canal.

Is phone radiation harmful?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified RF radiation as a “possible human carcinogen.” (A carcinogen is an agent that causes cancer.)

What happens if you spend 12 hours on your phone?

Negative Effects of Too Much Screen Time:

Eye Strain and Headaches - Too much time spent looking at screens can cause fatigue or discomfort in your eyes as well as dimmed vision. Glare on screens and the brightness of the display can place further strain on your eyes. Eventually, this strain can lead to headaches.

What are the symptoms of too much screen time?

Excessive screen usage can also lead to problems in social-emotional development, including obesity, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. It can impair emotional comprehension, promote aggressive behavior, and hinder social and emotional competence.

Is it harmful to sleep next to your phone?

Smartphones have been shown to produce harmful radiation that disrupts the system of some self-regulatory processes, such as our biological clock or heart rhythm. As a result, sleeping with our phone next to us may induce nightmares, difficulties sleeping, and other issues.

How do I check my phone radiation?

For Android users, dial *#07#, while iPhone users should dial *#07# and tap on RF Exposure. A new window will appear, displaying your device's radiation levels. This method is quick and reliable, providing instant access to crucial information about your phone's radio frequency exposure.

What are the symptoms of EMF radiation poisoning?

The most common symptoms are sensation of warmth potentially escalating to pain, profuse sweating, and skin burns if the exposure dose is sufficiently high. Life-threatening medical emergencies, permanent injury to the eye and visual system are less common.

What does sleeping next to your phone do to your brain?

Scientific research has shown that prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation can damage the Blood-brain barrier, causing albumin leakage in the brain. Even the brain's blood glucose activity is accelerated by the phone's wireless waves.

Is it bad to charge a phone while sleeping?

Bottom line - keep phone charges out of bed!

This practice can be extremely dangerous as the heat generated cannot dissipate and the charger will become hotter and hotter. The likely result is that the pillow, covers, or your bed will catch fire.

Can an iPhone track your sleep?

Go to the Health app on your iPhone. Tap Browse at the bottom right, then tap Sleep. Do any of the following: View sleep data by week or month: Tap a tab at the top of the screen.

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