Quick fix: my laptop gets hot, the fan is loud, or it shuts off by itself. Why?

Laptops get warm, but a loud fan and surprise shutdowns are your laptop asking for help.

1. Put it on a hard, flat surface like a table. Beds, couches, pillows and laps block the air vents underneath.
2. Find the vents, usually on the bottom, sides or back, and make sure nothing is covering them.
3. Close programs and browser tabs you aren't using. Video and games make the most heat.
4. Restart it. Sometimes a stuck program keeps the processor working hard for no reason. Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on a Mac will show what's busy.
5. Use it in a cooler room, away from sunlight and heaters. Houston summers are hard on laptops, so never leave one in a hot car.
6. Use the charger that came with it, or an exact match.

Stop and get help if it shuts off on its own more than once, smells like burning, gets too hot to touch, or the battery looks swollen and the case is bulging. A swollen battery is a safety problem: turn it off, unplug it and stop using it. Cleaning the inside is a job for a repair person, so please don't open it yourself.

Still stuck? Post your make, model and what you see in this topic, or send me a request for a free assessment.