01

Check airflow and vents

Blocked vents are one of the most common causes of overheating, especially on older laptops.

  • Turn the laptop off completely
  • Inspect the vents on the sides and bottom
  • If dusty, use lightly compressed air, not too strong, as it can damage components
  • Blow outward from the vents, not deeper inside
02

Test whether heat is actually the cause

Confirm overheating is the trigger before going further.

  • Turn the laptop on and use it normally for a few minutes
  • Feel underneath, if it's very hot, overheating is likely the cause
  • If the laptop shuts down suddenly with no warning, that's thermal protection kicking in
03

Check CPU usage

Something running in the background may be pushing your processor harder than it should be.

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  • Go to the Processes tab and sort by CPU
  • If CPU is consistently above 70–90%, something is overloading the system
04

Identify the culprit program

If something is causing high CPU, it needs to be identified and dealt with.

  • In Task Manager, look for the app using the most CPU
  • Right-click it and select End task
  • If temperatures drop and the laptop stabilises, it's software-related
05

Check fan operation

A silent fan when the laptop is under load is a warning sign.

  • Listen carefully while using the laptop
  • No fan sound at all may indicate a fan failure
  • Open a browser tab and a YouTube video to put the system under load
  • Listen again, the fan should ramp up as temperature rises
06

Elevate the laptop and test

Improving airflow underneath can make a noticeable difference.

  • Place the laptop on a hard, flat surface, not a bed or cushion
  • Slightly raise the back edge to allow air to flow underneath
  • If temperatures improve, airflow is part of the problem

When It's an Internal Issue

If the steps above don't resolve the overheating, the cause is likely internal and will need hands-on attention:

  • Thermal paste degradation the paste between the CPU and heatsink dries out over time
  • Internal dust buildup dust accumulates inside around the fan and heatsink
  • Failing fan a fan that's slowing down or seizing will need replacing

If your laptop continues to overheat or shut down after these checks, it's usually an internal issue that requires opening the machine. Left unresolved, this can lead to long-term damage to internal components. If you're in Johannesburg or Gauteng and this is happening regularly, you're welcome to get in touch and have it sorted properly.

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