Laptops aren’t cheap—and these days, most of us are holding onto them a little longer before upgrading. The good news? With a little care and attention, your laptop can stay fast, reliable, and functional for years.
Here are 5 practical (and beginner-friendly) ways to extend the life of your laptop—without needing an IT degree.
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Keep It Cool – Literally
Overheating is one of the fastest ways to shorten your laptop’s lifespan.
If your device feels hot or the fan sounds like a jet engine, try this:
- Use your laptop on a hard, flat surface (beds and couches trap heat)
- Clean the vents with compressed air
- Consider a cooling pad if you’re using it for long hours
- Don’t block the airflow around the fan
Bonus tip: Shut it down at night instead of just closing the lid forever.
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Declutter and Clean Up
You don’t need hundreds of programs and background processes running.
Over time, they slow things down and drain your system.
- Uninstall apps you no longer use
- Use built-in tools like Storage Sense (Windows) or CleanMyMac to free up space
- Disable apps from auto-starting when you log in
It’s digital spring cleaning—and your laptop will thank you.
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Take Care of the Battery
Batteries wear down over time, but poor habits can make it worse. Try to:
- Keep your battery between 20% and 80% most of the time
- Avoid leaving it plugged in all day, every day
- Shut down or hibernate instead of leaving it in sleep mode for days
- Use battery saver modes when working on-the-go
And if your battery’s already giving up? Replacing it is usually much cheaper than a new device.
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Stay Updated (Yes, Really)
Those update notifications aren’t just annoying—they’re important.
Operating system and software updates include:
- Security patches to keep your system safe
- Performance improvements
- Bug fixes that reduce crashes or weird behaviour
Turn on automatic updates or at least schedule regular checks.
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Invest in a Few Small Upgrades
A few affordable upgrades can make a big difference:
- Add more RAM if your system is lagging with multiple apps
- Replace your old hard drive with an SSD for much faster load times
- Use an external keyboard and mouse to reduce wear on the laptop itself
Even a proper laptop bag can help prevent physical damage and spills.
You don’t need to baby your laptop—but a little routine care goes a long way.
With these tips, your device can keep working hard without crashing, overheating, or dragging its digital feet.
Need help with upgrades or performance issues?
Dial a Nerd offers at-home and remote support to keep your laptop running at its best.
Call us at 0861 463 737 or book online.
