How to Help Keep Your Laptop Computer from Overheating

Prevent overheating in your laptop.

Heat is the enemy of electronic components. Electrical resistance increases as conductors heat up. In extreme instances, this leads to component failure. Laptop computers are especially vulnerable to overheating. Due to a laptop's small size, its components are stacked in a compact space. Unlike a desktop computer that has at least two cooling fans and a large amount of free air space, a laptop usually has a single fan tasked with circulating air through the small, restricted space available inside the case. Keep the inside space clean and the circulation vents free of obstruction to prevent your laptop from overheating.

Things You'll Need

• Toothpick
• Compressed air can

Instructions

1. Turn the computer off.

2. Unplug the power cord and any peripheral devices attached to the laptop.

3. Close the computer and turn it upside down.

4. Locate the cooling fan. The cooling fan is usually located under an open grille on the bottom surface of the computer.

5. Insert a toothpick through the grille, between the fan blades. This keeps the fan from spinning too fast while using compressed air to remove the dust on the inside of the case. Spinning a cooling fan at the high speeds caused by compressed air can damage the fan motor.

6. Place the compressed air nozzle over the fan grille and blow any dust out of the computer.

7. Place the compressed air nozzle over the laptop's exhaust port and blow any loose dust out of the computer. Leave the toothpick in place to keep the fan from spinning.

8. Remove the toothpick. Turn the computer right-side up and re-attach the power adapter and peripheral cables.

9. Place the computer on a clean, flat surface. Both air vents must be free of obstruction for proper cooling.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the inside of the computer at least once a month to reduce the risk of heat-induced failure. Laptop cooling pads are available. These can prolong the life of a laptop computer and reduce the risk of heat damage to surfaces underneath it.

References

• Laptop Tips: Heat and Dust