Venture into virtual realms with gaming laptops, the sleek and portable powerhouses that grant you freedom from the confines of your desk. But beware the dual-edged nature of their slim, compact design. However, laptop overheating while gaming and charging is an issue that comes with this design. 

As you push the GPU and CPU to their limits, the risk of overheating looms, a challenge inherent to their very form. The problem of laptop overheating while gaming and charging plagues countless laptop owners, causing their devices to heat up uncontrollably. There may be something wrong with aging laptops internal hardware, but stifled airflow is the most common culprit.

Worry not, for overheating doesn’t necessarily mean your laptop is on fire. It can be well prevented if you take time to go through the remedies we will discuss today. Join us as we navigate the delicate balance between performance and temperature, unraveling how to fix an overheating windows laptop when gaming.

8 Effective Ways To Avoid Laptop Overheating While Gaming And Charging

Long sessions of gaming on a laptop cause the CPU and GPU to work harder than they should. This generates excessive heat, leading to overheating.

Here are 8 easy ways that can help fix laptop overheating while gaming and charging.

  1. Clean The Dust Accumulation

Lurking within laptops, a common troublemaker emerges: dust. As time goes by, this unseen enemy builds up, blocking air vents and choking internal fans. The result? Trapped hot air, raising temperatures. But fear not, for a simple solution awaits: a blast of compressed air to defeat the dust. 

Just be mindful of warranties, as some may be voided if you tinker inside without manufacturer assistance. Proceed with caution as you navigate the balance between cleanliness and protection, ensuring your laptop stays cool without compromising its warranty. 

  1. Clear Off The Background Apps

Before diving into your gaming session, ensure to close resource-hungry tasks and programs. The more you have running, the heavier the load on your laptop, resulting in increased heat generation. Even if you did not open them, many programs run in the background by default.

Find out and close all the programs that are resource-thirsty using the Windows “Task Manager:”

a. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.

b. Head to the “Processes” tab and click on the CPU column to sort programs by CPU usage.

c. Terminate any unnecessary programs or tasks with high CPU usage.

d. Repeat the process on the “Memory” tab to identify and close RAM-intensive applications.

  1. Provide Some Space For Hot Air Ventilation

Insufficient ventilation can cause overheating, but fear not! Elevate your laptop by placing a small book underneath. This simple hack improves airflow, preventing excessive heat buildup. Even better, invest in a laptop cooling pad for optimal ventilation and cooling performance.

Don’t underestimate the power of those small rubber feet on your laptop. They provide essential elevation, enhancing airflow beneath the machine. However, take care not to rest your laptop on your lap as it hampers airflow and leads to overheating. Opt for a lap desk to maintain constant airflow, ensuring your laptop stays cool and comfy.

  1. Get Your CPU A Cooling Pad

Constant airflow is the key to maintaining optimal temperatures within your laptop, ensuring your fans don’t need to operate at full throttle. When your fans run at high speeds, it indicates your CPU is under heavy load, leading to increased heat generation. To combat this, consider utilizing a cooling pad. 

A laptop cooling pad is a raised, meshed stand with built-in fans. By incorporating an additional cooling fan, you introduce a dedicated cooling mechanism that efficiently dissipates heat, preventing laptop overheating during intense gaming sessions. An additional cooling fan keeps your laptop cooler, which creates a more stable and comfortable environment for extended gaming sessions. 

  1. Complete The Pending Driver Updates

Outdated drivers are notorious culprits behind laptop overheating during gaming. They can cause file corruption, leave your system vulnerable to malware, and hinder overall performance. Updates are the key to rectify these issues, as they often include vital bug fixes and performance enhancements.

How to fix an overheating Windows laptop when gaming? Ensure your laptop’s drivers are up to date by following these steps:

a. Click the Windows Taskbar Start button and access settings.

b. Navigate to “Update & Security,” then select “Windows Update.”

c. Click the “Check for updates” option.

d. If applicable, choose “View optional updates” and head to the “driver updates” section.

  1. Avoid Using Exhausting Processes

Unleashing intense processes on your laptop can ignite the flames of overheating. But don’t worry, there are ways to keep your device cool. Take, for instance, the infamous video Flash in browsers that puts your CPU under intense strain. 

As the CPU works harder, temperatures rise, and fans go into overdrive. To counter this, consider employing a FlashBlock extension in your browser, allowing Flash videos to activate only when necessary.

  1. Do A Malware Scan

Malware can invisibly degrade your laptop’s overall performance and cause it to overheat. Make sure to perform routine malware scans. You can also spend money on antivirus software to safeguard your laptop.

  1. Stop Overclocking The CPU & GPU

In order to speed up performance, many gamers overclock their GPU and CPU. Overclocking, on the other hand, can cause an insane amount of heat. And that goes double if your laptop does not have a good cooling system. If you have ever overclocked your laptop and now you’re dealing with overheating issues, it’s probably time for you to reset the clock to its factory settings. 

Wrapping Up Thoughts

Protecting laptop overheating while gaming and charging is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in summer, as heat can expand hard drives and damage batteries. To mitigate this risk, ensure your laptop stays in the shade when temperatures soar. 

If you notice frequent shutdowns and significant slowdowns caused by overheating, seek timely repairs to prevent further damage. If this guide helped you learn and employ how to fix an overheating Windows laptop when gaming, you’ll have an effective computing experience for years to come.