Working on your laptop during another summer heatwave could lead to your device overheating.
If your computer sounds like it’s about to explode, feels too hot to touch, or is working extremely slowly, there is a good chance that the machine’s cooling system is not able to properly bring its temperature down to a normal level.
Not only is the problem annoying due to slow performance and sudden shutdowns, but it can also cause longterm damage to your laptop’s internal parts — and in rare cases, can even start fires.
Thankfully, there are several ways to keep your tech cool while you enjoy the sunny days.
Before you accidentally set your laptop ablaze, or break it in half due to frustration, here are a few steps you can take to prevent it from overheating.
Stay out of direct sunlight
The desire to bring your laptop outside to work on a beautiful summer day might be impossible to ignore, but it’s important to keep your device out of the sun — and out of a hot car — so that it does not overheat.
Additionally, it can be helpful to take cases off phones, tablets and laptops to increase airflow.
Keep it on a hard surface
Setting your laptop on a soft or fabric surface like a bed, couch or your lap can obstruct air from circulating freely.
Most PCs have vents or fans in the bottom of the device, so blocking that part can cut off airflow even further.
Instead, keep your device on a desk or table. You can also invest in a cooling pad, which has fans that help to maintain the laptop’s temperature.
Clean out your vents
Speaking of those parts at the bottom of laptops, it is important to keep dust out of the vents so that the airflow stays smooth.
You can use compressed air to gently blow dust and debris out of the fans every couple of months to ensure the cooling system runs smoothly, according to Lenovo.
Simplify your workload
If you have lots of tabs open and are running videos on your laptop, it means that the device is working harder than usual, which could make it overheat more quickly.
Conserve your CPU’s resources by closing down any apps that you are not using, or programs that might be running in the background of your computer like Spotify.
Adjust your settings
You can also play with your power settings to help cool down your laptop’s internal parts.
Lowering the screen brightness can reduce power usage, which generates less heat in the machine.
You can also use less energy by enabling the laptop’s built-in features like “power saver” or “battery saver” mode to prevent the CPU from running at full capacity.
But the best way to keep your laptop from overheating is by leaving it in a breezy or air-conditioned place.