A Common Habit That May Be Doing More Than You Think
Most of us do it without even thinking: standing next to the microwave, scrolling through our phones while reheating last night’s leftovers. But should we? The phrase “never use your phone near a microwave” might sound dramatic, yet more and more people are noticing strange side effects — and many still have no idea why it happens. You’ll be surprised how many of us have overlooked this tiny everyday danger.
Strange Glitches and Real-Life Examples
Several users on tech forums have shared eerily similar experiences. One woman from Liverpool said she used to lose signal “every single time I made popcorn.” Another swears his mobile would freeze or randomly shut down when he leaned against the counter, microwave running beside him. While this might seem like coincidence, the pattern is hard to ignore — especially when even new phones begin acting up.
The Invisible Interference
The reason? Microwaves emit a small amount of electromagnetic radiation — not enough to cook you, obviously, but just enough to mess with your phone’s internal communication systems. Both devices operate within similar frequency ranges (around 2.4 GHz), meaning they can essentially fight for signal space. This electromagnetic clash can disrupt Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data. Some users even claim their phone batteries drain faster when exposed too frequently to this interference.
One older study noted that low-level radiation from household appliances can subtly alter how certain components perform. In theory, being too close to a running microwave could gradually affect your device’s antenna alignment or network calibration. It won’t fry your phone — but it might confuse it.
What People Say
“I didn’t believe it either,” said one commenter on a lifestyle blog. “But when I stopped using my phone near the microwave, all those weird little bugs disappeared.” Others remain skeptical, but admit they’ve noticed similar issues. And like one user put it: “It costs nothing to step back two feet while your burrito’s heating. Why not?”
A Simple Trick With Surprising Impact
So the next time you’re tempted to catch up on texts while the microwave hums, maybe take a few steps back. No app is worth a lagging screen or dropped call. And who knows — your phone might last a little longer. Try it once. You just might notice the difference.
