Many people bring laptops with them when traveling, especially when they have to use it for work. While necessary, it’s also the fastest way to lose such an essential device or damage it enough to warrant laptop repairs. So if you must lug yours around during a trip, below are a few extra precautions to take for keeping it safe and secure.

4 Tips for Traveling With Your Laptop

1. Invest in Protective Gear

It doesn’t take much to damage your laptop. Dropping it at a certain height, crashing at hard surfaces, or getting squeezed will likely result in a laptop repair.

For protection, store it in a well-padded bag designed to carry fragile electronics and with plenty of compartments. Make sure your laptop also has a sturdy outside shell to minimize nicks and bumps. Also, have a buffer material placed between the keyboard and screen as protection when closed.

2. Keep It in Sight

Refrain from packing the laptop with your check-in luggage, as it could become get jostled around by the airline’s baggage crew during transport. Instead, always bring it with you as carry-on baggage.

If you must work in a crowded area, never leave it unattended and invest in a security cable lock to secure it to a fixed object. For good measure, always keep the bag locked.

3. Carry Its Proper Documentation

Some countries remain strict regarding the transportation of electronic goods like laptops. To avert any untoward incidents, bring its documents as proof of ownership. Taking its proper documentation with you comes in handy if you have to report its loss or take it for emergency laptop repair, especially when it’s still under warranty or insured.

4. Back Up Data

Before leaving, remember to back up all data stored on your laptop. Do it via the cloud, external hard drive, or both, mainly if you have sensitive files to protect.

Opt to delete your personal information and clear out the history and cache, too—these can be used for identity theft. Put strong passwords in place and consider encrypting some of the files that you’ll use during the trip to prevent unauthorized access.

When traveling, follow the above tips to keep your laptop safe. But if something unfortunate happens and you need laptop repair, let the experts at Microworx help you. Located in Rochester, NY, they’ve offered a range of computer repair services, including data recovery and virus removal, since 1994. Call (585) 271-0050 to set an appointment or view their full list of solutions online. Want to receive tips or special offers? Text JOIN to (585) 484-0755 to enroll in their text messaging program. Need to know their hours? Text HOURS.