How to remove laptop stickers

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Cindy Hügel
July 2, 2025
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How to remove laptop stickers

Removing stickers from your laptop is different from removing product labels or promotional stickers. Why? Because you can't just submerge your laptop in hot soapy water and wait for the adhesive to loosen. Well, you can, but please don't.

In this article, we’ll share our top tips for removing stickers from your laptop, how to get rid of adhesive residue, and how you can reuse your custom laptop stickers after.

Do laptop stickers come off easily?

They do once you lift a corner of your sticker and start the unbending process.

Laptop stickers come with medium-strength, pressure-sensitive adhesives. These are strong enough to really stick but can be removed without damaging your device.

Especially when your stickers have been stuck for a while, getting that first lift can be a little tricky (more on that in just a second), but once that’s done, the entire sticker should peel off easily.

If you're still thinking about getting laptop stickers, you might want to know which way to put stickers on a laptop.

Eco friendly die cut stickers with cat art design applied to a laptop

Top tips for removing stickers from your laptop

1. Gently lift one corner

As we mentioned earlier, when your stickers have been on your laptop for only a couple of months, you can usually remove them by lifting a corner and slowly peeling it off.

If you have trouble lifting a corner, use your fingernails or a razor blade to CAREFULLY lift part of your sticker.

You're essentially trying to break the bond between the adhesive and the surface. The smaller and sharper your tool, the easier that will be.

2. Dab it with a damp fiber cloth

If you can’t lift a corner, or if you already know your stickers will come off in bits, stop and use water instead.

Make sure your device is completely turned off and unplugged. Then, use a microfiber cloth soaked in warm soapy water. Wring it out and start dabbing your sticker for a minute.

The warm water will slowly break down the adhesive bond and should make it easier to peel off your sticker.

3. Use rubbing alcohol

Some stickers can be stubborn, especially if they’ve been on your laptop for a while.

Remember, these stickers use pressure-sensitive adhesive. So every time you’ve squeezed your laptop into a full bag or suitcase, the adhesive was activated and bonded even more to the surface.

In these cases, you can use rubbing alcohol or brake cleaner to remove the stickers from your laptop. Spray it on top of your stickers (make sure no liquid touches your keyboard or outlets), and work it in with a microfiber cloth.

Then, lift a corner and slowly remove the sticker.

4. Grab a hairdryer

As a last resort, you can use heat to remove your stickers. Heat breaks down the adhesive bond, making your stickers come off.

The safest way to do this is by using a hairdryer on its lowest setting. Hold it 6 inches away from your laptop and move it in a circular motion over the sticker.

After doing this for two minutes, try lifting a corner with your fingernail. If it still doesn’t move, keep applying heat until the sticker lifts.

How to remove adhesive residue from your laptop

After removing your stickers, you might find some sticky residue left behind.

To remove this, use a clean cloth and warm soapy water. Rub the area until all the adhesive is gone.

For more stubborn residue, use rubbing alcohol or WD-40 to help break down the adhesive. This video shows you how:

Can I reuse my laptop stickers?

You can reuse your laptop stickers if:

  • You were able to peel it off in one piece: Our laptop stickers are made from vinyl, so they should come off cleanly. Paper-based stickers are more likely to tear.
  • The adhesive is still sticky enough: Each time you remove a sticker, it loses some grip. This might cause the edges to curl when you reapply it. We can’t guarantee your stickers will stick perfectly after being removed.

Read how to make stickers sticky again.

Removing stickers without damaging them

If you want to remove stickers without damaging them, don’t soak them in water or alcohol. Instead, use your fingernails to gently lift a corner, or go straight to using a hairdryer.

Stick them to your new laptop right away to avoid collecting dirt or dust under the adhesive, which can affect how well the sticker sticks.

Check out our latest article for more cool facts about laptop stickers. You can also reach out with any questions, and our experts will get back to you within 24 hours.

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