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HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOUR LAPTOP FAN COME ON?

Home - Computer Hardware - How Often Should Your Laptop Fan Come On?

Updated onApril 3, 2023

When you’re using your laptop, you usually tune out the noise that the fans
make, so you don’t notice when it changes speed. However, when it runs fast for
a long time non-stop, you may start noticing, especially if it’s making more
noise than usual. Why does this happen, and how can you solve this issue?

Table Of Contents
 * Can a Laptop Fan Run for Too Long?
 * Why Is My Laptop Fan Running All the Time?
   * Your CPU Is Weak
   * You’re Using Complicated Software
   * The External Conditions Are Not Ideal
   * There Are Background Programs Running
   * The Thermal Paste Needs Replacing
 * Why Is My Laptop Fan Too Noisy?
 * Why Is My Laptop Fan Not Making Any Noise?
 * How To Fix Laptop Fan Issues
 * How To Stop Your Fan From Running All the Time
 * Final Thoughts

It normally always runs but spins up faster on startup or whenever your machine
is under load, like loading software or gaming. A laptop fan running that’s
always spinning fast is typically caused by an outdated CPU working too hard to
keep up, a dirty cooling system, or old thermal paste.

If you want to know more, read the rest of this article. I will show you what is
normal and what is not regarding the runtime or your laptop fan.

Moreover, I will answer any other questions you may have about the fans and how
they work.




CAN A LAPTOP FAN RUN FOR TOO LONG?

Before we get to what is normal and what is cause for concern, we need to know
what fans are supposed to do and how they work.

Your laptop may have several fans inside, which help the cooling process. The
CPU has its own fan because it will likely generate a lot of heat. If your
laptop has a dedicated GPU, it may include an extra fan.

Generally speaking, the CPU fan is the most important one and what people
typically refer to as the laptop fan.

The CPU generates quite a lot of heat while it’s working, which makes your
laptop feel warm sometimes.

The fan helps cool the CPU and other parts of the internal system, spinning at
high speeds.

Your laptop fan will speed up whenever the device needs it, which can be pretty
often, especially if you’re running multiple programs simultaneously.

Once it’s spinning at higher RPMs, it will run for as long as necessary with no
problem, as long as you’re not overworking your CPU.

Whenever you stop using many programs simultaneously or close the more CPU-heavy
programs, the temperature of the CPU will drop, and you will hear the fan
reducing speed after a while.

Most of the time, a laptop fan can easily run fast for a long time and then
reduce speed once the CPU is not working as intensively.

Problems start when the fan doesn’t reduce in speed at all or remains silent
where it doesn’t speed up at all.


WHY IS MY LAPTOP FAN RUNNING ALL THE TIME?

While a computer can run for a long time, the fan should not run continuously at
high speed whenever you turn on your laptop.

Your fan working too hard indicates that the temperature inside the device is
getting higher, and the components need cooling. 

Ideally, the fan shouldn’t be heard too often, but normally, it should run
fairly silently and speed up at times.

A constantly fast-spinning fan is a sign of several different issues that you
need to address sooner rather than later.

Here are some reasons:


YOUR CPU IS WEAK

The fan should speed up whenever the CPU works hard to avoid overheating.
However, sometimes the CPU can be pretty old or weak, so it might not be able to
handle even simpler programs without overheating.

As a result, the fan will keep constantly running because your CPU will
constantly need it to cool the device down.

If this is the issue, you may need to consider getting a new laptop since a weak
CPU makes it essentially useless.


YOU’RE USING COMPLICATED SOFTWARE

Typical laptop CPUs can handle most regular programs pretty well, but they may
get overwhelmed when dealing with more complicated software.

For instance, video games or video and photo editing software can make your CPU
run quite hot.

If you use these programs constantly, you may notice that your laptop will not
stop running because it needs to cool down your device to avoid overheating.

Even with the fan constantly working, you may observe issues with the
performance of your device.

Generally, if you need to use the types of software above daily, you need a
better device than regular laptops.

You can find something with more processing power, like a gaming laptop or a
powerful desktop computer.


THE EXTERNAL CONDITIONS ARE NOT IDEAL

The inside of your laptop is heavily affected by the outside conditions. On a
very hot day, it’s much harder for your laptop to expel the heat, as much as it
might try.

If you’re working on your computer during a hot day, the laptop fan may not stop
running the entire time because it will try much harder to cool your device.

Ideally, you should keep your laptop out of hot environments and direct sunlight
to avoid this issue.

Additionally, you should place your laptop on a hard surface, which will help
the cooling process.

Putting the device on top of blankets or pillows will contribute to overheating,
and the fan may not stop working.


THERE ARE BACKGROUND PROGRAMS RUNNING

The CPU deals with all kinds of programs running on your laptop, even those that
you aren’t consciously using.

The operating system makes sure that everything is alright by running background
programs.

Sometimes, if programs are running in the background in addition to the ones you
are using, the CPU might start heating up, prompting the fan to keep working
continuously.

Other times, the background programs are enough to keep the fan running to cool
down the CPU.

Malware may also cause the CPU to work harder, either because it is designed to
overwork the CPU or it’s being detected by antivirus programs running in the
background.

You should check all the programs that are running and get rid of the ones that
seem suspicious or unnecessary.


THE THERMAL PASTE NEEDS REPLACING

If the thermal paste is old, it can reduce the effectiveness of the cooling
system. This happens because of the poor heat dissipation from the CPU/GPU to
the heatsink.

This results in ineffective cooling whereby the cooling fan spins up to keep the
hotter CPU as cool as possible, and the heatsink doesn’t receive the bulk of the
heat from the CPU or GPU for the fan to cool.

If a laptop hasn’t had its thermal paste replaced two years after its purchase,
it is recommended that the old thermal paste is removed and some new thermal
paste is applied.

