Is it bad to leave closed laptop in sunlight?

Hi all, this probably isn't the right place for this thread, but I couldn't find a suitable section on this forum.

I'm a little concerned that I may have damaged my laptop. Just paranoid, anyway.

My laptop was shutdown and closed this morning and was sitting inside my dorm room. I came back about three hours later and there was sunlight coming through the window that shined on the computer. The top of the computer was heated up, not overly hot or anything.

I'm just wondering if this is a bad thing for a laptop. Obviously, I will now make sure that it is always away from the sunlight. But is leaving a closed laptop in sunlight coming through a window a harmful thing?

There seems to be no visible problems with my computer, just paranoid that I've damaged something internally. Thanks a lot.

 

No, as long as it's not getting super hot (past 100C) I wouldn't be worried.
Like, leaving it in a car in the sun is not too good of an idea, but in a room it's fine.

 

Your laptop will not benefit from sun light any ways but there is absolutely no need to worry in your case.

 

I don't think the machine is damaged, but I wouldn't do it again. Heat damage is a valid concern, but the sun can also fade the coloring of the laptop as well.

 

Yep. I left my laptop closed, upside down (so the fans didn't inhale dirt), and in direct sunlight for 10 minutes or so this summer when it was around 80-85 Fahrenheit outside (got distracted by something else - not standard practice). It got pretty warm to the touch, but there was no harm. For a change it was actually warmer on the outside than on the inside.

Then I took it inside, put it on my desk, and played some Civilization IV. It got hotter than usual (max 89C) because of the heat that had accumulated on the bottom and had nowhere to escape, but there was no harm. Considering your laptop wasn't even on, and that it was the lid and not the main chassis that was absorbing the heat, and that there have been no adverse affects, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

As all have said. In the situation you describe (warm to the touch) no. Just ask yourself is it hotter than when I use? The only real component that benefits from regular storage in a place that offers reasonably cool temperature is the battery. 60F is better than 100F for storage, short term makes almost zero difference.

 

The plastics may change colors from the sunlight, but thats really the only bad thing i can think of...but thats after years of the light like that.

 

If you left it open and the lcd screen facing the sunlight, that may be a bit worst.

 

It shouldn't hurt the laptop per se, but might discolor the surface and harm the battery (shorter lifespan).

 

Regular exposure to sunlight will cause the plastic casing to degrade and become brittle over time. Unless you leave it in the sun for hours at a time every day, this should not be an issue.