Elevate your MacBook Air.

That’s the single best way to keep it cool. The MacBook Air’s aluminum body relies on passive cooling — meaning it needs air to move around the chassis. Putting it on a soft surface like a couch, bed, or your lap traps heat immediately.

A simple stand, a stack of books, or even two bottle caps under the back edge creates space for air to flow underneath. That alone can drop temps by 5–10°C. If you’re working in direct sun or a stuffy room, also close a few browser tabs and turn the brightness down. Those two things generate more heat than you’d think.

Don’t bother with a USB-powered cooling pad that blows air upward through the mesh — the Air has no bottom vents, so those are useless. Passive elevation is all you need.

A $10 laptop riser is the best investment you’ll make this summer.