According to Vidit Sehgal, founder and CEO of V4 IT, Australia’s fastest growing onsite IT services provider, one of the easiest and most effective ways to extend the lifespan of a laptop is to turn it off daily.

“For some reason, a lot of people think that turning off your laptop is an annoying waste of time. They would rather leave it on day in and day out than go through the process of turning it off,” Sehgal said.

“They would rather keep it on for convenience sake. What they don’t realise that is that not only are they cutting the lifespan of their laptop significantly they are also leaving it exposed to risk.”

Sehgal explains why you should turn your laptop off every day.

“Shutting down your laptop at the end of each day has multiple benefits,” Sehgal said.

5 Reasons why you should switch off your laptop daily 

Extends battery life

“Keeping your laptop on all the time forces the battery to work harder, reducing its long-term capacity. A daily shutdown helps preserve battery health, ensuring it lasts longer between charges,” Sehgal said.

“Ideally switch your laptop off when you finish using it at the end of the day and don’t restart it until you need to use it again.”

Prevents overheating

“Continuous operation generates heat, which can damage internal components. Turning it off allows the system to cool down, reducing strain on the processor and other hardware,” Sehgal said.

“Laptops are made of fine technology that come with a shelf life. Keeping your laptop on places great strain on all of these components.”

Boosts performance

“When a laptop runs continuously, background processes and temporary files can slow it down. A daily shutdown clears RAM and closes unneeded applications, improving overall speed and efficiency,” Sehgal said.

Reduces system errors

“Many system updates and security patches require a restart to fully install. Regular shutdowns ensure your software stays up to date and runs smoothly,” Sehgal said.

Enhances security

“Cyber threats often target always-on devices. Shutting down your laptop regularly minimises the risk of unauthorised access and malware attacks,” Sehgal said.

Sehgal emphasised that a simple habit like shutting down your laptop daily can add years to its life. It’s an easy way to maintain performance, reduce wear and tear and avoid costly repairs or replacements.