So, after installing the recent Windows update, my laptop started heating up like crazy even when I’m just browsing or doing light stuff. Fans kick in full speed and it gets really uncomfortable to use on my lap. I’ve tried checking for background processes and running a virus scan, but nothing obvious showed up. Also cleaned the vents physically, but no luck there. Has anyone experienced this? Did a patch mess with power management settings or something? Would love some tips on how to cool it down without rolling back the update. Sharing any tweaks or software recommendations that helped you would be awesome!

On 01/13/2026 at 8:55 PM, TechWiz101 said:

So, after installing the recent Windows update, my laptop started heating up like crazy even when I’m just browsing or doing light stuff. Fans kick in full speed and it gets really uncomfortable to use on my lap. I’ve tried checking for background processes and running a virus scan, but nothing obvious showed up. Also cleaned the vents physically, but no luck there. Has anyone experienced this? Did a patch mess with power management settings or something? Would love some tips on how to cool it down without rolling back the update. Sharing any tweaks or software recommendations that helped you would be awesome!

Hey @TechWiz101, I ran into something similar after a Windows update a while back. Sometimes the update resets or messes with the power plan settings, pushing the CPU to run at max performance all the time. You might want to check your power options and switch to a balanced or power saver plan to see if that helps with the heat and fan noise.

Also, try using a tool like ThrottleStop or Intel XTU to monitor CPU temps and tweak performance settings. It helped me dial down the CPU voltage a bit, which cooled things off without sacrificing much speed. Just be cautious with undervolting and make sure to research your specific CPU model first.

Lastly, keep an eye on Windows Update history - sometimes a hotfix or patch comes out quickly after a problematic update. Hopefully, Microsoft will release a fix soon if it’s a widespread issue.