Chromebook Maintenance And Care| Chromebook How To Guides

How to Fix an Overheated Chromebook in 7 Easy Steps (2023)

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How to Fix an Overheated Chromebook

Published By: Anwar A Mzee

How to Fix an Overheated Chromebook

We’ve all been there, in the middle of a busy day working on our Powerful Chromebook when suddenly it starts to heat up rapidly!

This can be an incredibly frustrating experience and may even prevent us from getting important work done.

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be a problem that disrupts your productivity anymore. This guide will teach you on How to Fix an Overheated Chromebook, step by step.

Don’t let an overheating laptop prevent you from performing at your best.

In this guide, we’ll explore the causes of a hot Chromebook and provide simple steps to help you quickly address the issue so that you can get back to work with no interruptions!

Can heat damage a Chromebook?

Can heat damage a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are usually quite resilient when it comes to heat, however, leaving one exposed to scorching temperatures for extended periods of time can certainly begin to cause damage.

While the device may not appear to be functioning differently, internal components such as RAM, processor and storage can all suffer if they are heated up beyond their tolerances.

Whenever possible you should keep your Chromebook in a cool and dry environment as long exposure to extreme heat can lead to instability, performance issues or even total failure.

If you think your Chromebook has been exposed to high temperatures make sure you let it cool gradually before attempting to use it again.

Causes of Overheating in Chromebooks

Causes of Overheating in Chromebooks

There are a number of different causes for your Chromebook to overheat.

  • Poor airflow: If you’re using your Chromebook on a soft surface such as a bed or couch, then the bottom vents can become blocked thus preventing cool air from coming in and hot air from escaping.
  • Faulty internal components: Due to the vast number of components inside a Chromebook, it is possible for one or more of them to become faulty and thus generate excessive heat as they are running.
  • Software-related issues: Some software issues can cause your Chromebook to become unresponsive thus causing an increase in CPU usage which ultimately causes the device to overheat.
  • Intense applications: Using intense applications such as games or photo/video editing software can cause a Chromebook to heat up faster than usual

How to fix an overheated Chromebook

How to fix an overheated Chromebook infographic

Having a Chromebook that is overheating can be extremely frustrating.

Not only does it drastically reduce your Chromebook’s performance and make it difficult to get tasks done, but the worry of permanent damage is always looming in the background.

Fortunately, properly fixing an overheated Chromebook isn’t as difficult as you may think- with just a few steps, your best laptop can be running at peak performance once again.

In this section of the blog post, we’ll walk you through helpful tips and tricks on how to fix an overheated Chromebook quickly and easily.

1. Shut down the Chromebook & let it cool:

Shut down the Chromebook & let it cool:

To avoid any further destruction, immediately shut down your Chromebook and disconnect it from all external sources of power.

Afterwards, let your device rest for at least an hour so as to protect it from additional harm and help you detect which components have been compromised by the heat.

2. Check for proper ventilation:

Check for proper ventilation:

Keeping your Chromebook cool is essential to protect your device and maintain its performance.

To make sure it runs at optimal temperatures, you need to check the vents are not blocked.

It’s a good idea to turn it upside down and look through the vents for dust or other debris that could be causing an obstruction, and then use a soft brush to get rid of anything blocking airflow.

You should also check there’s nothing on top of the laptop that could potentially block the heat from dissipating properly.

If you’re using your Chromebook on a desk with paperwork or equipment nearby, move them away from the device so they can’t impede air circulation in any way.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure optimal ventilation and extend your Chromebook lifespan while protecting its performance.

3. Clean it thoroughly:

How to Fix an Overheated Chromebook :Clean it thoroughly

Keeping your Chromebook free of dust and dirt is essential to avoid overheating, which can lead to laptop failure.

To start, make sure you shut down the device completely and disconnect it from its power source before cleaning.

Remember to use soft, lint-free cloths for wiping the keyboard and exterior surfaces. You can also use air in a can or a compressor to blow away any dust or debris lurking inside.

Pay attention to the vents and fans since this is where most of the dust accumulates, and make sure no cloth scraps get stuck in them too!

Finally, if you have access to compressed air either in a bottle or a compressor, give each fan grill a few short bursts to get rid of stubborn bits of dust that might be blocking airflow.

To effectively clean your Chromebook, a soft cloth or cotton swab is recommended to ensure that no damage comes to its internal components.

4. Reduce your Chromebook’s workload:

Reduce your Chromebook’s workload to fix overheating issues

In most cases, reducing the amount of power and resources you are requesting from your Chromebook will help reduce its temperature and prevent it from overheating again.

Disable any unnecessary applications or programs that could be draining your device’s battery.

This includes programs like music streaming services, video streaming applications, and games that require a lot of power to run smoothly.

By following this simple step, not only will you keep your best laptop from becoming too hot but it’ll also help enhance Chromebooks performance.

5. Try using a cooling pad or fan:

Try using a cooling pad or fan:

If you find that your Chromebook is still running hot even after following the previous steps, then it’s time to invest in a cooling pad or laptop fan.

A cooling pad will help keep the air circulating around your laptop more efficiently and reduce your device’s temperature.

Alternatively, you can also use an external USB-powered fan to help keep the laptop cool.

These simple steps should help you fix an overheated Chromebook quickly and easily, allowing you to get back to your work or entertainment in no time.

If you have any additional questions or need more information on how to fix an overheating Chromebook, then feel free to contact our customer service

5. Check CPU & GPU performance:

Check CPU & GPU performance:

If you are having trouble with your Chromebook’s performance and the system is running too hot, it may be time for a Chromebook performance check.

Checking your Chromebook’s Central Processing Unit (CPU) and Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) can help to identify any potential issues that might be causing it to overheat.

Performing regular maintenance checks, such as monitoring the CPU and GPU usage, will ensure that your device runs optimally and performs at its best.

Additionally, checking these components will alert you if the fans or cooling systems need to be adjusted or replaced in order to keep the device from overheating.

Utilizing performance checks, combined with other maintenance activities, may ultimately lead to improved productivity when working on an overly hot and sluggish device.

6. Update your Chromebook:

Update your Chromebook:

Lastly, you should check for any updates that are available for your laptop as this could help boost its performance and improve the overall efficiency of its internal hardware.

Updates can bring bug fixes, new features, and enhanced performance that could help to reduce the chance of your Chromebook overheating in the future.

To check for any available updates on your laptop, simply click on the “Settings” icon and select the “About Chrome OS” option from the menu.

If there are any updates available, you will be prompted to download and install them.

By taking the time to update your Chromebook’s software as well as performing regular maintenance checks on its hardware, you can ensure that your laptop runs smoothly without overheating.

For a more in-depth guide on this, you can refer to our post on How to Update a Chromebook.

Following these steps should help you reduce the chances of your Chromebook overheating and help improve its overall performance.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you to learn How to fix an overheated Chromebook in 6 easy steps.

As mentioned above, always make sure that your laptop is well-ventilated and only runs programs and applications that won’t cause it to overheat.

In the event of a hardware defect or incompatible software causing problems, it may be best to take your device to a professional for repairs.

By employing these strategies and techniques, you can rest assured that your Chromebook won’t overheat and you can enjoy its powerful performance for years to come.

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