Why Do Windows Laptops Have Stickers?

Getting a new laptop always feels like an adventure. Whether you’re using it for school, work, or even as a gaming system, it can be pretty unpleasant to see stickers defacing your new laptop right out of the box. But is there a reason Windows laptops come with stickers?

Windows laptops come with stickers to indicate what hardware and software your computer is running and their specifications. Some of them also display product keys and warranty information for the laptop. However, most stickers are on laptops for advertising purposes.

In this article, I’ll explore the types of stickers that come with Windows laptops, what they mean, and if removing them from your computer is fine.

I’ll also answer some crucial questions about how stickers affect your laptop’s health and performance. Let’s get started!

Why Do Windows Laptops Have Stickers?

Laptop stickers come in all shapes and sizes and typically mean various things to different manufacturers.

However, they all carry information that may be valuable to customers, technicians, or other laptop users.

Therefore, it’s essential to categorize them appropriately so you can learn what each sticker means.

Here are the types of stickers that are on Windows laptops:

• Branding and product information.
• Specifications and standards information.
• Advertising information.
• Warning stickers.

Every sticker on your laptop fits into at least one of these categories, and you can tell them apart by checking the information they carry.

Still, it’s not uncommon for some stickers to fit into multiple categories since they might have technical details and be there for advertising purposes.

The next section of this article examines each category in more detail.

Stickers With Branding and Product Information

Stickers with product information that tell you what’s inside your Windows laptop computer.

They typically carry logos and designs as well as models and specifications, but some of these stickers might include more details about the software or hardware in your computer.

However, these stickers also typically serve as information systems for customers and technicians to know what software or hardware a particular laptop is running.

They usually have no other purpose and are sometimes regarded as advertisements after a purchase.

Ultimately, these stickers are included so customers can quickly identify crucial information about the laptop they’re purchasing without poring over the product packaging.

However, stickers with branding and product information typically carry more important information like product keys and warranty details.

And while they’re not as clunky as they used to be, all Windows laptops still come with these stickers.

An excellent example is the ubiquitous Windows stickers that you can usually find close to the laptop’s touchpad or on the back of the computer.

However, these stickers aren’t limited to one location on your laptop—you can find them almost anywhere on its outer surface.

Stickers With Specifications and Standards Information

As the name suggests, stickers with specifications and standard information carry more technical information about the product they’re referencing.

They can include logos and models but are usually included to state that a product has satisfied specific standards or has precise specifications.

These certification stickers are usually included for legal purposes, especially in the European Union and the United States. That said, they’re mainly targeted at more technical customers and technicians.

Stickers with specification and standards information always carry the brand identity of the product they’re referencing and state precisely what specification this brand has or what standards it has met.

Therefore, a computer chip company like Intel might include a sticker to indicate that the microchip in a Windows computer has satisfied ISO 14001 or other similar standards.

Stickers With Advertising Information

The most popular types you’ll find on a Windows laptop are stickers with advertising information. They can carry product information and usually serve no other purpose to a customer.

However, these stickers are included by laptop manufacturers to satisfy advertising agreements between them and an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Original equipment manufacturers typically offer discounts or similar deals to these manufacturers in exchange for advertising space on their computers.

Most Windows laptops sport these stickers to satisfy the agreements.

Some other ones are included as part of an OEM’s licensing agreement and only serve as promotional materials to customers and technicians. A great example is all Intel-powered Windows laptops’ “Intel Inside” stickers.

Warning Stickers

Warning stickers are pretty much what you’d expect. They serve as warning labels for customers and technicians. They’re usually located on the back of laptops and provide crucial information about product use, misuse, or servicing.

However, these stickers might also carry handling or replacement information, so they’re typically situated close to or on the product or part they’re referencing.

Ultimately, every sticker on your laptop provides details about the laptop’s operating system, safety, manufacturer, certification, and other crucial facts.

However, they still help ensure brand reinforcement and brand visibility—essential aspects of product marketing.

Do Stickers Cause Windows Laptops To Overheat? 

Now that we’ve explored these stickers, their meaning, and why they’re included on Windows laptops, it’s time to answer some essential questions.

First and foremost: do these stickers affect a laptop’s cooling system? Can they cause Windows laptops to overheat?

Stickers don’t cause Windows laptops to overheat. This is because they don’t generate heat or block any vents. They also don’t conduct heat very well since they are typically made from vinyl and other similar insulating materials.

A sticker can cause a laptop to overheat if it obstructs the computer’s cooling system—particularly the fans, heat sinks, or ventilation holes.

Improperly positioned stickers might also affect airflow around a laptop and impact the computer’s ventilation and cooling.

Therefore, you must ensure that all the stickers on your laptop are placed in optimal positions away from cooling systems so they don’t interfere with ventilation.

Do Stickers Damage Windows Laptops? 

