How to Stop a Laptop from Overheating – Cool It Down Fast

Last Updated: May 19, 2025

Laptop Too Hot to Handle?

If your laptop feels like it’s about to melt—or sounds like it’s ready for takeoff—you’re dealing with overheating. Not only is it annoying, but it can slow down performance and damage hardware. Here’s how to stop your laptop from overheating before it turns into a desktop toaster.

1. Keep It on a Hard, Flat Surface

Soft surfaces like beds and sofas block airflow.
Use a desk, table, or cooling pad to let air circulate freely.
Bonus: it’s better for your posture too!

2. Clean Out the Vents and Fans

Dust = public enemy number one for laptop cooling.
Use compressed air to gently blow dust out of vents.
Do this every couple of months to keep airflow smooth.

3. Use a Cooling Pad or Stand

Laptop cooling pads are affordable and effective.
They come with built-in fans for extra airflow.
Elevating your laptop also improves natural ventilation.

4. Close Unused Apps and Tabs

Too many apps = extra workload = more heat.
Open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac)
Shut down resource-heavy apps running in the background

5. Keep Your Laptop Updated

Drivers and BIOS updates often include thermal management improvements.
Check your laptop brand’s website for firmware updates
Keep your OS and antivirus up to date too

6. Adjust Power Settings

High performance mode = more heat.
Switch to Balanced or Power Saver mode when doing light tasks
On Windows: Control Panel > Power Options
On Mac: System Settings > Battery

7. Don’t Block the Vents

Make sure vents (usually at the bottom or sides) are not covered.
Use a laptop stand to keep airflow unobstructed
Avoid using laptops on blankets, laps, or pillows

8. Replace Thermal Paste (Advanced Fix)

If you’re tech-savvy, applying fresh thermal paste to your CPU/GPU can make a difference.
Recommended if your laptop is several years old
Only attempt if you’re confident with internal hardware

Final Thoughts: Chill, Your Laptop Can Breathe Again

Overheating is common—but it’s totally fixable. With a few tweaks, cleanups, and cooling strategies, you can keep your laptop running cool and smooth. Still overheating after all this? Might be time for a modern, more efficient model.

Check out Laptop Outlet’s top laptop deals—built for performance, built to stay cool.

FAQs: Laptop Overheating Questions Answered

1. Why is my laptop overheating all of a sudden?
Likely due to dust build-up, blocked vents, or too many background apps running.

2. Is it bad if my laptop gets hot?
Yes—long-term overheating can damage internal components and reduce performance.

3. Can a cooling pad really help?
Absolutely. It improves airflow and adds extra fans to keep your laptop cooler.

4. How can I tell if my laptop is overheating?
If it's too hot to touch, loud, crashing, or suddenly lagging—it’s overheating.

5. Should I keep my laptop plugged in all the time?
Not necessarily. Continuous charging can raise internal temps—unplug during light use when possible.

Read More:

How to Factory Reset a Laptop

How to Speed Up Your Laptop

How to Screenshot on a Laptop

Last Updated: April 03, 2026

Best Laptops Under £500 in 2026: Top Budget Picks

Finding a good laptop without breaking the bank is more achievable than ever.

Whether you're a student looking for something reliable, a professional needing a dependable work machine, or simply after an everyday laptop that won't slow you down, the sub-£500 market delivers solid options in 2026.

You don't have to sacrifice performance for price. From business-ready machines to budget-friendly options, this guide covers six of the best laptops under £500 currently in stock at Laptop Outlet, with real specs and honest guidance to help you choose right.

Please note: All products featured in this article were priced under £500 at the time of writing. Prices are subject to change and may vary over time.

6 Laptops That Deliver Brilliant Value Under £500

Each of these picks comes from a different corner of the market. So, whatever your needs, there's likely a match here for you.

1. Lenovo V15 G4 – AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD

Buy Now

Key Specifications

AMD Ryzen 5 7520U (4-core,

Last Updated: February 23, 2026

How to Connect Two Monitors to a Laptop?

