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How to Fix an Overheating Laptop — Complete Guide

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Is your laptop running hot, freezing, or shutting down unexpectedly? Overheating is one of the most common laptop problems and can cause permanent damage if left untreated.

Why Do Laptops Overheat?

  • Dust buildup blocking the vents and fans
  • Dried out thermal paste on the CPU
  • Worn out thermal pads on the GPU memory chips
  • Running on a soft surface blocking airflow
  • High performance tasks like gaming or video editing

Signs Your Laptop Is Overheating

  • Fan running at full speed constantly
  • Laptop feels very hot to touch
  • Performance slows down suddenly
  • Screen freezes or goes black
  • Laptop shuts down without warning

How to Fix an Overheating Laptop

Step 1 — Clean the vents
Use a can of compressed air to blow dust out of the vents. Do this every 6-12 months.

Step 2 — Use on a hard flat surface
Never use your laptop on a bed, pillow or carpet. These block the vents and trap heat.

Step 3 — Use a laptop cooling pad
A cooling pad lifts the laptop and adds extra airflow underneath.

Step 4 — Replace the thermal pads
If your laptop is more than 2-3 years old, the thermal pads on the GPU memory chips may have dried out and lost effectiveness. Replacing them with fresh high quality thermal pads can dramatically reduce temps.

Step 5 — Replace the thermal paste
The thermal paste on the CPU may also need replacing after a few years.

Which Thermal Pad Do I Need for My Laptop?

Most laptops use 0.5mm or 0.8mm thermal pads for the GPU memory chips. Check your laptop model on tech forums for exact specifications.

BCI Thermal Pads offer 12.8 W/mK thermal conductivity and are available in 0.5mm, 0.8mm, 1.0mm and thicker options. Non-conductive, fire retardant, and rated from -40°C to 200°C.

Australian owned and in stock in Victoria. Fast dispatch Australia wide.

Shop BCI Thermal Pads at bcithermal.com

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