Top 10 Most Common Laptop & Computer Problems (And How to Fix Them)

Laptops and computers are essential tools for work and everyday life, so it’s frustrating when they stop behaving. The good news: most common laptop problems have a simple, safe fix you can try yourself before you spend money on a repair.

In this guide, we cover the 10 most common laptop and computer problems, how to troubleshoot each one step by step, and — just as important — how to tell when it’s a five-minute fix versus when it’s time to stop and hand the device to a professional. Whether your laptop won’t turn on, the screen is black, or your internet keeps dropping, we’ve got you covered.

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to diagnose most laptop or computer issues yourself, know exactly which steps are safe to try at home, and recognize the warning signs that mean a trip to a repair shop will save you more time (and data) than it costs.

This is a very common problem, and there are a few things you can check to try to fix it. First, make sure that the power cord is plugged in properly and that the power switch is turned on. If the laptop/computer is still not turning on, you may need to replace the battery.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the power outlet to make sure that it is working properly.
• Try using a different power cord.
• Remove the battery and then try to turn on the laptop/computer.
• If you have a desktop computer, check the power supply to make sure that it is working properly.

If you have tried all of these steps and the laptop/computer still won’t turn on, you may need to take it to a computer technician for further diagnosis.

Why Your Laptop Won’t Turn On and 9 Ways to Fix

If the laptop/computer screen is black, it could be a problem with the power supply, the graphics card, or the screen itself. You can try restarting the laptop/computer, updating the graphics drivers, or connecting an external monitor to see if the problem is with the screen.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the brightness settings to make sure that they are not turned down too low.
• Try pressing the “Fn” key and the “F5” key to see if this will bring the screen back on.
• If you have a desktop computer, check the connections to the monitor to make sure that they are secure.

If you have tried all of these steps and the laptop/computer screen is still black, you may need to take it to a computer technician for further diagnosis.

My laptop computer screen is black

There are a number of things that can cause a laptop/computer to run slow, including too many programs running in the background, a virus or malware infection, or a hard drive that is full or fragmented. You can try closing any unnecessary programs, running a virus scan, or defragmenting the hard drive to improve performance.

Here are some additional tips for speeding up your laptop/computer:

• Disable startup programs that you don’t need.
• Clear your browsing history and cookies.
• Uninstall any programs that you don’t use anymore.
• Update your operating system and software.

If you have tried all of these tips and your laptop/computer is still running slow, you may need to upgrade your hardware or replace your laptop/computer.

DIY or professional? Software slowdowns (too many startup apps, a full hard drive) are safe DIY fixes. If a full clean and defrag doesn’t help, it’s often a failing hard drive or worn-out RAM — that’s a job for a technician.

Why is My Laptop so Slow and How Can I Fix It?

If your laptop/computer is overheating, it could be due to a number of factors, including a blocked vent, a dirty fan, or a faulty power supply. You can try cleaning the vents, replacing the fan, or using a cooling pad to improve airflow and reduce the temperature.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the laptop/computer’s fan to make sure that it is spinning freely.
• Clean the vents to remove any dust or debris that may be blocking airflow.
• Use a cooling pad to help dissipate heat.
• Avoid using the laptop/computer in a hot environment.

If you have tried all of these steps and your laptop/computer is still overheating, you may need to take it to a computer technician for further diagnosis.

How to Troubleshoot Overheating, Shutdown, or Thermal Issue

A blue screen of death is a serious error that can occur on Windows computers. There are a number of things that can cause a BSOD, including a driver conflict, a hardware problem, or a software issue. If you get a BSOD, you can try restarting the computer, updating the drivers, or running a memory diagnostic to try to fix the problem.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the event log for any errors that may have occurred before the BSOD.
• Update the drivers for your hardware devices.
• Run a memory diagnostic to check for memory errors.
• Restore your computer to a previous point in time.

If you have tried all of these steps and you are still getting BSODs, you may need to take your computer to a computer technician for further diagnosis.

11 Tips to Help You Fix the Windows Blue Screen Error

If your laptop/computer won’t connect to the internet, there are a few things you can check. First, make sure that you are connected to a Wi-Fi network or that you have an Ethernet cable plugged in. If you are connected to a network, but you still can’t connect to the internet, you may need to update the network drivers or reset the network settings.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to make sure that it is secure.
• Restart your router or modem.
• Update the network drivers for your laptop/computer.
• Reset the network settings on your laptop/computer.

If you have tried all of these steps and you are still having trouble connecting to the internet, you may need to contact your internet service provider for help.

DIY or professional? Driver and settings fixes are safe to try yourself. If the Wi-Fi adapter isn’t detected at all even after a driver reinstall, the hardware itself may have failed and needs a technician’s diagnosis.

How to Fix WiFi Connection Issues on a Laptop

If your laptop/computer keyboard is not working, it could be a problem with the keyboard itself, the keyboard drivers, or the operating system. You can try restarting the computer, updating the keyboard drivers, or using a different keyboard to see if the problem is with the keyboard itself.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the keyboard connections to make sure that they are secure.
• Clean the keyboard to remove any dust or debris that may be causing the problem.
• Update the keyboard drivers for your laptop/computer.
• Reset the keyboard settings on your laptop/computer.

