Every laptop and PC has fans built-into it. You do not have to own a high-end gaming rig or gaming laptop to have fans on your system since all of them heat up.
The fans normally run faster when you boot up a system and then quiet down when startup completes. They will start running again, or running faster if you start using your system’s resources more — for example, if you have a lot of tabs open in Chrome.
How fans work to cool a PC
The fans know when to start running faster, and when to slow down. They have sensors built-in that periodically monitor the temperature of your system, and when it reaches a certain threshold, they start to spin to cool it down.
The chassis of your laptop or your PC are designed so that air will flow out which is why it is very important you never block the vents. If your PC continues to run system heavy tasks, the fans will also run to stabilize the temperature.
The temperature sensors, and the limits set for them, as well as the various fan speeds, are not accessible by users. This is because most users will not be able to judge how hot their system is, and when it’s time to run fans slower or faster.
If you have fans running constantly, your PC is consuming more energy than it needs to and that will likely heat up the adapter. It’s a delicate balance that has to be maintained between keeping a system cool but not overloading it.
How to control fan speed
If you want to control the fan speed on Windows 10, you have to do so at your own risk. Remember that if your PC or laptop overheats, you might permanently damage hardware to the point where it has to be replaced.
In order to control fan speed, you have to download a third-party app. The app that you use depends on your hardware.
We’re recommending two apps here, and between the two, you ought to be able to find an app that can detect your fans, and allow you to change their speed.
Install the app and follow the instructions below to control the fan speed on Windows 10.
1. Control fan speed on Windows 10 with SpeedFan
- Install SpeedFan and run it.
- On the app’s main window, click the ‘Configure’ button.
- A new window will open. Go to the Fans tab.
- Wait for the app to find and list your fans.
- Select the fan you want to control.
- Use the response curve to control the fan speed.
Fans turn on when your system heats up. The response curve maps heat with fan speed. The hotter the system runs, the faster the fans will run.
2. Control fan speed on Windows 10 with HWiNFo
Follow these steps to control the fan speed using HWiNFo.
- Run the app and click Sensors on the main window.
- Confirm the pop-up message.
- A new window will open listing the various sensors on your system. At the bottom there is a fan button. Click it.
- A new window will open listing up to three fans. Select one of the active fans.
- Click ‘Set manual’ to manually set the speed for the fan.
HWiNFO doesn’t map the speed to the temperature of your PC so be extra careful with it. Find a way to monitor the temperature of your CPU and GPU so that it doesn’t heat up.
Did this work for you?
We like to hear from our readers if we were able to fix their problem, so let us know in the comments below if any of the above worked for you.