Stickers generally don’t affect a Windows laptop’s cooling capabilities and will only result in overheating if they’re applied in such a way that they affect ventilation systems.

But can they affect other parts of the computer? Can stickers damage Windows laptops?

Stickers typically don’t damage Windows laptops since they’re made of computer-safe materials. However, they could cause damage if you apply them so that they affect your laptop’s ability to dissipate heat properly.

Ultimately, ventilation is an essential factor you need to consider when you’re applying stickers to your laptop.

And your computer should be fine as long as you avoid putting the stickers on internal parts and away from cooling systems.

This factor is also why all out-of-the-box stickers are positioned away from critical parts and cooling systems.

What Are Laptop Stickers Made Of?

As I mentioned earlier, the stickers on Windows laptops are usually made of vinyl. Vinyl is a strong, flexible, and water-resistant material that works well for computers.

However, similar synthetic materials are also commonly used for their similar properties.

Depending on the individual user and the required characteristics of the sticker, specific laptop stickers may also be made of other materials, such as paper or plastic.

Still, all laptop stickers are made to be tough, resilient, and unaffected by moisture, heat, and other day-to-day environmental elements.

Are You Supposed To Take the Stickers Off Windows Laptops? 

It’s a consensus among Windows users that stickers can be pretty ugly and usually deface otherwise beautiful computers.

Therefore, many users prefer to remove these stickers immediately after getting their laptops. So, are you supposed to take them off your Windows laptop?

You can take stickers off Windows laptops to make your computer look clean and professional. However, you should be careful when removing some of them as these might affect your warranty status or make servicing difficult.

In the case of important information like license keys or warranty details, I’d recommend you confirm if removing the stickers will affect your service status before making a decision.

If it’s fine, you can copy the essential details and remove the stickers you don’t like.

Still, there’s no general rule about removing them, and you can remove whichever sticker you want if you feel it’ll make your laptop look better.

Removing or leaving the stickers on your computer has pros and cons.

For example, leaving them on a laptop might reveal vital facts such as the maker, the operating system, the laptop’s safety and compliance, and other information.

But these stickers can also be an inexpensive way to personalize your laptop.

However, they can also make it appear crowded and amateurish. And there’s a chance that old and peeling stickers could affect the computer’s aesthetics.

Removing them also has its own merits. It can give the computer a polished, businesslike appearance and prevents unpleasant stains from old and peeling stickers.

Unfortunately, removing the stickers on a laptop might also remove crucial information about it and make it challenging to identify the computer if it has been lost or stolen.

How To Safely Remove Stickers From Windows Laptops

While I’ve focused on overheating in earlier parts of this article, it isn’t the only problem you need to worry about with stickers. 

Some might be placed in such a way that makes removing them challenging, and peeling them off might harm the laptop’s surface.

Therefore, you must learn how to remove the stickers from your Windows laptop safely.

Here’s how to safely remove stickers from your Windows laptops:

1. Heat the sticker with a hair dryer. You can also use a heat gun, but be sure to keep the dryer at least 15 centimeters (6 inches) from the laptop and away from sensitive parts to avoid damaging your laptop. The heat will help loosen the adhesive on the sticker and make removal easier.
2. Use a spatula or a similar blunt tool to remove the sticker. You can use a scraping motion to remove the sticker, but make sure you’re as careful as possible to avoid damaging the laptop’s surface. I recommend holding the laptop at a convenient angle to make the work easier.
3. Use rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth to remove any adhesive residue on the laptop. Ensure you wipe the surface as carefully as possible, but don’t apply too much pressure, so you don’t damage the computer or erase essential logos. Remember to keep the rubbing alcohol to a minimum, so it doesn’t get into sensitive parts of your computer.
4. Clean the surface with a microfiber cloth to remove leftover alcohol and extra residue. I recommend using a damp cloth for the best results. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, you could use an antibacterial wipe. 

Remember to treat your laptop as carefully as possible during this process. Ensure you don’t use more rubbing alcohol than you need, and power off the computer before removing the stickers.

You can use Isopropyl Alcohol if you need an appropriate solvent for removing the glue residue from your laptop. This is a high-quality product and will work for all laptop surfaces.

Is It Safe To Put Stickers on Your Windows Laptop?

While most of this article has focused on out-of-the-box stickers that come with Windows laptops, we must also explore what you put on your computer can affect the system’s operation.

In essence, is it safe to put stickers on your Windows laptop?

It’s perfectly safe to put stickers on your Windows laptop. However, ensure you place it away from the vents and cooling systems. Remember to use ones made from vinyl or similar materials to ensure they don’t affect the laptop in any way.

Conclusion

In conclusion, stickers help identify the hardware and software your Windows laptop is running and important information like product keys and warranty details.

However, they can be classified into four general groups depending on the information they carry.