Ever notice how your laptop suddenly gets loud and hot, like it’s working overtime just to keep up? One minute it’s quiet, the next it sounds like a tiny jet engine, and the bottom feels almost too hot to touch. It’s easy to assume something’s broken, but honestly, almost every laptop overheats now and then, it doesn’t matter if it’s brand new or a few years old.

And it’s not just about comfort. Too much heat can mess with your laptop’s speed, drain the battery way faster, and, over time, actually wear out your device. Here’s the upside: you can usually fix or even avoid these overheating problems with a few simple tricks. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out why your laptop is overheating and how to stop a laptop from overheating so as to keep it cool and running smoothly like it should.

Why Is My Laptop Overheating?

Most of the time, laptops overheat because heat builds up faster than it can escape. As the hot air cannot be forced out by the internal fans, the temperature grows fast. Common causes of this occurrence are as follows:

Obstructed air vents: Both dust and lint may accumulate in the air vents and stop the free flow of air.
Poor ventilation: When you use your laptop on a soft surface such as a bed or couch, you block the bottom vents.
Unnecessary open programs: Running many applications at once can overload your laptop and cause overheating of the laptop.
Aging thermal paste: With time, the material that helps in transferring heat from your processor can dry out.
Battery/ fan issues: Overheating may also occur due to the use of an old battery or a fan that is run down.

At times, laptop overheating is a combination of all these. The more strain you put on your laptop, the hotter it becomes. In case you are not certain of the cause, our Laptop and Computer Repairs team in Perth may assist in a quick check-up to identify the cause.

How to Tell If Your Laptop Is Overheating

If your laptop is overheating, you’ll notice a few signs before it becomes serious.

Even if only light tasks are being performed, the fans run loudly.
Applications stop responding or crash unexpectedly.
The keyboard or the base feels hot after only a short while.
Your laptop slows down or freezes during normal tasks.
Laptops shut down suddenly or display a blue screen with an error code.
The battery drains much faster than usual.
Freezing on a black or blank screen

HWMonitor, Core Temp, or SpeedFan are temperature monitoring apps. If you’re not sure, then download these apps to check the temperature of your laptop. Most laptops should run between 40°C and 70°C. But if your laptop shows over 85°C, it is a clear warning sign that your laptop needs professional repair.

How to Fix an Overheating Laptop

When your laptop overheats, don’t panic. There are several easy fixes for laptop overheating that can make a big difference in making it run smoothly.

1. Clean the Vents and Fans

The number one cause of poor airflow is dust. Even a little dust will have a huge impact on cooling. Blow out any dust or buildup in the vents using a can of compressed air. You can also clean the fans lightly if you are confident about opening the back panel. Otherwise, it can be safely done by a technician in several minutes.

2. Improve Air Circulation

You should always place your laptop on a hard surface that is flat, such as a desk or a table. The soft surfaces, like beds, sofas, capture the heat and block vents beneath. Allow a few inches of space around the sides and the back to allow the air to flow. Where possible, use a small stand or cooling pad to place your laptop on in order to allow air to circulate.

3. Close Unused Programs

Check your Task Manager or Activity Monitor and close programs you don’t need to improve your laptop’s performance. Lower game resolution or graphics settings. Video editing software, games, or too many tabs open in a browser can make your processor really work overtime, inducing more heat and increasing your temperature.

4. Adjust Power Settings

Switch your system to “Balanced” or “Power Saver” mode. This will reduce strain on the CPU and stop the laptop CPU from overheating. You can also try lowering your screen brightness or turning off Bluetooth and background syncing to help it run cooler.

5. Replace the Thermal Paste

Thermal paste between the CPU and the heat sink could be dry in case your laptop is a few years old. Replacing it can significantly improve heat transfer. You can try to apply thermal paste to the CPU yourself. But this one’s best left to a technician unless you’re confident with hardware.

6. Place a Laptop Stand Underneath

A stand lifts your laptop, gives the fans space, and helps air flow underneath. It’s cheap and actually works to reduce heat. Even raising it a couple of inches can drop the temperature.

How to Stop a Laptop from Overheating (Prevention Tips)

It is a lot easier to prevent laptop overheating than to fix it once it happens. These are some practical ways you should follow to keep your laptop cool throughout the year:

Keep it clean: Wipe the vents and fans regularly to stop dust from collecting.
Give it space: Don’t block the sides or back of the laptop. This is where air exits.
Stay out of direct sunlight: Heat from the sun can very quickly raise the temperature of your laptop.
Use a laptop stand: A Laptop stand will lift your device off the surface. This helps with airflow and will also improve your posture.
Limit multitasking: Don’t run a large number of high-power programs simultaneously. Close down apps or programs not being used actively.
Take short breaks: Turn your laptop off for a few minutes when it starts getting too warm.
Keep software updated: BIOS and driver updates can improve fan control and power efficiency. Perform computer maintenance tasks frequently.

Conclusion

Laptop overheating issues are annoying, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Most of the time, laptop overheating is caused by blocked air vents, dust, or overworked hardware. By cleaning your device, improving ventilation, and managing how you use it, you can prevent overheating before it damages your laptop.

If your laptop continues to get overheated despite trying the above steps, it is possible that it requires an inspection by a professional. The problem can be fixed by just having a basic cleaning or changing the fans.

Spending a few minutes today to service your laptop will save you the money that you will spend on repairs in the future.

If you want a professional to assist, contact our Perth team at Computer Mechanics or call (08) 9325 1196 and book your repair. Whether it’s a simple cleaning, fan replacement, or advanced repair, we’ll help your laptop stay cool and perform better.

FAQs About Laptop Overheating

1. Can using an external fan help cool down my laptop?

Yes. A cooling pad/laptop stand with inbuilt fans will allow the air to circulate under your laptop and heat to escape in an easier manner. This comes in handy specifically when you are playing video games, as well as when editing videos or using other intensive programs. It is able to prevent slowdown or performance throttling of your laptop due to high temperatures.

2. Why is my laptop fan so loud all the time?

When fans struggle to push out the hot air, they become louder. This normally occurs when the vents are clogged or the dust has accumulated within the system, or when your laptop is performing numerous bulky programs simultaneously. If your fan is always making noise all the time, then it is usually an indication that your laptop is getting hotter than necessary.

3. Can overheating damage my laptop permanently?

Unfortunately, yes. Laptop overheating over extended periods will not only cause wear and tear to vital components such as the CPU, the graphics card, and the motherboard, but will also reduce your battery life. Occasional heat spikes may not be harmful, but constant overheating may lead to serious damage.

4. How much does it cost to fix an overheating laptop?

It depends on what’s causing the heat. A basic cleaning to remove dust from vents and fans usually costs less. But if the fan or thermal paste needs replacing, it could go up to a few hundred dollars. Having a technician check your laptop can prevent bigger, more expensive problems down the line.

5. What are the signs that my laptop is overheating?

You might notice the laptop feels hot to the touch, the fan is constantly running or unusually loud, programs start lagging or freezing, or the system shuts down suddenly. Sometimes the keyboard or mouse may stop responding, or you could see a blue screen. Using a temperature monitor can help catch problems early. If you’re wondering how to prevent laptop overheating, start by cleaning and improving airflow.

6. Will cleaning my laptop really help it run cooler?

Absolutely. Dust inside vents and fans is a very common reason for laptop overheating. Using compressed air to clear out dust can improve airflow and reduce strain on the fan. If your laptop still keeps getting too hot, it may be necessary to check the fans and internal components.