How to fix CPU fan is not spinning on Windows 10 PC

Hardware on a computer will heat up no matter what. It will heat up depending on how it’s being used e.g., if you’re typing in a word processor, it will get warm but if you’re playing a game, it will get hot and if you have one too many tabs open in Chrome, your system will reach supernova.

To keep the system from being damaged by heat, there are fans installed in the chasis of the system. They are triggered by the increasing temperature and will turn on if the system is too hot. 

Fix CPU fan is not spinning

If your CPU fan is not working it is a serious cause for concern. Your system will eventually overheat and either shut down in response or the hardware will be damaged. 

Before you troubleshoot the fan, you should know that it isn’t supposed to run all the time. It also runs at different speeds. It is possible that it does not need to run (your system isn’t that hot) or it is running but at a slow speed (you system is warm but not hot). There are a few basic checks you can run to check what is going on.

• Shut down the system. If it’s on battery power, connect it to a power source and turn it on. The fans spin at system start as part of a basic hardware check. Listen closely for the fans.
• Shut down the system and move to battery power if you can. Boot the system and listen closely for the sound of the fans.
• Boot the system and try to run as heavy an app as you can e.g. run a game alongside a recording app like OBS. Check if the added load gets the fans to run. They should, ideally, start running but if they do not start after five minutes, reduce the load or you might damage the system.

If the fan does not run all through the above checks, there may be one of two problems; the fans aren’t working or the temperature gauge that tells them when to turn on isn’t working.

Check temperature trigger for fans

It is possible the temperature that triggers the fans to turn on has been set too high. Your system may be getting warm but not warm enough to get the fans to run. There is a simple way to check this, and to check if the temperature sensor on your system is working or not.

1. Download, install, and run HWiNFo.
2. Click Sensors on the main app screen.
3. Click the fan button at the bottom of the new window that opens.
4. Select an active fan (some systems only have one fan while others may have two or three).
5. Click Set manual.
6. Select the PCH sensor.
7. Enter a low temperature e.g. 15 or 10 that your system is bound to touch even if you’re using it for light work.
8. Enter the fan speed to something high so that you can hear it running.
9. Click OK to return to the main window.
10. Click the blue cross to save and apply the changes.
11. Use your system and check if the fans power on. If they do, you only needed to change the trigger temperature.

Check temperature sensor

If the fans are not running even after reducing the trigger temperature, check if the temperature sensors are working. You will need an app for this.

1. Download, install, and run Speedfan.
2. Go to the Readings tab and check the temperature for CPU cores and GPU.
3. If you do not see a reading, it is highly possible the sensor is not working.
4. If you see a reading, then the problem lies with the fan not running.

Hardware check

At this point, it is more than likely that you have a hardware problem. It could be one of the following;

• A damaged power supply unit that is unable to power the fans.
• The fans are damaged or they’re clogged with dust and can no longer run.
• The temperature sensor is not working. 

To fix these problems, it is best to have the system taken in for repairs. If you’r familiar with the internals of a computer, you can check these things yourself and replace whatever is damaged. 

Conclusion

Fans generally do not damage easily but a problem with the power supply can often short them. They’re cheap hardware so replacing them isn’t as expensive as having the temperature sensor fixed or replaced. In some cases, sensors cannot be fixed or replaced and you have to replace the CPU. 

Read Full Bio

Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

Latest from Author

How to Take a Screenshot on Windows Best FPS Counter Software for Windows