Thereafter, the thermal paste would need to be replaced every two to four years,
depending on the properties of the thermal paste that was used.


WHY IS MY LAPTOP FAN TOO NOISY?

One of the most common issues people report is that their laptop fan runs too
loud, prompting them to believe something is wrong. In most cases, something is
indeed wrong and needs attention.

Laptop fans are not supposed to be too noisy. Typically, you should not be able
to hear them at all or only hear a faint noise that blends into the background.

The problem starts when the noise becomes noticeable and even distracting.

Generally, this is also when people notice that their fan has been running
non-stop, which is a problem in itself, as mentioned above.

Your laptop fan may be too loud when working harder than before. If your CPU is
overworked and risks overheating, the laptop fan will spin faster to lower the
temperature inside.

Any of the reasons mentioned above, like a weak CPU, background programs, or
external heat, can also cause the laptop fan to be too loud.

However, a loud noise does not necessarily mean the fan works faster and harder.

Sometimes, the fan may be physically damaged due to continuous spinning. Any
components with moving parts can be quite delicate.

Physical damage can cause a fan to be loud, even when it’s not spinning faster;
it might be even slower than usual.


WHY IS MY LAPTOP FAN NOT MAKING ANY NOISE?

As I explained above, you shouldn’t be able to hear your laptop fan most of the
time.

When you’re not running any intense programs, and your CPU is working normally,
the noise should be minimal.

As a result, you don’t need to worry if you don’t hear much noise coming from
your laptop. 

However, if you can’t hear any noise coming from a device that is usually quite
loud, there might be a problem.

When you’re running complex programs, or it is hot outside, and your normally
loud fan is completely silent, you may be dealing with an issue.

It’s possible that the laptop fan is no longer spinning, or it’s spinning at
such a low speed that it doesn’t make any noise.

This is a problem because it could lead to your computer overheating fast,
causing it to slow down or become permanently damaged.

In order to make sure that this is indeed the issue, you should take your device
to a specialist or run diagnostics to identify the problem.

You should replace the fan with a new one, either by yourself or by an expert.


HOW TO FIX LAPTOP FAN ISSUES

As you can see, plenty of issues can cause your laptop fan to keep running
non-stop or too hard.

Whenever you notice this happening with your laptop, you need to check your
device to understand the problem and solve it as soon as possible. Here’s what
you can do to fix laptop fan issues:

 * Clean the cooling system of your laptop. Open up the laptop case and check
   the cooling system of your CPU if it needs cleaning; make sure the fan and
   the heat sink are not covered in dust.
 * Clear the vents. Airflow inside the laptop is essential to get rid of excess
   heat, and the vents make it possible. If you notice that the vents have
   accumulated dust, clean them carefully.
 * Replace old thermal paste. If the thermal paste is old, heat isn’t as
   efficiently transferred from the CPU to the heatsink. This will cause the fan
   to spin faster in an attempt to cool the hotter CPU with diminished success.
 * Stop using CPU-heavy software. If you feel that your laptop fan has been
   running continuously or it’s too loud, you may need to stop using specific
   programs to let the CPU rest. Consider shutting down your device for a while.
 * Use Task Manager or Activity Monitor to check the tasks keeping your CPU
   busy. Remove the ones that seem unnecessary or are using too much processing
   power.
 * Update your operating system. Sometimes a bug in the system may cause issues
   with background programs, prompting your CPU to work much harder; a system
   update would eliminate any glitches or bugs.
 * Cool your laptop externally. To ensure your laptop doesn’t overheat, you need
   to take steps so that the external environment will help the cooling process
   rather than hinder it. For instance, you can use cooling pads.
 * Run diagnostic tests on your device to understand the problem. Laptops have
   diagnostic measures that detect issues with internal components. A diagnostic
   test will let you know if there is a problem with your CPU or a fan, but it
   can be a bit complicated, so make sure to follow the instructions of the
   device manufacturer.


HOW TO STOP YOUR FAN FROM RUNNING ALL THE TIME

If your laptop fan keeps working non-stop even after you’ve tried all the
different fixes above, you can change the settings to make the fan stop once in
a while.

This setting ensures that your device won’t overheat when the fan stops by
slowing down the CPU, so you may not be able to use a lot of programs while the
fan is off.

This solution is a good option for people dealing with a weak CPU or high
temperatures outside and, at the same time, don’t need to use their device for
particularly complicated programs.

Here’s how to change the settings to make your fan turn off once in a while:

 1. Go to Start and then choose Settings.
 2. Find System.
 3. Select Power & Sleep.
 4. Choose Additional power settings, which you can find under Related settings.
 5. A new window will open; go to Change plan settings next to the selected
    plan.
 6. Find Change advanced power settings.
 7. A new window will open, allowing you to control the power usage of different
    parts of your device; select Processor power management and then System
    cooling policy.
 8. Change the option from Active to Passive.
 9. Select OK and restart your laptop.

Once you have changed these power settings, your fan will stop working once in a
while. When it stops working, your CPU will automatically slow down to prevent
overheating.


FINAL THOUGHTS

Typically, the laptop fan turns on and off whenever necessary, and it may run
for a long time with no problem.

However, when the CPU is overworked, or it’s too hot outside, the fan may keep
working indefinitely.

This also happens when there are a lot of background programs running, or your
operating system needs updating.

To solve this issue, you can clean the device, remove complex programs, or
change the settings to make the fan passive once in a while.

In more extreme cases, you might need to replace certain components, like the
fan or the CPU.




Marlo Strydom

Marlo has always been obsessed with computers his whole life. After working for
25 years in the computer and electronics field, he now enjoys writing about
computers to help others. Most of his time is spent in front of his computer or
other technology to continue to learn more. Read more about Marlo




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