12 Ways to Use a Laptop Efficiently as a Student (All Ages)

Learn how to properly study while using a laptop

Co-authored by Amy Bobinger, BA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: August 23, 2025 Fact Checked

A laptop can be a great tool for helping you in your studies. Being able to type up your notes and papers makes writing and editing easier, and it can help keep you organized. In addition, the Internet puts you in touch with a world of information that can help you understand any subject. However, being on your laptop can leave you vulnerable to distractions, both in the classroom and at home, so it's important to be mindful of how you use this technology. Here's how to use a laptop effectively as a student in any grade.

Tips for Using Laptops in School

Make sure to remove any distracting apps or websites. Retype your notes so you can organize them better or make them easier to read. Be aware of your classmates and make sure your laptop isn't causing an interruption or being a distraction. Follow the guidelines for laptops in class placed by your teacher or school.

1

Remove distracting apps.

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Close or uninstall programs that might distract you. While your laptop can be a powerful tool for learning, it also contains a lot of opportunities to become distracted during class. Before class starts, turn off any messaging apps, games, social media notifications, and so on. Also, avoid opening any websites or apps that aren't related to what's going on in class.
- Even if it only takes a second to close a notification, it could cause you to miss something important that your teacher says.
- You can also use airplane mode to disable your internet completely while you're in class.

2

Take advantage of productivity apps.

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Use productivity software to help you stay disciplined during class. If you have trouble using self-control, or if you aren't sure how to turn off notifications without uninstalling an app, try looking for an extension or an app that you can customize to block certain websites or apps. There are several different types of productivity software available that you can tailor to your exact needs. ^{[1]
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- For instance, you might install an extension on your web browser that blocks you from going to certain websites during school hours or while you're studying, or that limits how many hours you can use those sites during the day.

3

Research your study topics.

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Do an Internet search to learn more about whatever you're studying. One of the biggest advantages of using a laptop to study is that you can access the Internet to learn more about a subject. However, make sure that you're only using credible sources to obtain information. ^{[2]
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- For instance, you might use scholarly search engines like Google Scholar or JSTOR . These have already vetted their sources to ensure they're credible and authoritative.
- You can typically rely on websites with the extension .gov, since these are run by government institutions. Most .edu sources are also credible since these are hosted on school websites. However, students may sometimes have access to post on these sites, so evaluate these sources critically.
- Sources from credible institutions like the Mayo Clinic or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are reputable. However, avoid sources with an obvious bias, like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), as their information may be skewed to fit their agenda.

4

Use a digital calendar.

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Compile important tasks and events in an online calendar. There are many calendars to choose from, such as Google Calendar and Apple Calendar. If you have an iPhone or Android, these are readily available on your device and can be synced to your account. If you have a calendar on your mobile device, be sure to enable syncing on its website or desktop app so you can stay up-to-date wherever you input the event.
- Calendars can help you remember important deadlines for assignments, study group meetings, teacher office hours, and more.

5

Paraphrase your typed notes.

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Type up your notes in your own words. When you're listening to a lecture in class, try not to just type out exactly what your teacher or professor is saying word-for-word. Instead, listen carefully to what they're saying, and jot down important words and concepts in your notes. Don't worry about writing in full sentences, and make note of any supplemental reading or additional materials that your teacher references during their lecture. ^{[3]
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- You can also include questions that you might have. Then, when you're studying, you can try to find the answer to those questions in your notes or textbook.

6

Organize your notes digitally.

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Retype your notes and save them in organized files. Whether you type your notes during class or you take them by hand, chances are you jotted them down hurriedly, so they may appear messy or incomplete. After school, take a little time to type your notes into a word processor. Use complete sentences and proper grammar, then refer to these notes while you're studying for quizzes and exams. ^{[4]
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- Save your notes in separate folders for each class. For instance, you might have a folder for English, one for History, and one for Biology. You can even have subfolders for different chapters if you prefer.
- If you need a little extra help organizing, you can use note-taking apps such as OneNote , Evernote, or Google Keep. You can even use websites such as Notion to create separate sections for your classes with specific notes, tools, and more.
- If there's anything in your notes that doesn't quite make sense, you'll know you need to focus on this area as you study.
Tip: Typing up your notes helps protect you against losing all your work if you accidentally misplace your school notebook or binder.

