Laptop usage is rising rapidly, especially after the work-from-home boom. To stay comfortable, many people work with their laptops placed on beds, sofas, or other soft surfaces, but if you do the same, it’s one of the biggest mistakes you can make.
Laptops are compact computers with vents at the back to release heat. When placed on a soft surface, these vents become blocked, trapping the heat inside. This can cause the device to overheat. If you must work on your bed, always use a flat table or a bed tray. This ensures proper airflow and keeps your laptop safe.
Another common mistake is shutting down the laptop and immediately slipping it into a bag. This habit can gradually damage your device. A laptop stays warm for a few seconds after shutting down. Allowing it to cool for two to three minutes before storing it prevents heat from building up inside the bag, which can harm the battery, RAM, SSD and even the motherboard.
Many people also rely on sleep mode, simply closing the lid instead of shutting down. However, doing this regularly can slow the device and weaken its performance. Keeping a laptop running for long periods without proper shutdown places unnecessary load on its RAM and may corrupt the storage drive.
Modern devices such as MacBooks come with pass-through charging, meaning power flows directly to the system during charging and prevents overcharging. Older laptops, however, lack this feature and may suffer damage if left plugged in for too long.
