How to Fix Laptop Overheat in <1 Minute (NO TOOLS!)

Today I'm going to show you how to save your computer (ie: laptop, Surface, tablet, etc) from overheating while gaming, or just in general.

The best part is...you don't need ANY tools or special skills to accomplish it. And it's done in under a minute!

Let's jump right into it...

Step 1: Find the Power Options

1. Locate your battery icon on the main screen.

2. Right click. Then click on "Power Options."

Step 2: Balance It Out

3. Chances are likely, that you have your power plan on "High Performance." If so, deselect this and select the "Balanced" plan. If you have it on "Power Saver," also deselect this and switch it to "Balanced." (If it's already on "Balanced" and still overheating, the next point will tell you how to fix it...)

Step 3: Change It Up

4. Next to the "Balanced" section, you will see a blue link called "Change plan settings." Click on this link.

5. Now click on the blue "Change advanced power settings" link at the bottom of this page.

Step 4: Lower Your Temp...

6. Scroll down to "Processor Power Management" and click on the little plus (+) box.

7. Click on the "Maximum Processor State" plus (+) box.

8. Chances are high that both the "On battery" and the "Plugged In" amounts are at 100%. Change your "On battery" amount to 75% or lower.

NOTE: If your computer is overheating with the battery plugged in, you can also change the "Plugged in" amount to 75% or lower as well. (I currently have mine at 1% for both amounts...and changed my minimum power settings to accommodate 1% as well.)

9. Now just click "Apply" and "OK" and exit out of all tabs. Your computer will now cool down significantly (about 20+ degrees). If necessary, you can adjust the percentages (lower or higher) to accommodate your needs or preferences.

NOTE: The computers these days are so powerful that lowering the percentage shouldn't effect your gaming or surfing the internet at all. I also do not experience ANY delay in speed on my computer when working with a lower percent.

TIP: If you want to check or monitor the internal temperature of your computer, you can always download FREE programs such as: HW Monitor, Speedfan, Tech Power Up (dot) com, Speccy, etc...with HW Monitor being the most highly used and trusted. Here's a link for them: http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

(I am in NO WAY affiliated with HW Monitor, Speedfan, Tech Power Up (dot) com, Speccy, or other temperature monitoring programs.)

That is all. ;)

Comments

[Battlespeed]

Steps are slightly different on my HP laptop but not hard to follow the concepts in this 'ible...and it seems to be working. My laptop is much cooler four hours after changing these settings.

[Meglymoo87]

I'm glad you found this 'ible helpful! Blessings :)

[oursgrognon]

the bestBuy way to cool a laptop (and to make it faster at the same time) is to remove the accumulated dust/hair between the radiator and the fan.

Do that after your warranty expires and every year after.

and add a laptop cooler with a 200mm fan

[Meglymoo87]

Yeah these are great tips for sure! My ible usually works when the dusting isn't the only issue. :)

[parisusa]

If I click on "balanced" I can ignore the rest, right?

[Meglymoo87]

No, because the maximum battery percentage will still be too high (at 100%). You have to manually lower the percentage to 75% or lower so it won't keep overheating. :)

[jbaer85]

would this work for a cell phone also?

[Toga_Dan]

iirc, my cell advises u when battery is near dead. think it says "battery save mode" or somethin.

[Meglymoo87]

I'm not sure. Try it and let me know :) Click on your battery icon or go to your battery settings (dependent on what type of phone you have) and fiddle around with it to see! But for the most part, I think there's only ways to save your battery usage, not lower the max usage like here. Thanks for commenting and visiting!