My CPU fan is not running: 4 quick ways to fix it
- On some occasions, your PC boots normally, but the CPU cooling system doesn't start.
- Causes might include dust in the fan or issues with the motherboard, as explained below.
- Cleaning the fans is easy and is one of the first things you should do.
- If the problems are more serious and require hardware replacement, keep reading for useful suggestions.
If you’re dealing with a particular issue involving your processor fan, whereas your computer starts normally but the CPU fan does not, we can help you out.
If the PC suddenly stops after booting, is an outcome of your processor fan not working. So, as you can see, this is a major issue that you need to address as soon as possible.
There are three main reasons why your CPU fan is not spinning properly: the fan is clogged with dust, wires might get stuck in the fan or the fan does not get enough energy supply to spin.
Getting rid of these causes might get your CPU fan up and running again.
What can I do if my CPU fan isn’t running?
- Restart your computer
- Clean your fan
- Repair or replace your power supply unit
- Replace your fan and motherboard
1. Restart your computer
As simple as it sounds, restarting your computer might be the fix for your issue. If you already did that, check our next solution.
2. Clean your fan
Cleaning your fan is not an easy task if you haven’t done it before. Try asking for a specialist’s help, as this is a very high precision task. Not knowing how to properly do it could bring irreparable damage to your CPU and computer.
The specialist will also check if you have any wires that are preventing the fan from spinning.
3. Repair or replace your power supply unit
As you might have guessed by now, if your power supply does not work, your fan will not spin. So before replacing your motherboard or CPU, try replacing your power supply first.
This solution usually works if your computer is already making beeping noises or shuts down suddenly.
Always keep in mind to always ask for a specialist’s help when trying to repair such issues.
4. Replace your fan and motherboard
If nothing works, you should definitely consider replacing your fan. If this does not work, the only thing left to do is to replace the motherboard.
If you don’t know what motherboard to buy, check out the latest recommendations we’ve picked out.
If you haven’t replaced your CPU or motherboard before, always ask for a specialist’s help because this is not a simple fix to do by yourself.
We hope this article has helped you out. If we’ve missed any tested method, please share it with us in the comments.