What Happens To Your Computer When You Leave It On All The Time?

The question of whether you should turn your PC off every time you're done using it or if it is okay to leave it running all the time has often been debated – with varying answers of many degrees over the years, ranging from turning it off to just putting it to sleep, and even some recommending using the hibernate functionality instead.

One side argues that it's better to turn your PC off when you aren't using it to avoid additional wear and tear on your devices from the heat. Others, though, argue that booting your PC up from off each time you need it can cause more wear and tear than is truly needed. Sure, it's more convenient to leave your PC on all the time, as it allows you to jump right back into whatever you were doing before you stepped away. But does that mean you should?

Whether you're using one of the pre-built rigs from any major PC brands, or rocking a custom-built system, the answer to this question ultimately comes down to how often you use your PC and a few other key points — like how much you care about using electricity when you aren't actually on your PC, as well as your concerns about cybersecurity. There are both pros and cons of leaving your PC on overnight, as well as turning it off.

One of the biggest pros to leaving your computer on all the time is the fact that it is always ready to go when you need it. This is great, especially if you work from home and need to be able to hop on work-related things quickly. There's also the fact that you can use features like remote access to access your PC while you're away from home, as well as being able to schedule updates for Windows, download updates to games, and even run antivirus scans on your PC while you aren't using it. This ensures the times you are on your PC isn't ever interrupted by mandatory updates or maintenance.

The biggest con that comes from leaving your PC running all the time is the extra electricity costs. The other downside, of course, is the wear and tear. Heat is constantly created by the components in your computer, and as your computer continues to run, that heat continues to wear the internals. As such, leaving your PC on all the time — especially a laptop — means your system is always generating heat and never really getting a chance to rest. This can also cause performance issues, and while some apps can help speed up Windows, not all performance issues can be fixed with software changes.

Additionally, leaving your PC running all the time can leave you more susceptible to online threats. If anything nefarious does end up downloaded, then an unattended PC can give bad actors a chance to dig even deeper before you notice.

Again, the answer to this question ultimately depends on your usage and what you care about. If you want to maximize the lifespan of your computer, as well as cut down on any possible security risks — and if you don't use it that often (like once a week or less) — then turning your PC off when you aren't using it isn't a bad idea.

However, if you spend much of the day on your PC, or you log on at least once a day, then you may find that leaving it on all the time is better. This lets you jump right back into what you were doing without having to wait on it to boot, and you can schedule all your maintenance tasks and updates for times you aren't actively using the PC. Alternatively, if you want the convenience of leaving your PC on all the time, but don't want all the cons, then you can use the Sleep mode, which puts the computer in a low-power mode or the Hibernate function, which retains the memory needed to boot right back into things.

No matter what you choose, it's still a good idea to turn your PC off at least once a week, as this allows your system to clear out the data stored in its RAM, which can help your PC run more smoothly in the long run, and is especially helpful if you've put together a variety of expensive PC upgrades.