Why Laptop Gets Overheated – 9 Possible Causes For Laptop Overheating

Laptop heating is one of the major problems any laptop user will have to face eventually. Overheating of a laptop damages both the laptop and its internal components which can be costly to fix. Moreover overheating of laptops also slows down the machine and affects its performance. It also results in your laptop keeps shutting down while you are doing something important. It may even lead to burns and other safety issues. This is why it is necessary to try and keep your laptop as cool as possible. Although answers for why do laptops overheat can vary based on several factors but here is a list of some of the most obvious reasons.

Blockage in Laptop Exhaust Vents

If you look at your laptops sides, you will find the exhaust vents. In some laptops they are placed at the back. Over time, your laptop may accumulate a significant amount of dust that clogs the air vents in the laptop. The heat generated cannot be conducted away from the laptops body. This is why, while using your laptop, you will gradually be able to sense the heat emitting from it.

Room Temperature

When the fan vents of a laptop are cleared yet the overheating problem persists, the cause could potentially lie in the ambient room temperature. It's worth noting that a warm environment can have a significant effect on the heat levels of your laptop.

Understanding how this happens is key to finding a solution. Essentially, when the outside temperature rises, it can increase the internal temperature of the laptop too. If the environmental heat is too high, it can be difficult for the laptop's cooling system to maintain an optimal operating temperature.

To tackle this issue, you might need to consider adjusting your surroundings' temperature. This could involve lowering your room temperature if possible. Certain research suggests that a room temperature of around 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal for electronic devices such as laptops.

Incorrect Laptop Placement

Another possible reason may also be the improper placement of your laptop that may be blocking the airflow through the laptop’s air vent. The laptops best placement is on a hard, flat and clean surface with proper ventilation to let air flow through it freely. Many laptop stands, and cooling pads with built in tray, helps you to keep your laptop in the best position while working.

Faulty Laptop Fan

If the internal fan of a laptop is malfunctioning this may contribute to the overheating of the laptop since there will be no other means for the laptop to cool down. The fan may stop working after you boot up your laptop, so it is advised to shut down your laptop and restart it after a couple of minutes. A fan may also stop working due to a damaged capacitor, which should be replaced immediately.

New Hardware

People often upgrade their laptops by adding different new components RAM or hard disk or even some new sound card. Sometimes these new hardware can make your laptop use more resources and in turn start heating up more frequently. This usually happens when the installed accessories are not manufacturer approved or recommended.

Over performing laptops

If a laptop is being overcharged, this may also cause it to heat up.

Underperforming Heat Sink

If the heat sink of the CPU of the laptop dislodges, it will not be able to adequately cool the laptop.

Degenerate Thermal Compound

If the thermal grease that develops between the heat sink and the CPU has degenerated this may contribute to the overheating of the laptop.

Incompatible operating System

Although it’s not very common with new machines however there are cases when installing a new or upgrading your previous operating system makes your laptop start heating up. Windows 10 has been often found to cause overheating in laptops. Similarly like operating system, new drivers can also cause overheating.


So these were some of the most common reasons for laptop overheating. If your laptop is overheating, try to pin point the most possible reason first before taking any action. This will help you from wasting your money and time on reasons which aren’t an issue in the first place. Also if laptop keeps overheating too frequently than your best bet is to take it to its manufacturer (if its under warranty) or some local repair shop to get it checked. 


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