Want to run AAA games on your Windows 10 PC without the fracas of loud CPU fan noises? You better learn how to change fan speed in Windows 10! Or else, you’ll hear whirring sounds coming out of your PC or laptop even while performing important tasks like finishing up work-related PPT presentations. That’s exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago while I was working on my brand-new Windows 10 laptop.
Thankfully, I know all about laptop fan speed control techniques. I was quickly able to use a decent PC fan control software tool to control the fan speed in my Windows 10 laptop. If you’re in a similar predicament and you don’t know how to change fan speed in Windows 10 devices, I’m here to help. Before that, let’s learn how to check fan speed> metrics on Windows 10 devices.
Do you have a particular question about changing the fan speed on Windows? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Why is it important to monitor CPU Fan Speed in Windows?
Look, every PC, whether it’s humming under your desk or packed in a slim laptop case, produces heat. That spicy new game you’re running? The video cards to extract its details? All of them make your system warm up. The purpose of fans in Windows computers is not just to blow off the heat but also to maintain a temperature that ensures your processor may generate calculations without turning your workspace into a sauna. If your fan runs too slow or not at all, it’s a sign that your system is on the edge of a meltdown, literally. Overheating can cause problems with your power, damage the motherboard and video cards, and in severe cases, even your Windows OS. Monitoring the fan speed ensures that the processor power management is on point and prevents damage due to overheating. Plus, you surely don’t want your GPU cooking breakfast, right?
How to Check Fan Speed on Windows 10?
Typically, CPU fans make loud noises only when you reboot your Windows PC/laptop. The fans blow off all the heat generated around your processor during the startup process. This same mechanism activates whenever your device experiences overheating. So, whenever your device is riddled with multiple applications and processes, the fans will activate.
That’s because most newer computer and laptop motherboards feature pulse width modulation controllers (PWMs). These motherboard components control the revolutions-per-minute (RPM) of your Windows 10 device’s internal cooling fans. They activate and ramp up the fan speed to increase internal airflow, whenever your computer needs cooling down. You can directly check and customize these fan settings in the BIOS menu.
How to Check Fan Settings in Bios?
Open the Settings app (shortcut: press the “Windows key ⊞” + “I” simultaneously)
- Open Update & Security
- From the left section of the screen, select “Recovery”
- Under “Advanced Startup,” select “Restart Now”
- Select “Troubleshoot”
- Select “Advanced Options”
- Select the option titled “UEFI Firmware Settings”
- Select “Restart”
Now, your PC will boot in BIOS or UEFI settings. From there, you can check your fan configuration settings. This settings page varies depending on the manufacturer of the device. I had to open the “Advanced” tab to find my fan settings:
You can also change fan settings in BIOS menu. Here’s how:
- Restart your Computer or Laptop
- The Power-On, Self-Test startup screen will appear in a few seconds
- On that screen, you’ll have to enter a specific key to enter the BIOS menu
- This key will be indicated onscreen; it varies from motherboard to motherboard but it’s usually either one of the following: “F10,” “F12,” Del,” & “Esc.”
- Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate the BIOS menu
- Find sub-menus like “Status,” “Monitor,” and “Fan Speed Control” (menu names may vary by manufacturer)
- Enter the “Fan Speed Control” submenu
- Scroll down this menu to find the RPM settings of your computer fans listed
- Select the fan you’d like to customize
- Turn up or down the RPM settings and hit “Enter”
- Press “Enter” again to save your changes
The settings of your motherboard’s PWM controller can only be altered up to a point. You can’t turn it up/down past the fan’s rated RPM and speed. Repeat the steps mentioned above to change the settings of all the fans. After that, press down on the “Esc” button & select the option titled “Save Changes & Reset.” Wait for your computer to restart with the updated fan speed settings. Here’s a video guide on this whole process:
How to control fan speed on laptop Windows 10?
