Blurry screens after a fanless laptop heats up are a classic sign of overheating, which can stress the integrated graphics and the display’s internal components. A fanless design relies on passive cooling, and if this system is overwhelmed, the heat can cause the display to malfunction.
How to fix the blurry screen issue
1. Let the laptop cool down
Turn off your laptop immediately and let it sit for 30–60 minutes to cool down completely. If the problem disappears when it’s cool but returns with heat, you know it’s an overheating issue.
2. Improve ventilation
- Move to a flat, hard surface: Avoid using your laptop on soft surfaces like beds, blankets, or pillows, which can block the tiny vent holes and trap heat.
- Elevate the laptop: Use a book or a specialized laptop stand to raise the device and allow air to circulate underneath.
- Use a cooling pad: For more intensive use, an external laptop cooling pad with built-in fans can significantly improve heat dissipation.
3. Adjust power and performance settings
Since your laptop has no active fan to control, you can manage performance to generate less heat.
- Set the power plan to “Power Saver”: In Windows, go to Settings > System > Power & battery. Switching to a more power-efficient mode will reduce the workload on the CPU and GPU, which in turn reduces heat.
- Use Lenovo Vantage: If your laptop has the Lenovo Vantage app, it may offer thermal management options that let you prioritize cooling over maximum performance.
4. Close intensive applications
Check for apps that are consuming a lot of resources and close them, especially when the laptop feels hot.
- Check Task Manager: Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager and look at the “CPU” column under the “Processes” tab. Close any programs that show unusually high usage.
- Update software: Outdated graphics drivers can sometimes be inefficient and cause more heat. Use Lenovo Vantage or Windows Update to ensure all drivers and the BIOS are up to date.
If the problem continues
If cooling measures don’t solve the problem, the overheating may have caused permanent hardware damage to the display or the integrated graphics chip.
- Test with an external monitor: Connect your laptop to an external monitor via HDMI or USB-C. If the external display shows a clear picture, the issue is with your laptop’s built-in screen or the cable connecting it.
- Contact Lenovo support: If the problem persists, the issue is likely hardware-related. Contact Lenovo support for professional diagnosis and repair.
