How To Remove Laptop Stickers

Laptops are one of the most personal items that you can own. Many people like to personalize these further with screensavers, cases, and stickers. Every time you use your laptop, stickers can display your likes and dislikes proudly.

However, as they are sticky, stickers aren’t the easiest thing to remove. But what happens when you want to change the stickers, or remove them entirely? How do you take stickers off of a laptop?

They may not be the easiest things to remove, but it is possible to take stickers off a laptop. We wouldn’t advise removing the license key, serial number, or warranty label stickers.

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Losing this information can make you run into difficulties later on. But if you want to remove any aesthetic stickers, keep reading. We’ll cover how to remove laptop stickers in this article, as well as how to remove any residue left behind.

How To Take Stickers Off A Laptop

You may have loved the stickers on your laptop once, but may want to remove them for several reasons. These can include reselling the laptop, changing tastes, or replacing the stickers with new ones.

Stickers may be hard to remove, but there are methods that can help you remove them from your laptop.

Be aware that these methods can result in nullifying your warranty or damaging your laptop.

Before attempting sticker removal, turn your laptop off and unplug the charger. If you can, take out the batteries to avoid further machine damage.

Mild Abrasives

Gentle abrasives can remove stickers by gradually breaking them down. You may have some of these at home, like toothpaste or baking soda, but you can also buy magic erasers or Scotch Brite pads.

If the stickers don’t have a coating, a simple damp microfiber cloth can also do the same job.

Make sure that you work gently and only use a mild abrasive. Stronger ones can damage the casing, especially plastic ones. Rough textures like Scotch Brite Pads can also scratch metal casing, so use with caution. To be on the safe side, stick to the weaker abrasives.

Oil-based Liquids

Oil-based liquids can release the sticky adhesive from the laptop. Olive oil, petroleum jelly, or even lotions can make the sticker easier to peel off.

Start with a tiny amount of liquid. Apply to a clean cloth, then work it onto the sticker so it absorbs the liquid. Make sure that it doesn’t get into any gaps inside your laptop. This should be enough for uncoated stickers.

You can still use this method for waterproof stickers, but you’ll need to leave the oil substance for a few minutes. Then, use a plastic card or your nails to try and remove it from your laptop.

Once the sticker is gone, use a clean cloth to wipe away any remaining oil-based liquid or sticky adhesive. Do this as soon as you remove the sticker, as these can damage your laptop when left for too long. If you want to further clean your laptop, use a damp cloth to wipe as needed.

Solvents

Both oil and non-oil-based solvents can wear away stickers. Oil-based ones include lighter fluid, WD-40, and mineral spirits. If you’d prefer non-oil-based solvents, you can try acetone, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or even plain water.

Make sure that the solvent doesn’t fall into any of your laptop’s seams. Wet a clean cloth with the solvent, using it to dab around the edges of the sticker. Wait for a few minutes, then attempt to take it off. Immediately afterward, wipe the area to remove any remaining residue.

Lastly, use a damp cloth to clean the laptop. Don’t leave this step out, as any solvents left on can erode the plastic.

Heat

Heat can remove stickers well, but needs caution when doing so. Use a hairdryer or heat gun at its lowest setting. Point the tool towards the sticker for 30 seconds at a time.

If you feel like the heat is too much, even at a low setting, apply the heat for less time. This is important, as a lot of heat can be harmful to your laptop.

After a few goes, the sticker should peel off easily with minimal residue. If you can’t pull off the sticker, use a credit card or fingernail to lift the sticker’s edge. When you can lift one edge, use your hand to remove the sticker.

How To Take Stickers Off A Macbook

Macbooks are delicate machines, so take care when removing stickers from the casing. Apple advises against using solvents, liquids, or abrasive materials on their machines.

These might limit your options, but you can still use a soft cloth as a method instead.

Dampen the cloth with a little water, then dab the stickers to moisten them. Once they absorb the water, use a plastic tool, fingernail, or credit card to take the sticker off.

AppleCare and Apple’s product warranty doesn’t cover liquid damage, so keep water away from your Macbook. Only use water on the cloth. The cloth should be damp, not wet. Once you remove the sticker, use a dry cloth to clean any water off the surface.

Apple may promote this method, but it won’t work as well as others to remove stickers, particularly if you have more than one to remove. You can try using the other methods above, but do be aware that they could damage your Macbook’s finish.

There are some products on the market that are made to remove stickers and adhesive. Don’t spray these liquids onto the laptop, as they can get inside your machine and damage the circuitry.

Lightly apply these products to a cloth, then use the cloth to apply the solution to the stickers. These products need time to work, so leave them for a few minutes, then scrape them off with a plastic tool. Macbooks can be fragile, so be gentle to avoid damaging the cover.

Removing Sticky Residue

You’ve removed the sticker, but what should you do about the adhesive left behind? In some cases, the residue can be more difficult to remove than the sticker.

People differ on what removes residue best, but the methods above are known to remove adhesive just as well. Similarly, nail polish remover, hairspray, peanut butter, and razor blades are just some of the other methods that you can try.

Whatever you choose, be careful, as some may damage your laptop’s casing more than others.