Myth or Fact: Do I need to shut down my computer every time I'm not using it?

Myth: The common belief is that shutting down frequently extends a computer’s lifespan. It sounds logical at first, but it isn’t a hard rule.

A client once brought us a laptop saying “I always shut it down and unplug it, I take great care of it” — and yet it had a problem. The cause wasn’t that he didn’t shut it down enough; it was that he used it daily in bed (blocking airflow) and hadn’t brought it in for a check as soon as it started switching off on its own.

What’s actually true

• Sleep/hibernate let you pick up exactly where you left off while using almost no power — ideal for short breaks.
• A computer left running gradually ties up resources (memory, temp files) and can slow down over the hours; a shutdown clears those resources.
• Lower power consumption and possibly a slightly longer lifespan — but that depends far more on proper maintenance than on how often the device is powered off.

Why it’s a myth

Because it doesn’t need to happen “every single time,” and because it isn’t the only way to protect a device. We buy a computer to use it however suits us — as long as we know what actually wears it down (dust, overheating, rough handling) and have it serviced regularly by a qualified technician.