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Laptop overheating: causes and fixes

A hot laptop that slows down under load is throttling on purpose to protect itself. Fixing airflow and dust is usually more effective than any software tweak.

Written by Chhandita ShitReviewed by Buddheswar DandapatLast updated 2026-07-28

Before you start troubleshooting, run the actual test so you know what's broken.

Run the CPU Benchmark

Quick checks first

  1. Check what surface it's sitting on. Beds, couch cushions and carpets block the intake vents on the bottom of most laptops, which is the single most common cause of overheating.
  2. Lift the back edge. Even a small gap, using a book or a laptop stand, improves airflow noticeably on laptops that draw air from underneath.
  3. Close unused apps and browser tabs, especially anything doing video encoding, 3D rendering, or crypto mining in the background without your knowledge.
  4. Check the room temperature. A laptop working fine in an air-conditioned room can overheat in a hot room or in direct sunlight.

Confirm it's actually a heat problem

Slowdowns under load, sudden fan noise ramping to maximum, and the chassis becoming hot to the touch near the keyboard or vents are the classic signs of thermal throttling. Run our CPU Benchmark for a few minutes and watch whether performance drops the longer the test runs. A CPU that scores well for the first 30 seconds then drops sharply is throttling due to heat.

Windows 11

  1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and watch the CPU usage and clock speed under Performance while running a demanding task.
  2. For actual temperature readings, use the motherboard/laptop manufacturer's own utility if provided (many gaming laptops include one), since Windows doesn't show CPU temperature natively.

macOS

  1. Open Activity Monitor and check the CPU tab for sustained high usage; macOS will silently reduce performance under thermal pressure rather than showing a warning.
  2. Listen for fan noise. Apple Silicon MacBook Airs have no fan at all, so heavy sustained workloads will throttle noticeably faster than on a MacBook Pro with active cooling.

Clean the vents and fans

Dust buildup inside the vents and on the fan blades is the leading cause of overheating in laptops more than a year or two old, especially if used on soft surfaces or around pets.

  1. Shut down the laptop and unplug it completely.
  2. Use a can of compressed air on the exhaust vents (usually at the back or side, near the hinge) in short bursts, holding the fan blades still if possible so they don't spin dangerously fast.
  3. If you're comfortable opening the bottom panel and your warranty allows it, remove the back cover and clean the fan and heatsink fins directly with compressed air or a small soft brush. This is far more effective than blowing air through the vents alone.
  4. Avoid vacuuming vents directly, static discharge from a vacuum nozzle can damage components.

Software and settings fixes

Windows 11

  1. Go to Settings > System > Power & battery and choose Best power efficiency instead of Best performance if you don't need maximum speed.
  2. Check Task Manager for background processes using high CPU consistently, and end or uninstall anything unnecessary.
  3. Update your laptop manufacturer's fan control or power management utility, and check for a BIOS update, manufacturers sometimes release firmware specifically to fix thermal issues on certain models.

macOS

  1. Check Activity Monitor for a runaway process, this is the most common cause of a Mac's fans running constantly at full speed.
  2. Reset the SMC (System Management Controller) on Intel Macs, which controls fan behavior; on Apple Silicon Macs, a normal restart achieves the same effect since there's no separate SMC reset.

External cooling and usage habits

  • A laptop cooling pad with its own fans can measurably lower temperatures during sustained heavy use like gaming or video editing.
  • Avoid running demanding workloads with the laptop closed and connected to an external monitor, "clamshell mode", unless you know your model manages heat well that way. Some laptops throttle harder because the internal screen (which helps dissipate heat) is off.
  • Repasting the thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink can restore performance on laptops three or more years old, but this involves opening the laptop and is best left to someone comfortable with disassembly or a repair shop.

When it's a hardware fault

  • If the fan doesn't spin at all, even under heavy load, or only spins intermittently with a grinding or clicking noise, the fan itself likely needs replacing.
  • If cleaning the vents and reapplying thermal paste doesn't reduce temperatures, the heat pipe or heatsink may be damaged or improperly seated, which needs professional repair.
  • Sudden shutdowns under load, rather than gradual slowdown, indicate the laptop is hitting a critical temperature and cutting power to protect itself. Stop using it under heavy load until it's serviced.
  • A battery that swells or bulges can also push against internal components and block airflow. If you notice the trackpad lifting or the case not sitting flat, stop using the laptop and have the battery inspected immediately.

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