7 Easy Ways to Cool Down an Overheating Laptop

The temperature of a laptop naturally rises as it handles more intensive workloads. When the temperature becomes too high and reaches its limit, the laptop's performance will begin to decline. To ensure the laptop operates efficiently again, its temperature needs to return to a normal, stable level.

Fortunately, there are several effective ways to cool down your laptop. Keeping the laptop cool is essential to maintain its optimal performance. In this article, Carisinyal will share some simple and practical methods you can use to lower your laptop's temperature and keep it running at its best.

1. Turn off the Laptop

If your laptop's temperature becomes high enough to impact its performance, the best solution is to turn it off for a while. This allows all internal components to stop functioning temporarily, helping the temperature to drop.

Alternatively, you can activate sleep or hibernation mode to give your laptop a short break. Just like people need rest when they are tired, laptops also require downtime after extended use.

Avoid using your laptop continuously for long periods. Try to rest the laptop for a while before it's ready to be used again.

2. Clean Laptop Ventilation

Every laptop is designed with ventilation holes, usually located at the bottom, to help expel hot air generated during operation with the assistance of the laptop fan.

However, over time, these vents can accumulate dust and small debris, obstructing airflow and making it harder for the laptop to release heat effectively.

To maintain proper air circulation, you need to regularly clean these vents. You can use tools like a small brush to remove any buildup.

If you're experienced with disassembling laptops, consider cleaning the internal components as well, especially the fan, to ensure optimal cooling performance.

3. Use Laptop Cooling Fan

To keep the laptop temperature maintained when we use it, you can use a fan or cooling pad at the bottom of the laptop. This tool serves to stabilize the temperature of the laptop so that it does not heat up quickly.

If you are a gamer, then cooling pads are laptop accessories that you need to have. Many cooling pads are specifically designed for gaming laptops.

Cooling pads and fans come in various models and brands. Generally, cooling pads tend to be more expensive than cooling fans due to their additional features. Cooling pads often offer a more compact, ergonomic design and come with advanced features that improve airflow and cooling efficiency.

4. Try Adding RAM

You’re probably familiar with the function of RAM, right? RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a hardware component in computing devices that stores the operating system (OS), application programs, and data currently in use, allowing the processor to access them quickly.

RAM is the primary memory in a computer or laptop. It is much faster at reading and writing data compared to other storage types, such as HDDs and SSDs. The size of RAM in most computers is measured in GB (gigabytes).

The larger the amount of RAM, the better the computer’s performance. Conversely, if the RAM size is too small, you shouldn't expect the laptop to run quickly. Each laptop comes with different RAM sizes, depending on its price point.

When a laptop consumes too much RAM and reaches its limit, the temperature will rise. If you feel that your laptop’s RAM is insufficient, you can upgrade it to a size that your laptop supports. A laptop with sufficient RAM can perform faster and keep its temperature from rising too quickly.

5. Place Laptop on a Hard-Flat Surface

Placing a laptop on an uneven or soft surface, such as a pillow, mattress, or carpet, can obstruct airflow and block the ventilation, causing the laptop to overheat and its performance to decline.

To avoid this, it’s best to place your laptop on a hard, flat surface, such as a desk. Not only should the surface be flat and solid, but it’s also a good idea to choose a surface that can help absorb the heat generated by the laptop.

If you ever need to work on a bed, consider investing in a portable metal laptop desk. This will allow you to keep the laptop on a suitable surface and avoid the risk of damage from placing it on soft materials like pillows or mattresses, which can harm the device if done frequently.

6. Keep the Laptop in a Cool Environment

If your laptop is getting too hot and your workspace is also warm (due to the surrounding air or direct sunlight), move your laptop to a cooler room. An air-conditioned room can help cool down the laptop more quickly.

Avoid using your laptop in direct sunlight, as this can cause the temperature to rise quickly. If you're uncomfortable working in the heat, your laptop likely feels the same way.

7. Adjust Laptop Settings

You can also cool down your laptop by adjusting its settings. For example, if you're a gamer or video editor, make sure the laptop you're using is suitable for your work.

At the same time, if the software you're using is functioning properly, try to avoid updating it unless necessary.

This helps reduce the workload on your laptop. You can also try other adjustments, such as lowering the screen brightness, unplugging devices drawing power from your laptop via USB cables, and closing idle applications. Lastly, ensure that your laptop's power management settings are activated correctly.

These are some easy ways to cool down your laptop. Every laptop has a daily usage limit, so applying these steps is essential to prevent it from overheating and potentially malfunctioning.

If your laptop’s temperature often exceeds its limit, the internal components may wear out more quickly, shortening its lifespan.

If you need to work for extended periods on your laptop, using a cooling pad is highly recommended to keep the temperature stable and prevent damage.