Having a connection and also staying available online is a common demand for the better part of everyone’s lives nowadays.
From the alarm clock that wakes you up in the morning until the series episode or movie you stream through your favourite platform before going to bed. The internet is present pretty much everywhere and at all times.
Surely, there are those who seek to stray away from this technological world or attempt to avoid a virtual life, but they are getting rarer by the day. Being able to connect to the internet at all times demands a network format that doesn’t present limitations. That is more the case with wireless ones than cabled connections.
Imagine when going to work and during your commute, you simply don’t have a signal. People would definitely look for other ways to travel from home to work and back.
Even though cable connection technology has evolved massively throughout the years, and for some aspects even surpassed wireless networks, the latter is still considered the most practical and efficient for larger areas.
This is mainly because Ethernet, which is one of the best and most popular kinds of cabled connections, still relies on cables going through walls or around corners.
Meanwhile, wireless networks enhanced their features and became able to deliver signals to more devices within a larger coverage area. This is one more reason why wi-fi networks are preferred by most users.
My Wi-Fi Adapter Overheating, What Should I Do?
Even though it may not be so easy to identify overheating with wi-fi adapters, upon noticing that the connection is not delivering the same level of performance, users can get a hint as to what is happening.
As the overheating of the wi-fi adapter may lead features not to work as they usually do, if your internet is getting slow, check the device’s temperature. That could be a good indicator, but still, simply acknowledging that the adapter is overheating is not enough to fix the problem.
So, upon noticing overheating, it is paramount that you act on it and save the device from suffering permanent damage and stopping working for good. If you are not sure what you should do in that case, check the easy solutions below and have your wi-fi adapter working at its peak performance at all times.
1. Try Using An Extender
It is normal for computers, laptops, and other devices to which you can connect a wi-fi adapter to get hot just via their normal activity. Video cards, chipsets, hard disks, and many other components can release a lot of heat when in action.
Since not every computer can handle the amount of internal heat just using their cooling systems, they tend to have an airflow system that helps the system cool down.
Unfortunately, in some laptops, the airflow leads the hot air directly to the wi-fi adapter, which will surely heat things up. So, if you have an extender, make sure to use it to prevent the hot air from reaching the adapter and making it even hotter.
If not, make your way to an electronics shop and get one. They are cheap and can be found in online or offline shops.
2. Replace The Thermal Paste When Necessary
The thermal paste, for those who are not so used to the names of computer components, is a grey substance that allows the device to have a more efficient transfer of heat between the cooling unit and the chipset.
Most wi-fi adapters have a heatsink that is also worth replacing when attempting to change the thermal paste, so don’t worry if that is the case.
Also, if you have never attempted this procedure, we suggest you either carefully check online tutorials or, in case you still don’t feel like you should do it on your own, get some professional help. This is a fairly simple procedure, and it shouldn’t be too expensive.
3. Try Using A Customised Heatsink
It may also be a good idea to get a customised heatsink, which should help dissipate the heat more efficiently. Not only will it aid the wi-fi adapter to work for a longer period, but also improve its performance by preventing this problem from happening again.
Bear in mind, though, that it can be risky to get a bigger heatsink for some wi-fi adapter models, so make sure to get a professional opinion before attempting this one.
What Does A Wi-Fi Adapter Do?
Since the internet became such a huge feature in computers, laptops, tablets, mobiles, and a whole other series of gadgets, barely any manufacturer designs devices without wireless network compatibility.
It really wouldn’t make any sense to launch a product that would be even sold through the internet, through which users would expect to navigate online with, and then disappoint them with a lack of compatibility.
That is why pretty much every electronic device in the market nowadays has an internet connection, and, due to its practicality, most of them have wireless network adapters to perform that kind of function.
Wi-fi adapters are devices that, when connected to computers, laptops, tablets, mobiles, or any other compatible device, allow it to receive wireless signals. It works like a kind of antenna that can catch wi-fi signals and decode them into internet signals for the connected device.
Even though they are small, light, and practical, most of them cannot match the capacity of wireless routers. That is mainly because the specifications of the wireless card that is inside the adapter are not as advanced as the ones in the router.
So, wi-fi adapters tend to deliver lower speeds compared to wireless routers, but they have the mobility that is lacking in the router.
This is the main reason why users opt for that kind of device when moving around. With adapters, users can get wi-fi signals pretty much everywhere and with greater speed and stability than the mobile hotspot feature most phones have.
What Kind Of Problems Do Wi-Fi Adapters Have?
While devices such as wi-fi adapters deliver a great deal of practicality, not everything about it should be perfect.
For one, it doesn’t deliver the same level of performance as more robust devices. Secondly, not every wi-fi adapter has good enough features to get signals everywhere and the best ones can be a bit expensive.
Thirdly, due to the fact that not all users are extra careful, and these kinds of devices are quite sensitive to heat and bumps, their lifespan may not be all that long.
However, for users who are careful enough, the device should last fairly long. These users should, nevertheless, consider the type of usage they need from their wi-fi adapters. Large file transfers, streaming, gaming, or even simply a prolonged period of intense usage may cause the device to overheat.
Since wi-fi adapters are small in size, they tend not to have much airflow to cool down the hardware. Consequently, as the device overheats, the overall performance should drop and some of the features may not work as they would under normal temperatures.
The Last Word
Lastly, if you have any more important info others should know about how to deal with overheating wi-fi adapters, don’t keep it to yourself. Share them with us through the comments box below and help others choose the best wi-fi adapter for their set-up.