Feeling cramped on your laptop screen? Whether you’re a creative pro, a remote worker, or just need more screen real estate for multitasking—dual monitors are a total game-changer. Here’s how to connect two monitors to your laptop and level up your workspace.

What You’ll Need to Connect Two Monitors

Before you dive in, make sure you’ve got:

A laptop with multiple display outputs (HDMI, USB-C, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt)
Two external monitors
Compatible cables or adapters (HDMI, VGA, USB-C, DisplayPort)
Optional: Docking station for easier setup

Step-by-Step: How to Connect Two Monitors to a Laptop

1. Check Your Laptop’s Ports

Look at the sides of your laptop—do you have two separate video outputs (e.g., HDMI + USB-C)? If not, you might need a USB-C hub, docking station, or display splitter.

2. Plug in the First Monitor

Connect your first monitor to the laptop using an HDMI, VGA, or DisplayPort cable.
Turn on the monitor and make sure it’s set to the correct input source.

Last Updated: October 02, 2025

How to Screenshot on a Laptop

Capture Your Screen Like a Pro

Whether you’re saving receipts, capturing memes, or sending error messages to IT support—screenshots are super handy. But how you take one depends on your laptop. Don’t worry, we’ve got all the easy ways to screenshot on Windows and Mac laptops in one place.

How to Screenshot on a Windows Laptop

1. Use the Print Screen (PrtScn) Key

Press PrtScn – Captures the whole screen to clipboard
Open Paint or Word and press Ctrl + V to paste and save

2. Alt + Print Screen

Press Alt + PrtScn – Captures the active window only
Paste into your desired app (e.g., Paint, email, etc.)

3. Windows + Shift + S (Snip & Sketch Tool)

Opens a selection tool
Click and drag to capture a specific area
Screenshot goes to clipboard—paste it anywhere or save via pop-up

4. Windows + Print Screen

Captures the whole screen and saves it automatically
Find it in Pictures > Screenshots folder

How to Screenshot on a MacBook or Mac Laptop

1. Command + Shift + 3

Last Updated: October 02, 2025

How to Factory Reset a Laptop?

Time for a Fresh Start?

Whether you’re selling your device, fixing performance issues, or just want a clean slate—a factory reset gives your laptop a fresh start. We’ll walk you through how to factory reset both Windows and Mac laptops, with simple steps anyone can follow.

Before You Factory Reset: Back It Up

A factory reset wipes everything—apps, files, and settings. So before you dive in:
Back up files to an external hard drive or cloud (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud)
Sign out of any accounts (Microsoft, Apple ID)
Note down any licence keys or passwords you’ll need later

How to Factory Reset a Windows Laptop

Using Windows Settings (Windows 10 & 11)
Click Start > Settings > System > Recovery
Under Reset this PC, click Reset PC

Choose:

Keep my files – Removes apps/settings, keeps personal files
Remove everything – Full factory reset
Follow the prompts to complete the reset

Using Advanced Startup (If You Can’t Boot Normally)

Force restart the laptop

Last Updated: May 20, 2025

What Laptop Should I Buy

Find the Right Laptop for You

With so many laptops out there, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re a student, gamer, remote worker, or creative professional, we’ve made it easy. Here’s how to decide what laptop you should buy in 2025.

1. What Will You Use Your Laptop For?

Start by identifying your main needs:

Work/Business
Gaming
Study or School
Everyday browsing and streaming
Creative work (video editing, design, etc.)

Your use case determines the specs you’ll need

2. Best Laptops for Students

Look for portability, battery life, and value:

Acer Swift 3 – Lightweight, great battery, affordable
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 – Stylish, compact, ideal for notes and browsing
HP Pavilion x360 – Versatile 2-in-1, perfect for study and entertainment

3. Best Laptops for Business and Work

You’ll need performance, reliability, and security:

Dell XPS 13 – Premium build, long battery, ideal for productivity
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11