Overheating

Your laptop will generate more heat when it is working harder. This doesn't necessarily mean it is overheating. There are a few things you can check.

• Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl, Alt, and Esc. together. You may need to click “More Details” to see more information. Check if any processes are utilizing a high percentage of your CPU.
• Close the program that is utilizing a high percentage of your CPU if it’s a process you recognize as an open application. You can force it closed by right clicking on it in Task Manager and clicking end task.
• Your system may run slower if you are maxing out your system's resources. Higher temperatures will lead to lower CPU speeds to prevent thermal overload.

Your laptop temperature may be high due to insufficient airflow. Hot air is blown through vents typically around the bottom of a laptop.

• If temperatures are high while not running many processes, you will need to do some routine maintenance. The best way to do this will be to open the device.
• Some Dell laptops are easy to open (see most XPS models) but some are much less so (older, Windows 7 based Inspiron models especially)
• Have a look at the exhaust as it is typically obvious if there is a lot of debris there. Check for any dust trapped in the heat sink grills or clogging up areas where air should flow.
• Use compressed air to clean out as much dust as possible in the vents. Taking out the fans and cleaning them separately will help ventilation further.

Data is constantly being written, overwritten, accessed, or deleted and data records may change in ways that are unintentional after a power loss or update. These changes could affect system performance.

• Install any pending Windows Updates. If your system is out of date or has had recurring failures, repeated attempts at processing could be your cause.
• If Windows is up to date, run a system file check.
  • Right click the Start menu (or press Ctrl + X). Select Command (or Powershell) as admin.
  • In the window that appears, type sfc /scannow then press enter. Once it has finished, it will tell you if it found errors and whether or not it could fix them.
  • Restart your system and run it again to verify no further corruption is found
• If you aren't concerned about losing your data, you can try reinstalling Windows. This may be extreme for overheat issues, but would rule software out as a cause if you chose to undertake it.
  • Windows 10 reset options are in Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.

The fans in your laptop may be faulty. Lack of air flow in side your laptop will cause high temperatures.

• Listen to the noises the fans are making and ensure that they sound smooth and normal.
• If it is making irregular noises despite being clear of debris, it's best to replace the fans.

Heat in laptops is transferred from the CPU by a copper plate mounted to some mechanism for heat dispersion. Failure of this mechanism will cause high temperatures.

• Make sure your heat sink is properly attached to the CPU. It should be mounted firmly with screws in the corners.
• Remove the heatsink, clean off any old thermal paste, and reapply new thermal paste. This will optimize thermal transfer to the heat sink and lower operating temperatures.
• In rare cases, your heat sink may need to be replaced. Make sure there are no bends, kinks, or holes in the attached pipes. If your heat sink is damaged, you will need to replace it.

Heat is generated when charging your laptop and a failed battery may cause higher temperatures.

• Check for visual signs of battery swelling. This may show as areas of discoloration on the display as swelling exerts pressure on the display from the inside. The display may bow outward or separate from the housing.
• Replace the battery if there are any signs of failure such as swelling, leaking, or lumpy cells.

The motherboard is the hub for most of any laptop's functionality. Any of the small components on the board may have failed or become damaged. Motherboard fault is a safe assumption of cause if nothing else on this page has worked.

• Check for signs of a motherboard problem such as burned or cracked components, liquid residue, corrosion, or bend.
• Replacing the motherboard if it is damaged is often the most practical solution for a DIYer.