What a week it’s been. ☀️ Over 30 degrees in May! Crazy times.
The recent heatwave was no joke. While we were all busy hunting for fans, hoarding ice cubes, and seriously debating whether it was acceptable to work from inside the freezer, there would have been a whole squad of devices in your home or office suffering in silence: your computers, smartphones, and tablets.
Gadgets hate the heat even more than a Brit standing in a stationary commuter train. When they get too hot, they don’t just sweat—they slow down to a crawl, freeze up, or dramatically shut themselves off mid-task to save their own digital lives.
So, in readiness for the coming months – to prevent your devices from throwing a summer tantrum, here’s a few simple “cool down” strategies you can deploy…
1. Give your computers some breathing room
If your desktop is currently crammed into a tight wooden cabinet under your desk, or your laptop is sitting on a nice fluffy cushion on your lap, you’re essentially wrapping it in a winter coat.
The Fix: Move it out into the open. Elevate your laptop slightly with a book under the back edge so air can circulate underneath. Your computer breathes from the bottom and sides—don’t choke it!
2. Strip the jackets off your phones and tablets
Smartphones and tablets don’t have internal fans to cool themselves down; they rely entirely on their outer shells to push heat away. If your phone is wrapped in a thick, heavy-duty leather or plastic case, it’s basically wearing a duvet.
The Fix: If your phone or iPad is feeling uncomfortably hot to the touch, strip off its case for a bit. Let it breathe!
3. Watch out for the “Ghost Charger” effect
Charging your phone or tablet naturally generates internal heat. Trying to charge it in a hot room while simultaneously streaming a video is the ultimate recipe for an overheated battery.
The Fix: Give your mobile devices a rest while they top up. Try to charge them in a cool, shaded room, and leave them alone to do their thing.
4. Step away from the window (and the sun loungers)
Direct sunlight is an absolute killer for screens and batteries. Leaving your phone or tablet on the garden table or your laptop baking in a sunbeam on your desk like a lazy housecat will skyrocket their internal temperatures in minutes.
The Fix: Keep all gadgets in the shade. If you get a warning on your screen saying “Temperature: Device needs to cool down,” move it to a cool, dark room immediately. (And please, never put it in the fridge or freezer to cool it down fast—the sudden condensation will ruin the internals!).
5. The Absolute “No Car” Rule
Please, whatever you do, do not leave your laptop bag, phone, or tablet on the back seat or in the glovebox of your car while you pop into the shops. A parked car in this weather turns into an oven within minutes, which is a fantastic way to permanently cook an expensive battery.
The Golden Rule of Summer IT:
If your machine is lagging, your phone screen suddenly dims itself, or your computer fan sounds like a jet engine taking off, your tech is crying out for help. Save your work, put the screen to sleep, and give it a 20-minute break. (Which is also an excellent excuse for you to go grab an ice lolly). 🍦
Stay cool, ❄️
