Switch to a "Balanced" or "Power Saver" plan for daily tasks. If your PC supports it, you can unlock hidden "Ultimate Performance" modes, but these usually increase heat.
Microsoft is aware of the heating dilemma. Starting with Windows 11 version 24H2 (2025 Update), new features include:
If dusting and better airflow don't help, the thermal paste between your CPU and its cooler has likely dried out. This is a more advanced procedure, especially for laptops, which can be difficult to disassemble. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, bring your computer to a reputable repair shop. They can perform a thorough cleaning and apply new, high-quality thermal paste.
Restart the Windows Update service via the Services console ( services.msc ).
Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU Double-click and change its value from 1 to 0 .
If you click an OU containing tens of thousands of computer or user objects without filtering, MMC will try to load all of them into memory simultaneously. This spikes CPU usage and heats up your laptop.