Method 1. Use the control panel
Your Windows laptop isn’t just a pretty face; it’s packed with features. To control fan speed in Windows through this method, dive into your control panel and look for “power options.” Here, click on “change plan settings,” then adjust system cooling options. It’s like giving your computer a little pep talk, encouraging the fan to increase or take a breather.
Method 2. Laptop fan speed control using BIOS/UEFI
For the old souls and the brave-hearts, tweaking BIOS settings is a trip down nostalgia lane. After clicking restart, during the startup process, dive into the BIOS control. Navigate until you find the fan options and look for RPM settings. Here, you can change the CPU fan speed. Remember, though, with great power comes great responsibility. Don’t cause problems with your power setup by over-tinkering.
Methods 3. Use a third-party solution for fan control (E.g. SpeedFan)
If the control panel sounds too mainstream or BIOS control too nerdy, say hello to third-party software solutions like SpeedFan. After downloading and launching SpeedFan, this nifty piece of controller software will show temperatures on display, courtesy of S.M.A.R.T hardware monitoring. So, discussing how you can control the speed of your CPU fans becomes a breeze. Adjust the speed of your fan using SpeedFan, ensuring that the temperatures don’t go on to decline alarmingly due to overheating.
Method 4. Buy an External Fan Hub To Control CPU fan Speed on a PC
Sometimes, the best CPU solutions are external. If you’ve tried everything and still can’t control PC fan speed the way you’d like, it might be time to invest in an external fan controller. These hubs connect to your pc case, and with a twist of a knob or a click of a button, you can increase CPU fan speed, check your PC’s RPM, and maintain airflow through those air vents to allow the heat to escape. Think of it as your laptop’s mini air conditioning system.
How to Increase Fan Speed on PC?
Changing CPU fan speed via the BIOS menu is something that all Windows 10 users need to know. However, there are much less complicated ways of monitoring & changing CPU fan speed settings. For that, you’ll need decent fan control software. I’ve listed some of the most highly-rated fan control software tools below:
1. MSI Afterburner
MSI Afterburner is free-to-use software that allows users to control their Windows 10 PCs’ fan speed settings. It works with pretty much all types of new-age CPUs and GPUs from AMD, Intel, Nvidia, and other major brands. In addition to manually altering your PC’s fan speed settings, you can also set up fixed settings profiles on MSI Afterburner.
Activate these profiles whenever you’re doing a specific task. For instance, you can have a work profile and a gaming profile on MSI Afterburner. Activate these profiles whenever you need to optimize your PC’s fan performances. There’s no need to manually change fan settings every time you use your device to complete heat-generating, resource-intensive tasks.
2. SpeedFan
SpeedFan is another free-to-use software that allows users to monitor their CPU fan speeds in real-time with ease. Just download & install the software on your Windows 10 PC or laptop. Then, on the main SpeedFan app window, select the option titled “Configure.” A new tab titled
“Fans Tab” will pop up.
On this tab, you’ll see a list of all the cooling fans inside your Windows 10 device. Select each fan and adjust its speed using the Response curve. Unfortunately, in 2023, SpeedFan is relatively outdated. This application doesn’t receive regular updates so it may not support devices with the latest motherboards.
3. FanControl
FanControl was developed by just one man, on his own. But, that doesn’t make this application inferior to its counterparts in any shape or form. In fact, this free application gives users total control over their Windows 10 PC fans, including additional case fans. Using this app is also pretty easy thanks to its simple UI. If you have trouble downloading, installing, or running the FanControl application, check out this video from the app’s sole developer Remi Mercier:
Using Fan Control Software
Although the BIOS menu has simplified the process of controlling fan speed settings in Windows 10 devices, avid PC users (including myself) still prefer using fan control software tools. That’s because these tools are cheap, easy to use, and much easy to access than the BIOS menu. If your Windows 10 PC or laptop is> overheating for no reason, consider using at least one of the third-party fan control software mentioned above!
Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.
At ipoki.com we only mention the products that we’ve researched and considered worthy. But it’s important to mention that we are a participant of several affiliate programs, including Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate ipoki.com earns from qualifying purchases.
