How To Properly Clean Your Laptop Fan

Start with the vents before you reach for a screwdriver.

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Your laptop fan has probably spent its entire life working inside a cramped chassis, so dust eventually gets an invite. Let too much of it build up around the vents, fan or heat sink and airflow can be hampered. Over time, restricted cooling can result in thermal throttling, which is when the processor reduces its performance to keep temperatures under control.

Fortunately, cleaning a laptop fan doesn't…