Most laptops apply fans to cool components that would otherwise overheat. Typically a laptop will take one or ii fans cooling the primary processor and graphics chip. Many designs employ a heatpipe system to draw oestrus away from these components, with a single fan cooling a heatsink which is attached to the heat-pipes. The heatsink volition have lots of fins to dissipate the oestrus, and grit tin can also build up between these fins, reducing cooling efficiency enormously.

With everything packed tightly to make the laptop as slim as possible, there's very piffling room for airflow. And that ways that even small amounts of dirt and grit tin hamper the cooling system's effectiveness.

How to clean a laptop

If your laptop'southward fan is running more noisily or more oftentimes than usual or won't turn off at all, the first identify to look is in Windows' Task Managing director (Ctrl-Shift-Esc). On the Processes tab you lot'll see how much of your laptop'south resources each app is using, just y'all may accept to click on 'More details' to see these stats.

Wait for whatever app using a high percentage of the CPU time, every bit this is usually the primary culprit when a fan is running at summit speed.

If there's nothing out of the ordinary, you tin can endeavor to make clean the fan and heatsinks. Unfortunately, this is not an easy task in many modernistic laptops which aren't designed to exist opened up past users, and fans tin be located deep inside.

Other laptops have removable 'service' panels underneath that require only a screwdriver to remove, but getting to the fan is the best fashion to properly clean information technology.

How to clean a laptop fan using compressed air

If y'all're not confident using a screwdriver to dismantle your laptop, grab a can of compressed air or try a photographic camera lens air duster if you're worried about using compressed air. Vacuum cleaners are not recommended: they're quite ineffective at removing dust from laptops and they tin also cause a build-up of static electricity which you don't want around a laptop.

Apparently brand certain the laptop is powered off before you start, and remove the battery if possible. Insert the nozzle of the air duster into the vents (or as close as y'all can get it) and get-go blowing the grit out. Try and end the fan blades turning using a long plastic object - you'll have a hard time removing clay from a spinning fan.

Laptop fan clogged with dust

How to clean a fan by opening up your laptop

For those that are happy to wield a screwdriver, plow off your laptop, flip information technology over, and remove the bombardment, if possible.

If there is i, remove the plastic or metallic console in the base and hopefully it will reveal the fan. Your success hither will depend entirely on your laptop model. If you don't encounter the fan at all, you'll accept to go one step further and remove other parts. In that location are many YouTube videos that show how to take laptops apart: simply search for your make and model.

If you can access the fan, employ a small brush to remove any dirt and dust. If you use compressed air, don't get too close with the nozzle and be certain to cease the blades moving. You'd practice well to unscrew and remove the fan at this bespeak and cheque for whatsoever other clay underneath information technology which could be clogging up the heatsink or air vents.

Afterwards you've removed the fluff and dust, replace parts in the order you removed them.

Tin I replace the fan in my laptop?

Many laptop fans have plastic bearings which don't last forever. If your fan is emitting a loud whine (which it didn't when you outset got the laptop) information technology'south probably fourth dimension to replace it. Here, ebay is your friend but it helps if you lot have a popular brand of laptop: we establish a lot of Dell, HP, Acer and Asus fans just y'all'll need to search for your exact laptop model.

Before you gild anything, check you can access the fan and match up the dimensions or check with the seller to be certain y'all're getting the correct part.

Sometimes, these jobs are all-time left to the experts so contact your laptop manufacturer or a local repair shop for a quote.

Laptop cooling pads

A cheaper and easier choice is to purchase a cooling pad which is essentially external fans for your laptop. You lot'll pay more than for pad from a well-known make, and less for a no-name pad from Amazon or ebay.

For example, the one below has three fans and two USB ports and costs £12.99 / $24.99 from Amazon:

How to keep your laptop cool

It'due south not every bit convenient to have to use your laptop on top of a pad such every bit this, but the cooling issue should accept the load off the internal fans and potentially make everything cooler and quieter.