The UK is in the grips of an icy blast, with the mercury plunging well below zero up and down the country. Snow is blanketing many counties and there are amber weather warnings in place, with more of this wintry weather reportedly on the way.

If you’ve snapped a few pictures of the cold conditions on your smartphone, you’ll appreciate how essential that device probably is in your day to day life. But what you may not realise is that the cold weather and freezing temperatures pose a risk to your phone.

Apple states that iPhones (and iPads) are designed to be used when the temperature is between 0º and 35ºC. With temperatures plummeting to as low as -11ºC recently, that means your phone could be at risk of malfunction.

“Low- or high-temperature conditions may cause your device to change its behaviour to regulate its temperature,” Apple says on a support page on its website. “Using an iOS or iPadOS device in very hot conditions can permanently shorten battery life.”

Meanwhile, Google warns of its Pixel smartphones: “If your phone’s temperature is below 0°C/32°F, it may shut down suddenly.”

Your smartphone, whether it is an iPhone or Android device, could be permanently damaged or malfunction in this sort of weather, according to tech and telecoms expert Archie Burkinshaw of Uswitch.com, who warns not to leave your phone in the car this week while the weather is particularly cold.

“This can cause permanent water damage to your phone once you bring it in from the cold, due to chemical reactions inside your device,” Burkinshaw said. “If you do leave your phone out in the cold for a prolonged period, be sure to allow it to come back up to room temperature before you charge it again to avoid condensation seeping in.”

Simply using a protective phone case or keeping your phone in a pocket close to your body could be enough to keep the device working with no issues.

Apple advises you can store your phone where the temperature is between -20º and 45ºC, but not to leave your phone in your vehicle “because temperatures in parked cars can exceed this range”

It’s a good idea to fully charge your phone before heading out into the cold conditions, too.

“Cold weather hurts the battery life of many tech devices, particularly for devices with lithium-ion batteries such as smartphones,” Burkinshaw said. “Make sure your devices are fully charged before heading outdoors, as you may find the battery will drain faster than normal in low temperatures.”

He also advised that in sub-zero temperatures you could play it safe by turning on low battery mode, turn off location service and close down background apps to conserve battery life if you’re worried about running out of juice.