Why Laptop Temperature Increases When Charging and How to Fix It

1. Why temperature increases when charging

More power = more heat

When you plug in your laptop, it’s no longer trying to save battery. Instead, it:

• Uses full CPU/GPU performance
• Increases background activity
• Runs apps faster

Battery charging itself produces heat

While charging:

• The battery undergoes chemical reactions
• These naturally generate heat
• Especially noticeable when charging from low % to high %

Performance mode kicks in

Most laptops automatically switch to:

• High performance mode when plugged in
• Fans may spin later (to reduce noise), allowing heat to build up first

Background processes increase

When plugged in, your system may:

• Install updates
• Run antivirus scans
• Sync files (e.g., cloud apps)

2. Why temperature is not shown

If you don’t see temperature info:

On Windows:

• Temperature is not shown by default
• You need tools like: HWMonitor, Core Temp, or MSI Afterburner

On macOS:

• Also not shown by default
• Apps like: iStat Menus can help

3. What is a normal temperature?

• Idle: 35–50°C
• Normal use: 50–70°C
• Heavy use / charging: 70–90°C

4. When to worry

You should be concerned if:

• Laptop becomes too hot to touch
• Fans are always loud
• System slows down or shuts down automatically

5. How to reduce heating

• Use laptop on a hard surface (not bed/blanket)
• Clean air vents
• Reduce heavy apps while charging
• Use balanced power mode
• Consider a cooling pad

6. Who should fix your laptop overheating issue?

Here are your best options depending on the situation:

1. Authorized Service Center (Best option)

If your laptop is still under warranty or relatively new, go to the official service center of your laptop brand (like Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus). They will:

• Clean internal dust
• Replace thermal paste
• Fix fan or battery issues

2. Local Computer Repair Shop

If your laptop is out of warranty, visit a trusted local technician. Ask specifically for:

• Fan cleaning
• Thermal paste replacement
• Battery check

👉 Usually cheaper and faster.

3. You can fix small issues yourself

If heating is mild, try:

• Cleaning vents (use an air blower)
• Using a cooling pad
• Closing heavy apps
• Changing power mode to balanced

👉 No need for repair if the problem is minor.

Simple advice:

If your laptop is new → go to authorized service. If old → a good local repair shop is fine.