MSI Laptop Overheating

Before undertaking any of the more time-consuming solutions below, here are a few fundamentals to get you started.

• Restart your laptop to clear any minor hangups: Something might be stuck, eating up system resources and generating unnecessary heat.
• Remove all accessories/attachments: A case can be an intense heat insulator if your device is already warm. Some cases might even obstruct the vents, trapping hot air inside.
• Are you charging your device? It’s normal for your MSI laptop to be warmer than usual when charging, especially if you're using it simultaneously.
• Check the temperatures your hardware reaches: Use Open Hardware Monitor or any other temperature monitoring software.
• Move to a cooler location: Using electronics outdoors on a hot day will be a stretch regardless. If you left your laptop out in the sun, move it to the shade, give it some time to cool, and see if that helps.

The harder your laptop works, the more heat it generates. Just because your device is getting warmer than average doesn’t mean it’s overheating or dangerously hot. You can verify this by checking a few things.

• Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl, Alt, and Esc. You may need to click “More Info” to get a complete breakdown of ongoing activity. See if any processes are utilizing a high percentage of your CPU.
• Close the corresponding program if it’s a process you recognize as an open application. You can force it to close by right-clicking it in Task Manager and selecting end task.
• If you max out system resources, your system may also run slower. Higher temps will lead to lower CPU speeds to prevent thermal overload.

Closing programs you aren't using regularly, disabling startup tasks/apps, and restarting your computer regularly are all suitable maintenance tasks to keep your computer running smoothly.

If you're performing particularly compute-intensive tasks, like video editing or gaming, ensure that your device is up to the task. Older hardware may have trouble running modern programs with large file sizes, which could be the cause of excess heat.

If your temperatures are high regardless of what you’re doing, your issue may be lackluster airflow. Warmer air is typically blown out by dedicated vents, which can be in many locations but are usually in the hinge area.

• If you use your computer on a lap or padded surface, try elevating the bottom case with a laptop mount or just placing it on a hard, flat surface. Ensure there's space between the bottom case and the surface, as the thin layer of air is crucial for heat dissipation.
• If temperatures are high even with simple tasks, or if the fans are producing a lot of noise, you should perform regular maintenance by cleaning out the fans.
  • The best way to do this will be to open the device. This usually involves removing screws on the back cover (some may be hidden under rubber feet) and perhaps popping some clips (an iFixit Opening Pick comes in handy here).
    • Older laptops may have you access the internals by removing the keyboard.
  • Have a look at the exhaust and fans. If there is a lot of debris here, it is typically obvious. Check for dust trapped in heat sink grills or clogging areas where air should flow.
  • Use compressed air or a dust blower to remove as much dust as possible. Pull the fans out and clean them separately with a Q-tip for the most significant effect.

Keeping track of the information on your laptop is hard work. Data is constantly being written, overwritten, accessed, or deleted. Following an update or power loss, data records may change unintentionally, affecting system performance.

• Install any pending Windows Updates. Repeated failures to update could be the cause of your system being woefully out of date or having persistent failures.
  • You may need to repeat this process several times. Keep checking for updates until your Windows version is entirely up to date.
• 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 rerun it to verify no further corruption is found.
• If you aren't concerned about losing your data, try the "Nuke Everything" approach and reinstall Windows. This may be extreme for overheating issues, but it would rule software out as a cause if you choose to undertake it.
  • Windows 10 reset options are in Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
  • For stubborn issues, use create a USB installer to install instead.

Lack of air movement inside any computer can be the death knell for heat issues. Airflow is integral to heat dissipation.

• Listen for signs of fan function. Is it making any noises? If so, are the noises it's making normal?
• It's best to replace the MSI Laptop Fans if it is clicking, grinding, or making unfamiliar noises despite being clear of debris.

A copper plate mounted to a heat dispersion mechanism moves heat away from the CPU in laptops. Failure of this mechanism could cause the CPU to cook.

• Make sure your heat sink is soundly attached to the CPU. It should be mounted solidly with screws in the corners.
• Remove your heatsink and reapply thermal paste to your CPU. This can optimize thermal transfer to the heat sink and lower operating temperatures.
  • Thermal paste generally has a service life of about ten years. However, if you're particularly demanding of your machine, it may need to be replaced sooner.
• In rare cases, your heat sink may need to be replaced. They don't fail often, but there will generally be visual indications when they do. Ensure no bends, kinks, or holes are in the attached pipes.

Batteries are nefarious. Due to their "consumable" nature, they fail often, but not always in predictable ways. Heat is generated during charging regardless, but a failed battery might be warmer than expected.

• Check for visual signs of battery swelling. You can open the laptop's back case to inspect the battery unobstructed. In serious cases, you may notice bulging in the trackpad or keyboard area.
• Replace the battery if it shows any signs of failure—swelling, leaking, or lumpy cells indicate that you need a new battery.

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

• Check for signs of a board issue—burned or cracked components, liquid residue, corrosion, or a bend. If there are signs of liquid, there’s still hope your laptop can be resurrected. Consider looking at iFixit's Laptop is Liquid Damaged page for further information.
• Replacing the motherboard is often the most practical solution for a DIYer whose board has failed.
• Board repair is possible, but skills in microsoldering and board diagnostics are required. It is an art unto itself but a worthy endeavor. If you’re curious and want to know more about getting into micro soldering, here’s some good reading and some good watching to get you started.
  • A failed thermal sensor on the motherboard can also cause issues. Because of incorrect readings, your laptop may run the fan too late or too slowly. If you suspect this to be the case, you may want to look into replacing these components, possibly through a local board repair specialist.