I’ve always had to configure my laptops to withstand the onslaught of demanding tasks they’ll have to handle. Part of this preparation is setting up safeguards against excessive heat.
I’ll be explaining how to stop your computer from overheating to preserve your device’s lifespan and maintain great performance. I’ll also detail how to prepare for tasking sessions like gaming, simulation, and 3D modeling.
Why Is Your Computer Overheating?
Finding the reasons your computer is generating more heat than it should takes you one step closer to resolving the problem and averting reoccurrences. In most cases, you can pinpoint the issue when you zoom out and take stock of everything that may have gone wrong. However, knowing what to consider is how you really get to the bottom of the problem.
Let’s cover the underlying causes of overheating.
- Inadequate cooling unit
Your small cooling unit may not be equipped to handle the amount of heat your CPU or GPU is currently producing. This particular problem is usually due to overclocking and running too many demanding apps at once.
- Blocked vents
Particles like dust and lint can accumulate in your laptop’s vent and restrict airflow. Sometimes, your fans may not work correctly because something is preventing them from spinning. You may also be placing your computer on surfaces like pillows and blankets that trap heat and spike temperature levels.
- Malfunctioning cooling unit
Like other components, cooling fans don’t last forever. Your current setup might be worn or damaged. Also, dried-up or depleted thermal pastes almost always manifest in higher-than-normal system temperatures.
- CPU and GPU overload
Running tasks that your CPU or GPU can’t handle for long can cause overheating. Allowing too many active background apps while using demanding applications can also increase heat levels.
- Malware
Malicious applications can overrun computers, leaving them slow and overheated. This problem is usually the case when you notice high CPU usage or 100% disk usage reports in the Task Manager with no apparent cause.
- Defective components
Problematic and aging devices tend to produce more heat than they used to. For example, most SSDs are shipped with dedicated heatsinks, which tire out after some years of wear and tear. Your RAM and other internal components can also spike your laptop’s heat levels when they start malfunctioning or grow old enough.
So How to Stop and Prevent Your Laptop Overheating?
While the methods I’ll be sharing are great at dealing with high temperatures, they’ll also detail how to prevent your laptop from overheating. They are mostly long-term activities that you should practice repeatedly to boost airflow and prevent excessive heat.
However, methods for stopping and preventing overheating include all the measures and strategies you’ll put in place to avoid the problem in the future and prepare for sessions where extreme heat may be inevitable.
This article focuses on the latter.
Still, these solutions are not always hassle-free. So I’ll also cover their pros and cons to outline the challenges you may face and why they are worth it.
Method 1: Keep background applications turned off
Background applications can generally make CPUs and other system components work harder than they should. Killing off these apps before you run any game is a great way to minimize CPU and GPU load and mitigate heat generation.
Your first step should be disabling unnecessary startup apps. These programs load automatically whenever Windows boots. Turning them off means you don’t have to worry about most background apps.
You can also go through the Task Manager to identify and close apps that may be burning through your system resources in the background:
- Tap the
Ctrl+ Shift + Escshortcut. - Then look for apps with high CPU, disk, or memory values.
- Right-click the background app or process and select End task.
- Power consumption drastically reduces when your CPU is not handling too many tasks.
- Other components like your RAM and hard drive will also work less and help you cut down on voltage draws.
- Some background applications are critical to other programs. For example, overlay programs are required for things like streaming and real-time community chats.
- Other programs may malfunction when you turn off background programs.
Method 2: Keep your software up to date
Software updates include application, operating system, BIOS, and driver updates. These updates are usually shipped to improve overall performance, fix bugs, and shore up security. But developers and device manufacturers also release new software to optimize how software programs use system resources.
For example, a driver could be configured to make a device stop running when it is no longer needed. BIOS updates also significantly boost power efficiency by reconfiguring motherboard power settings.
Windows is configured by default to update automatically, but you can go through the Settings app and manually check for Windows updates to be sure.
As for Windows programs, the Microsoft Store does a fine job of updating software applications installed through the store. You can follow these steps to turn on automatic updates in the Store app:
- Launch the Microsoft Store application.
- Click your profile picture and select Settings.
- Go to App updates and turn it on.
- Updated applications utilize modern technologies that boost power efficiency.
- Improves overall system performance.
- Software updates optimize communication between various system components to reduce overheating.
- Manufacturers often ship updates that reduce a device’s power consumption.
- Buggy updates can cause more harm than good.
- Some updates clash with other applications and programs.
Method 3: Clean your laptop regularly
Cleaning your laptop’s internal space and external areas is an important ongoing practice if you want to prevent overheating. It involves getting rid of debris and particles blocking your computer’s vents and fans. Dust can also cling to other internal components like your RAM, hard drive, and network card, which can lead to damage and overheating.
In most cases, using compressed air to blow out dust and other debris will be enough. However, you should be careful not to blow these particles into the system in a way that would cause further damage. If the buildup is extensive, you may have to open up your laptop for thorough cleaning.
- Cleaning helps remove debris that may damage fans in the long run.
- Regular maintenance also improves airflow and prolongs the lifespan of internal components.
- Opening up a laptop may be too complex for non-experts and even intermediary users.
- Using compressed air wrongly could dislodge some internal wiring and cause unnecessary errors.
Method 4: Use external cooling technology
External cooling technology is another name for external cooling fans or laptop cooling pads. They are usually placed beneath laptops to boost airflow, remove hot air through the laptop’s vents, or blow cool air into the computer.
