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0871 244 0934We’ve all been there: you’re mid-flow on a project or deep into a movie marathon, and suddenly your laptop feels like a heating element, or your phone starts acting like a pocket-sized space heater.
In the tech world, heat is the silent killer. It doesn’t just make your device uncomfortable to hold; it actively degrades your hardware and kills your battery lifespan. Here is how to keep your gear cool, calm, and collected.
If your device is getting dangerously hot, it’s usually down to one of three culprits:
Thick, rugged cases are great for drops, but they act like insulation. If you’re doing heavy gaming or charging, your phone can't "breathe."
Charging your phone or laptop on a bed, pillow, or carpet blocks the airflow. For laptops, this is a death sentence for internal fans.
Background processes that "hang" or high-intensity apps that refuse to sleep can max out your CPU, generating massive heat even when you aren't looking.
Always charge on hard, flat surfaces. If your laptop sounds like a jet engine taking off, it’s likely battling dust. A quick blast from a compressed air can into the vents can work wonders.
The short answer: No. Lithium-ion batteries are like athletes—they don't like to be totally exhausted (0%), but they also don't like to be under constant maximum tension (100%). Keeping a battery pinned at 100% causes chemical stress that reduces its total capacity over time.
The Pro Fix: Look for "Optimised Charging" or "Battery Limit" settings in your OS. Most modern devices now allow you to cap the charge at 80%. This is the "sweet spot" for battery longevity if you’re a desk warrior who rarely unplugs.
Physical Heat: Is the bottom of the laptop or the PC case uncomfortably hot to the touch?
Jet Engine Fans: Are your fans spinning at maximum speed even when you aren't doing much?
Thermal Throttling: Is your computer suddenly stuttering or running much slower than usual?
Unexpected Shutdowns: Does the screen go black and the power cut out without warning?
Glitchy Visuals: Are you seeing "artifacts" (lines, dots, or flickering) on your screen during games?
The "BIOS" Alert: Did you receive a "Fan Error" or "CPU Over-Temperature" message upon startup?
Surface Check: Move the laptop from a bed, sofa, or carpet to a hard, flat desk.
Clear the Vents: Check that no papers or cables are blocking the air intake/exhaust.
Kill Background Apps: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and close apps with high CPU usage.
Switch Power Plans: Change your Windows power setting from "Best Performance" to "Balanced."
Capped Gaming: If gaming, turn on VSync or limit your FPS to 60 to give the GPU a break.
Dusting: Use a can of compressed air to blow out the vents (ensure the device is off).
Fan Inspection: Listen for grinding noises—if a fan is clicking, it likely needs replacing.
Update BIOS/Drivers: Sometimes manufacturers release updates that optimize how fans handle heat.
Cooling Pad: For laptops, consider an external cooling pad to increase airflow to the bottom intake.
Pro Service: If your tech is 3+ years old, the internal thermal paste may need a professional refresh.
If you want to be precise, download a free tool like HWMonitor or Core Temp and check your numbers.
Laptops (Standard & Gaming): Danger Zone: 95°C – 100°C. Most modern laptops will "throttle" (slow down) at 95°C and force a shutdown at 100°C–105°C to prevent permanent damage.
Desktop PCs: Danger Zone: Above 90°C. While chips can survive higher, consistent 90°C+ temps in a desktop usually point to a failing fan or bad thermal paste.
Smartphones & Tablets: Most phones will give you a "Temperature Warning" and disable the flash, dim the screen, or stop charging once the internal battery hits roughly 45°C–48°C.
Gaming Consoles (PS5 / Xbox Series X): Danger Zone: If your console displays an "Your PS5 is too hot" message, it is likely hitting 90°C+ internally. This is often caused by dust buildup in the "dust catchers" or placing the console in a closed cabinet.
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