7

Try not to distract your peers.

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Be considerate of your classmates. Your laptop can do more than just distract you during class—it can also make it harder for the people around you to concentrate. During class, don't listen to music, watch videos, play games, or look at any images that might be distracting or offensive. ^{[5]
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- Consider sitting toward the back of the class if laptops aren't commonly used by the students in your course. That way, anyone who might be distracted by it is free to sit ahead of you where they can't see the screen.

8

Only bring your laptop to class when necessary.

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Consider leaving your laptop at home if it's not required for class. If you've tried a few things to boost your productivity but you still find yourself getting distracted by your laptop in class—or you realize you're just not as fast or efficient as you are without it—you might just need to leave it at home. That way, you won't even be tempted to use it to check your Insta during class.
- This will also help protect your laptop from being damaged in your backpack or during class.

9

Pay attention to class rules.

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Follow the guidelines set by your teacher or school. Your teacher should clearly outline their policy for using laptops at the beginning of the course. Be sure to pay careful attention to these rules and follow them closely. ^{[6]
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- For instance, you may not be allowed to have your laptop open during lectures, or you may only be permitted to access specific programs or websites. You may also only be allowed to bring your laptop on certain days.
- In some cases, these policies may be set by the school, rather than by an individual teacher.
Tip: If your teacher asks you to install a specific software for their course, do that before class starts if possible.

10

Download study aides.

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Download any study aides recommended by your teacher. Your teacher or professor may use software that allows you to view or listen to previous lectures, learn more about a topic, ask questions, take practice quizzes, and more. If any of these are available, take advantage of them! ^{[7]
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- You can also download your own apps to learn more about a subject. For instance, if you're taking Spanish, you might use software like Rosetta Stone to help you learn the language.

11

Don't be afraid to ask for more help.

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Reach out to your teachers, professors, or classmates if you need help. If there's anything in your textbook or notes that you don't understand, or if there's a topic you'd like a little more information on, try sending an email to your teacher or professor. You can also ask them if there's another communication they prefer, like a schoolwide messaging app. ^{[8]
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- You can also use apps like Discord or Skype to form study groups with your fellow students!

12

Use AI tools responsibly.

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If you need a second pair of eyes on your final essay, you can use a tool such as Grammarly , which uses AI to proofread and edit your work. Avoid using AI to write the content itself, as this can be detected with many tools available to your teachers and schools.

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Why is a laptop useful for students?

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Laptops are portable powerhouses that let you do research, write assignments, and connect with your teachers, classmates, and friends from almost anywhere. They’re also very helpful for students who struggle to take notes by hand and prefer to type.

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What should you not do on a laptop?

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In general, laptops can handle most of the same kinds of things that a desktop can. However, if you want to do anything that’s extremely graphics intensive, such as running the latest games, a desktop may be a better bet.

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Which laptop is best for students?

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It depends on your needs. For many students, a simple Chromebook is enough, since it will allow you to do basic tasks like word processing and internet browsing. If you need to do anything more complicated, like working with photo editing software, you’ll want a more full-featured laptop.

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Experiment with studying and doing homework in different locations. You might be able to focus more in certain places, like at the library or a park.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Create a separate account for school to use just for school stuff. Create a home account to use for everything else. It's good to keep those things separated.
Looking at the laptop too long can affect your eyes. Look away from the screen regularly to give your eyes a break.
Clean your laptop once a week. It will get dirty over time if you use it daily.

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12 Ways to Use a Laptop Efficiently as a Student (All Ages)

Tips for Using Laptops in School

Steps

Remove distracting apps.

Take advantage of productivity apps.

Research your study topics.

Use a digital calendar.

Paraphrase your typed notes.

Organize your notes digitally.

Try not to distract your peers.

Only bring your laptop to class when necessary.

Pay attention to class rules.

Download study aides.

Don't be afraid to ask for more help.

Use AI tools responsibly.

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Tips from our Readers

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