Overheating is one of the most common reasons a laptop suddenly shuts down or slows to a crawl. The good news is most causes are preventable with a few simple habits.
Clean the fan and vents regularly. Dust buildup on the fan and heatsink blocks airflow — ideally clean every 6-12 months, more often in dusty environments.
Use a hard, ventilated surface. Using a laptop on a bed or pillow blocks the bottom vents — use a desk or a cooling pad, especially for gaming or heavy workloads.
Watch what's running in the background. Too many browser tabs or heavy apps running at once force the processor to work harder, generating more heat.
Replace thermal paste periodically (for laptops 2+ years old). Dried-out thermal paste loses its effectiveness at transferring heat from the CPU to the heatsink — this needs a technician, not a DIY job if you're inexperienced.
If your laptop still runs hot despite good care, the fan or thermal paste likely needs a technician's inspection.
