There’s nothing quite like the chill in the air that comes with winter. As a matter of fact, winter is coming, and that means colder temperatures.
For some of us, this also means taking precautions with our electronic devices, especially laptops.
Can cold weather ruin a laptop? And if so, how can you protect it from the cold temperatures?
In this blog post, we will answer these questions and provide tips on how to keep your laptop safe during the winter months.
The Brief Answer: Can cold weather ruin a laptop?
Yes, cold weather can ruin a laptop. In fact, laptops are not designed to work in extreme temperatures and they can be damaged if operated in very low or high temperatures for an extended period of time.
As for the record, laptops are intended to operate within 10-35 degrees Celcius which directly translates from 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Can Cold Weather Ruin a Laptop?
There are many ways in which cold weather can ruin your laptop. Cold temperatures can also cause damage to your laptop components or hardware, just as overheating in laptops might.
Let us discuss how cold weather might affect different parts of your laptop;
1. laptop battery
The life span of your laptop battery will be shortened if it is used in cold weather.
The cold weather makes the battery work harder to produce the same amount of power, which can wear down the battery over time.
This will also make it harder to increase your laptop battery life.
You might also find that your laptop takes longer to charge in colder temperatures. So, if you need to use your laptop in cold weather, try to keep the battery charged as much as possible.
Also, remember that the battery losses more charge in cold weather.
2.laptop keyboard
The cold weather can also cause your laptop keyboard to become less responsive.
This is because the cold makes the keys contract, which can make them difficult to press.
In addition, the cold can cause the keys to stick, which can also lead to keyboard errors.
To prevent these issues, try to keep your laptop in a warm place when you’re not using it.
And if you need to use your laptop in cold weather, give it time to warm up before typing.
3. laptop screen
The cold weather can also cause your laptop screen to become less bright.
This is because the cold makes the liquid crystals on the screen contract, which can affect image quality.
In addition, if it’s very cold outside, your laptop screen might freeze. This will happen irrespective of the screen size.
How to protect a laptop from cold weather
When the cold weather comes, it is important to take some precautions to protect your laptop.
I am sorry to say without some proper tips you might be damaging your laptop.
Therefore below are some guided tips that might help you protect your laptop from cold weather.
1. Store it well
When you are not using your laptop, it is best to store it in a safe place. If you have a bag or case for it, make sure that it is well-insulated.
This will help to keep the cold out and the heat in.
If you don’t have a bag or case, try to find some way to keep it off the ground. This will help to prevent moisture from seeping in and damaging your device.
2. Let the laptop heat up before use
It is best to let your laptop warm up before use. This will help to prevent any damage that might be caused by the cold weather.
You can do this by either leaving it in a warm place or using a heating pad. Just make sure that you don’t overheat your device.
3. Ensure proper air circulation
It is important to make sure that your laptop has proper air circulation.
This will help to keep it cool and prevent any damage that might be caused by the heat.
You can do this by using a cooling pad or placing it in a well-ventilated area.
4. Use laptop heaters
If you are going to be using your laptop in cold weather, it is a good idea to use a laptop heater.
This will help to keep the device warm and prevent any damage that might be caused by the cold.
You can find these heaters online or at most electronics stores.
5. Change the power settings
If you are going to be using your laptop in cold weather, it is a good idea to change the power settings.
This will help to keep the device from shutting down or freezing. You can find these settings under the control panel on your computer.
Can a laptop freeze in cold weather?
There is a myth that cold weather can freeze the liquid in a laptop and damage or ruin the computer. This is very true.
Despite laptops, being designed to work in a variety of temperatures, and while they may slow down or have some issues in very cold weather, they will certainly freeze at zero degrees.
This is also backed up by forfreezing.com They say laptops have liquid crystals display which can freeze when exposed to very low temperatures.
So it’s true to say that laptops can freeze in cold temperatures.
How cold can a laptop tolerate?
A laptop can handle cold weather as long as the temperature is not below 10 degrees celsius or rather at not below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
If it is colder than that, the battery will drain faster and the computer could freeze.
As I have stated earlier in this guide a laptop can work well when the temperature is in the range of 10-35 degrees Celcius.
Conclusion: can cold weather ruin a laptop? & How to protect it
If you want to make sure your electronic device is protected from the elements, there are a few things you can do.
The best way to protect any laptop in cold weather is by using an appropriate case or rather nice storage that will shield it from snow and moisture while also preventing scratches on the exterior of your laptop’s metal casing.
Even if your device doesn’t get wet, don’t forget about how low temperatures affect its battery life- lithium-ion batteries lose their capacity for charging when exposed to freezing temperatures.
You may need to charge more often during the winter months because of this fact!
These tips should help keep your electronics safe so they last longer through even the harshest winters.
In addition to this Lifewire also has some nice cold weather tips for laptops
References:
- https://forfreezing.com/will-a-laptop-freeze-in-cold-weather/
- https://www.netbooknews.com/tips/can-cold-weather-ruin-a-laptop/
- https://www.laptopmd.com/4-ways-to-protect-your-laptop-in-cold-weather/
- https://itstillworks.com/can-cold-weather-damage-laptop-5786370.html
- https://www.hampshire.edu/it/laptops-and-temperature-extremes
