Is your laptop running slower than usual and feeling hotter than it should? If yes, chances are that your laptop is overheating, which could lead to serious hardware failure and put your files at risk. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with some effective tips and advice to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again.
How to Tell If Your Laptop is Overheating
If you feel your laptop getting hot, place your hand next to the vents. You will know if the laptop fan is working properly if you feel warm air coming out of the vents. If you feel very little or no air, dust may have collected on the fan or it may have broken down. Here are some tips to fix the problem.
Effective Tips to Stop Laptop Overheating
Check and clean the fans
A good way to start addressing the problem is to check the fans. If dust has collected on them or they have failed, you can clean them by opening the machine and blowing out the dust with compressed air. Alternatively, find a new replacement for the fans.
Elevate your laptop
One reason for overheating is often a lack of proper ventilation under the laptop. Use a small book or a laptop cooling pad to provide enough standard ventilation under your machine.
Use a portable desk
Another method of providing sufficient ventilation is the use of a portable desk. A lap desk helps maintain a constant airflow, keeping your laptop cool.
Control fan speed
You can control the fan speed by installing programs like SpeedFan for Windows, which will keep your fans from running at full speed and keep your CPU cool.
Avoid the use of intense processes
Avoid using processes that put a heavy load on the CPU, such as browsers with Video Flash. Use a FlashBlock in your browser so that flash videos are only turned on when necessary.
Keep your laptop away from heat
Keep your laptop in the shade whenever the temperatures are high, especially during the summer. High temperatures can cause a computer to overheat due to hard drive expansion and battery damage.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your laptop cool is important to prevent serious hardware failure and data loss. Regular cleaning of your fans and proper ventilation are some of the best ways to do this. So, follow these tips and keep your laptop running smoothly and efficiently.
FAQs
1. How can I tell if my laptop is overheating?
A surefire way to tell if your laptop is overheating is to feel the heat coming off of it. If it feels too hot to touch or you hear the fans working overtime, it’s safe to assume it’s overheating.
2. Can I use my laptop on my lap without it overheating?
Absolutely! But it is recommended that you use a lap desk or elevate your laptop to allow for proper ventilation.
3. How often should I clean my laptop fans?
You should clean your laptop fans at least once or twice a year to ensure proper ventilation. However, if you notice your laptop getting hotter more frequently, you should clean the fans more often.
4. What other tools can I use to control my laptop’s temperature?
There are many tools available such as Core Temp, HWMonitor, and Open Hardware Monitor that can help you monitor and control your laptop’s temperature.