If you have tried all of these steps and your keyboard is still not working, you may need to replace the keyboard.

DIY or professional? Replacing an external USB keyboard is a DIY job. Replacing a built-in laptop keyboard means opening the chassis — unless you’re comfortable with that, a repair technician will do it faster and without risking other components.

Keyboard Not Working? How to Fix Windows Keyboard Not Typing Problem

If your laptop/computer mouse is not working, it could be a problem with the mouse itself, the mouse drivers, or the operating system. You can try restarting the computer, updating the mouse drivers, or using a different mouse to see if the problem is with the mouse itself.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the mouse connections to make sure that they are secure.
• Clean the mouse to remove any dust or debris that may be causing the problem.
• Update the mouse drivers for your laptop/computer.
• Reset the mouse settings on your laptop/computer.

If you have tried all of these steps and your mouse is still not working, you may need to replace the mouse.

DIY or professional? An external mouse is a cheap, easy swap. A dead built-in trackpad on a laptop is a board-level or ribbon-cable repair — that one’s best left to a technician.

Why is my laptop mouse touchpad not working?

If your laptop/computer speakers are not working, it could be a problem with the speakers themselves, the audio drivers, or the operating system. You can try restarting the computer, updating the audio drivers, or connecting external speakers to see if the problem is with the speakers themselves.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the volume settings to make sure that they are not turned down too low.
• Check the audio connections to make sure that they are secure.
• Update the audio drivers for your laptop/computer.
• Reset the audio settings on your laptop/computer.

If you have tried all of these steps and your speakers are still not working, you may need to replace the speakers.

DIY or professional? Software and driver fixes are safe to try yourself. If you’ve confirmed it’s not a settings issue, built-in laptop speakers usually need a technician to open the unit and inspect or replace them.

Your Laptop Speakers Are Not Working? Fix Them in 8 Steps

If your laptop/computer won’t print, it could be a problem with the printer itself, the printer drivers, or the operating system. You can try restarting the computer, updating the printer drivers, or connecting the printer to a different computer to see if the problem is with the printer itself.

Here are some additional steps you can take to troubleshoot this problem:

• Check the printer connections to make sure that they are secure.
• Check the printer’s status to make sure that it is turned on and ready to print.
• Update the printer drivers for your laptop/computer.
• Reset the printer settings on your laptop/computer.

If you have tried all of these steps and your printer is still not printing, you may need to contact the printer manufacturer for help.

DIY or professional? Most printing problems are software or connection issues you can fix yourself. Paper jams that recur, or print quality that doesn’t improve after a cartridge swap, usually point to an internal fault worth a technician’s look.

10 Things to Try When Your Printer Won’t Print

Most common laptop problems come down to a handful of causes — power, overheating, drivers, or a cluttered hard drive — and most of them, you can troubleshoot yourself with the steps above. The general rule: if it’s a settings, software, or connection issue, try the DIY fix first. If a problem keeps coming back after you’ve tried the basics, or if it involves opening the device, that’s your signal to see a professional before you risk further damage or lost data.

Here are some additional tips for preventing laptop/computer problems in the future:

• Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include bug fixes and security patches that can help to prevent problems.
• Back up your data regularly. This will help you to recover your data if your laptop or computer does crash.
• Don’t overload your laptop/computer. Too many programs running at the same time can slow down your computer and lead to problems.
• Take care of your laptop/computer. Avoid dropping or spilling liquids on it, and clean it regularly to remove dust and debris.

By following these tips, you can help to keep your laptop or computer running smoothly for years to come.

I hope this blog has been helpful.

Thank you for reading!

If you run a repair business, this list isn’t just a homeowner’s checklist — it’s your daily walk-in queue. Power and charging faults, black screens, overheating, blue-screen errors, and a laptop that “just won’t connect” account for a large share of the laptop and computer repairs that cross most shop counters. The shops that turn these into fast, profitable jobs — instead of losing time to guesswork — treat intake as seriously as the repair itself.

A few intake habits make the difference:

• Log the reported symptom and when it started, in the customer’s own words — it narrows software vs. hardware causes before you even open the case.
• Record the device’s serial number or IMEI and any visible physical damage on the ticket, with a photo, before it leaves the customer’s hands.
• Set an honest turnaround estimate at intake, so “it won’t turn on” doesn’t turn into an angry call three days later.

This is exactly where dedicated computer repair shop software earns its keep — it turns a two-minute counter conversation into a searchable ticket with a status history, instead of a sticky note that goes missing by closing time.

The same discipline applies whether the device on your bench is a desktop tower or an ultrabook with a sealed-in battery — laptop repair software with device/IMEI tracking, technician assignment, and automated SMS/WhatsApp status updates keeps your queue organized and keeps customers off the phone asking for updates.

BytePhase gives repair shops one place to log tickets like these, track spare-parts inventory and warranty, and send customers automatic status updates. Try it free for 15 days — no credit card required.