Quick takeaways
- High workload, blocked airflow, dust, fan faults and ageing thermal materials can all contribute to heat.
- Use a laptop on a firm surface so the ventilation openings are not blocked.
- Unexpected shutdowns or a swollen battery deserve professional inspection.
- Cleaning helps only when dust or airflow is actually part of the problem; not every hot laptop needs the same repair.
First decide whether the heat is unusual
A laptop will often become warmer and increase fan speed during heavy workloads. Compare the behaviour with the task being performed. Heat during a long game or system update is different from a machine becoming extremely hot while sitting almost idle.
