Laptop Overheating? Causes and 10 Fixes to Cool It Down

By Ammar Aslam · Updated September 29, 2026 · 3 min read

A laptop that gets hot, runs its fan loudly, or slows down during work is overheating. Heat reduces performance and shortens the life of the battery and components. Most overheating is fixable.

Signs of overheating

The fan runs loudly all the time.
The bottom or keyboard is uncomfortably hot.
Performance drops during games or video calls.
The laptop shuts down suddenly.

1. Use a hard, flat surface

Beds, pillows and laps block the air vents underneath. Use a table or a laptop stand.

2. Clean the vents

Dust clogs fans and heatsinks over time. Blow compressed air through the vents in short bursts. See cleaning your laptop safely.

3. Raise the back

A laptop stand or even a small object under the back improves airflow.

4. Use a cooling pad

Cooling pads with fans help, especially for gaming laptops. Choose one that matches the location of your laptop's vents.

5. Check for heavy processes

Open Task Manager and sort by CPU. A runaway program or malware can overheat the laptop even when idle.

6. Adjust power settings

In Settings → System → Power & battery, choose Balanced or Best power efficiency instead of Best performance when you don't need full power. Many laptop brands also offer "quiet" or "cool" modes in their utility apps.

7. Reduce browser load

Many tabs and video autoplay keep the processor busy. Turn on Memory Saver. See speeding up Chrome.

8. Update BIOS and drivers

Manufacturers release updates that improve fan control and power management. Check your laptop maker's support site.

9. Watch room temperature

In hot summers, laptops struggle more. Use them in cooler rooms, out of direct sunlight.

10. Professional cleaning and thermal paste

After a few years, thermal paste between the processor and heatsink dries out. A technician can clean inside the laptop and replace the paste, which often dramatically reduces temperatures.

Warning: if the laptop smells of burning, the battery bulges, or it shuts down repeatedly, stop using it and get it checked.

Checking your laptop's temperature

You can check processor and graphics temperatures with free monitoring tools such as HWMonitor or your laptop maker's utility app. Task Manager's Performance page also shows GPU temperature on many systems. Check temperatures:

At idle, after the laptop has been on for a while.
During your normal heavy task, like a game or video export.

If idle temperatures are high, look for background processes or dust. If load temperatures cause throttling, improve airflow and consider professional cleaning.

Gaming laptop tips

Use the manufacturer's performance modes: "Balanced" or "Silent" for everyday use, "Performance" only when gaming.
Cap frame rates in games to your screen's refresh rate to reduce unnecessary heat.
Lower demanding settings like shadows and ray tracing.
Keep the laptop raised with space behind for exhaust vents.
Clean fans every few months if you game frequently.

Summer and hot climates

In hot weather, laptops struggle because the air they use for cooling is already warm. Work in the coolest room available, avoid using the laptop in direct sunlight or cars, and use a fan to move air around the laptop. During power cuts with no air conditioning, reduce workload and lower screen brightness to keep temperatures down.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature is too hot?

Processors often reach 80–90°C under heavy load and throttle at about 95–100°C. Consistently high temperatures at light load indicate a problem.

Can overheating damage my laptop?

Laptops protect themselves by slowing down or shutting off, but long-term heat wears out batteries and components.

Ammar Aslam
Ammar writes clear, practical tech guides that help everyday users fix problems, stay safe online and get more from their devices.