There are different cooling pad configurations that you can choose depending on your preference, laptop size, and use case. If you run heavy games, you may need a pad with powerful fans. You can also purchase setups that come with RGB lights if you’re big on aesthetics.
My recommendations are the Llano Gaming Laptop Cooler for gamers, Kootek Cooler Pad Chill Mat 5 for overall users, and Havit HV-F2056 for people who need quiet units.
- Improves airflow and stages of overheating.
- Reduces the burden on your internal cooling unit and helps it last longer in theory.
- Defeats the purpose of portability as your laptop becomes heavier to carry around.
- May not be cost-effective.
Method 5: Apply thermal paste
The thermal paste is a compound spread on top of your CPU to transfer heat to your cooling unit. The heat is transferred through your computer’s integrated heat spreader, which sits directly on the CPU.
A dried-up or reduced thermal paste means your cooling unit will no longer transfer heat out of your CPU efficiently. Replenishing the paste is the only effective solution in this case. However, the process is quite complex, as it involves opening your laptop and its heatsink. It also involves knowing the right amount of thermal compound to apply.
You can always get help from experts if you don’t know what to do. But ensure you have exhausted other options within your range of expertise.
- Thermal paste fills the void between the CPU and heatsink to improve heat transfer.
- Efficient heat transfer significantly improves cooling.
- Too technical for beginners to pull off.
- Adding the wrong amount of paste means you have to try again.
- It’s almost impossible to get to the CPUs of many modern laptops.
Method 6: Change your cooling unit if possible
Changing your entire cooling unit becomes necessary when your current one no longer gets the job done. You know it’s time to change the unit when a fan stops spinning, no longer reaches its top speed, or you notice significant wear around the cooling system.
The challenge with this solution is availability. Laptop manufacturers do not generally produce replacement cooling systems.
- A new cooling unit will do a better job than a malfunctioning component.
- Added advantage of reduced noise since newer configurations run quieter than older, worn-out units.
- Cooling unit replacements are hard to come by.
- Replacing a cooling system is technically complex for beginners.
- A replacement may not work if you intend to run heavier tasks than your laptop can handle.
- Could be expensive.
Method 7: Replace defective hardware
As mentioned, some of your internal components may be causing your laptop to overheat. It could be your RAM, SSD, or even GPU. Thus, changing the piece of hardware will resolve the problem.
Checking RAM for errors
If you notice memory-related errors, performance problems and freezes that you can’t explain, BSOD errors, and startup issues, you need to check your RAM. You can use the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test your RAM stick to confirm. Here’s how to use the tool:
- Open the Start menu.
- Type “Windows memory diagnostic” and click the first result.
- Now, click the Restart now and check for problems option.
- Your PC will reboot and run the test.
The utility will restart your computer after completing the test. You can now go to the Event Viewer to check the test results.
Memtest86, a free third-party app, is another tool that you can use to stress test your RAM.
Checking your hard drive
On the other hand, you may need to check your hard drive if you notice clicking sounds (hard disks), constant file corruption errors, file system errors (like BSODs), and booting problems. Most computers come with built-in tools for checking hard drives. Examples include HP’s Support Assistant and Dell’s Hardware Diagnostics Test.
You can also use the Windows command-line SMART utility to check your drive’s health. Here’s how to run the test:
- Open the Start menu and search for “command prompt.”
- Select Run as administrator.
- Once Command Prompt opens, type the following and press the Enter button:
wmic diskdrive get model, status
- The tool will now scan your hard drive and show results of the test.
Old hardware can still work fine while producing more heat. Upgrading some components can also help you reduce overheating, as modern SSDs and RAM sticks are designed to consume less heat.
- Replacing the responsible hardware effectively resolves the overheating issue.
- You’ll have the added advantage of resolving other performance issues caused by the device.
- Replaceable internal components are becoming increasingly limited in modern computers.
- Might be expensive.
- Pinpointing the defective piece of hardware may be too challenging.
How to Stop a Laptop from Overheating During Intensive Tasks
Overheating is more likely to happen when you start running programs like games and 3D modeling apps that truly test your GPU and CPU.
You can monitor your computer’s temperature using built-in and dedicated tools to know when it reaches unsafe temperature levels. That way, you know when to take measures such as the following to stop the overheating issue during gameplay and other tough tasks:
- Shut down background applications like overlay programs or streaming services you don’t need.
- Use fan control software to adjust fan speeds.
- Limit your game’s FPS and reduce its graphics settings.
Why Is It Important to Stop Overheating?
Preventing overheating is critical because your laptop’s internal components, files, security, performance, and longevity are at stake. You’ll be avoiding the following issues when you mitigate your laptop’s heat generation:
- Degraded internal components: Excessive heat can cause increased wear and tear on components like hard drives, RAM modules, network cards, batteries, and processors.
- Data integrity: High temperature levels can cause your hard drive to malfunction, which could lead to a loss of important files. Sudden shutdowns are also common symptoms of overheating that can corrupt or delete critical data.
- Poor performance: CPUs and GPUs throttle when they generate heat to certain degrees. You’ll continue to experience erratic performance outages if your cooling unit does not keep your laptop’s heat down.
- Poor battery life: Battery degradation remains one of the most common by-products of overheating.
How to Stop Your Laptop from Overheating: Explained
Overheating is an ongoing threat to your computer’s performance and lifespan. The methods we’ve covered together are practices you should continually engage in to prepare your computer for high temperature situations and avoid the dangers of overheating.
Let us know if you need further help and share how you deal with overheating.
