How to Control CPU Fan Speed on Windows

Windows PCs and laptops require a dedicated fan to support heat dissipation. The fan helps keep the hardware cool and ensures it doesn’t overheat in any intensive work or task. During peak performance usage, you may hear a certain level of sound coming from the fan, which is due to it running at full capacity. It’s normal for the fan to operate at high speed during peak usage.

But sometimes, the CPU fan keeps running at full speed and produces an annoying sound even when you are performing basic tasks such as copy-pasting a small file or simply watching a YouTube video in the browser. In such situations, the device needs manual control over the fan’s speed as the software is probably failing to maintain and adjust the fan’s speed.

If you are also confronted with the problem that your PC is making annoying noises and the fan is running at full speed without being heavily used, then you’ve come to the right place. We have described all the comprehensive methods with which you can easily control the fan speed manually under Windows.

How can I manually control the fan speed on Windows?

There are multiple ways in which you can manually control the fan speed on your Windows PC. Your issue will be mostly fixed by the software-based methods we have mentioned in the article below. However, in some very rare cases, your laptop might need special treatment by the service center if there is any hardware failure. Let’s look at all the possible methods to control the fan’s speed in your device manually.

How to control fan speed on Windows using BIOS/UEFI

This is probably the most effective way of controlling the fan’s speed manually on Windows PCs. While surfing through the BIOS may be hard for first-time users, we have covered things in a simple step-by-step manner to ensure that they don’t face any problems while acting.

First of all, you will have to boot your PC to BIOS settings. Doing this is pretty easy, you first have to restart your computer, and when the logo of your device’s brand pops up or when it’s booting up, press and hold the “Delete” or “F12” key.

If the aforementioned way is not working for you, then open Settings, click on Updates & Security and then click on Recovery >> Advanced Setup >> Restart Now >> Troubleshoot>> Advanced options >> UEFI Firmware settings. Now click on Restart. This will boot your PC to the UEFI menu. That’s it. Here’s how to change the fan’s speed step-by-step:

1. Navigate to Monitor >> Status >> Fan Speed Control. (Options may vary depending on the OEM.)
2. Search for RPM settings for computer fans. It may appear as “System Fan Speed.”
3. Now, a pre-default value will be shown in the front of the fan speed option. You can click on it and customize it.
4. For example, if the default fan speed is 500 RPM, you can change it to 600 or even decrease it to 300 RPM if supported.
5. Once done, press the Esc button until you find the Exit menu.
6. Now click on Save Changes and Reset. This will apply the changes, and your device will automatically restart.

How to control CPU fan speed on Windows using Control Panel

This is one of the easiest methods to control the fan speed on Windows devices directly. Windows 10/11 comes with an in-built fan control feature hidden inside the Control Panel. Here’s how you can access it:

1. Type Control Panel in Search and hit enter to open it.
2. Now click on the “Hardware and Sound” option from the menu.
   
3. Now click on “Power Options“. A new window will appear.
   
4. Head over to the “Change Plan Settings” >> “Change Advanced Power Settings“. A new dialog box will now open up.
   
5. Now, in the newly opened menu, click on Processor Power Management. Now select “System Cooling Policy“.
6. That’s it. Click on Active text, and you can now proceed with controlling the fan’s speed manually.
7. Once done, click on “Apply” and then “OK“.

Control CPU fan speed on Windows using third-party software

There is a lot of third-party software that comes with the ability to control the fan’s speed on Windows manually. For reference, we have used the SpeedFan software here and we also recommend it for you as well. But if you know any other software better, then you can proceed with that as well. Just make sure you tweak the settings well, as every different software has its way of controlling and displaying things.

1. First of all, download the SpeedFan software from the following link. Install it later, as well.
2. Once installed, open the application and grant the permissions (if asked).
3. You will now see details about your PC in a moment. If the software fails to show the information or shows the fan’s speed as 0 RPM, then sadly, your device’s hardware or the motherboard is compatible with the software, and it will not work for you. If it’s working for you, then you can move ahead.
4. Now click on “Configure” and then click on “Advanced.”
   
5. Choose Utilize the “Chip” menu to select your CPU. Typically, it ends with “ISA” and looks like “IT.” In the Properties box, look for entries that say “PWM (a number) mode.” You cannot adjust the fan speed if your CPU is not visible or if there are no options with “PWM mode.”
   
6. Now set the PWM modes to “Software controlled.”
   
7. Save the changes by clicking on the “OK” button.
8. This will successfully reflect the changes, and your fan’s speed should be controlled by now.

FAQs about Controlling CPU Fan Speed on Windows

1. What are the possible reasons behind the fan running at abnormal speeds?

There could be multiple reasons behind the fan running at an abnormal speed on your Windows PC. In most of the cases, a small software hiccup can be the cause. But there are some other possible reasons as well, such as some apps or software consuming high power in the background, abnormal RAM usage, and background updates happening.

2. How can I identify if my fan is running at abnormal speeds?

It’s very simple: if your fan is running at super high speeds even during normal browser sessions or is not blowing up during high-performance usage, then that’s a sign that something went wrong with the fan, and it’s running at abnormally high or low speeds.

3. Will manually controlling the fan speed have any negative effect on my PC?

Most probably, No. Until or unless you don’t do some major changes to it, it won’t create any negative effect on your PC. And even if it does, the software is intelligent enough to cover it up.