My laptop runs hot and the fan blows constantly
Hardware is shouting: something is working far too hard, or cooling cannot do its job.
Try this first
- 1Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and look for high CPU. Close that app. Video tabs, video calls, or an Excel with a huge dataset are classic.
- 2Dust. On a laptop older than two years, blast compressed air through the vents. Literally half of all cases.
- 3Working on a tablecloth or bed? Vents are blocked. Use a hard, flat surface.
- 4No improvement? Could be background malware. Run Microsoft Defender Quick Scan.
When to bring us in
Constantly hot without obvious cause, three years or older: often dried thermal paste or a dead fan. Repair or replace; we can advise on what is worth it.
See also
- My laptop is suddenly slowThree main suspects: a runaway background process, near-full disk, or a Windows update in progress.
- One specific application is slow for everyoneIf an app is slow for one person: local. For everyone at once: server side or vendor side.
- Opening files from the file server takes minutesOften the server itself is fine and the issue is network routing or stalling DNS resolution.
None of the above fits?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.