Laptop Fan Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It!

 How to Fix a Laptop Fan That Stopped Working

A non-working laptop fan can lead to overheating, sudden shutdowns, and even hardware damage. If you notice that your laptop feels too hot or is shutting down unexpectedly, your fan might not be working. In this guide, we’ll go through step-by-step solutions to fix a stuck, broken, or unresponsive laptop fan.

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1. Check If the Fan Is Spinning

✔ Place your hand near the laptop’s air vents and see if you feel airflow.
✔ Listen for fan noise—if it’s completely silent, the fan might be stuck.
✔ If the laptop overheats and shuts down, it’s likely a fan issue.

🛑 If your fan is not spinning at all, move to the next steps.

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2. Restart Your Laptop & Enter BIOS

Sometimes, the fan is disabled due to firmware issues.

✔ Restart your laptop and enter BIOS/UEFI (Press F2, F10, or DEL while booting).
✔ Look for Fan Control Settings and ensure the fan is enabled.
✔ Save changes and restart your laptop.

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3. Clean Dust from the Fan & Vents

Dust buildup can block the fan, stopping it from spinning.

✔ Turn off your laptop and unplug it.
✔ Use compressed air to blow dust out of the air vents.
✔ If comfortable, open the back panel and manually clean the fan with a soft brush.

🛑 Avoid using a vacuum—it can damage internal components.

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4. Check Fan Settings in Windows

Sometimes, Windows reduces fan speed to "silent mode."

✔ Open Control Panel > Power Options.
✔ Click Change Plan Settings > Advanced Power Settings.
✔ Expand Processor Power Management > System Cooling Policy.
✔ Change it to Active and click Apply.

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5. Update or Reinstall Fan Drivers

A missing or corrupted fan driver may cause it to stop working.

✔ Right-click Start > Device Manager.
✔ Expand System Devices and look for Thermal Management Controller or similar.
✔ Right-click and select Update Driver.
✔ If that doesn’t work, Uninstall Driver and restart your laptop—Windows will reinstall it.

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6. Use a Cooling Pad or External Fan

If your fan spins but doesn’t cool properly, use an external cooling pad.

✔ Place a USB-powered cooling pad under your laptop.
✔ If your laptop has high CPU/GPU usage, limit background tasks to reduce heat.

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7. Replace a Faulty Fan

If nothing works, the fan might be physically broken.

✔ If your laptop is under warranty, contact the manufacturer.
✔ If out of warranty, take it to a professional repair shop for fan replacement.

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Final Thoughts

A non-working laptop fan can cause overheating and system damage. By following these steps—checking settings, cleaning dust, updating drivers, and replacing the fan if needed—you can fix the issue and keep your laptop running cool.

Laptop Overheating? Causes & Easy Fixes to Keep It Cool

How to Fix a Laptop Overheating Problem

Is your laptop getting too hot? Overheating can cause slow performance, sudden shutdowns, or even hardware damage. In this guide, we’ll cover the causes of laptop overheating and provide easy fixes to keep your laptop cool and running smoothly.

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1. Common Causes of Laptop Overheating

Before fixing the issue, it’s important to know what’s causing it:

✔ Dust buildup – Clogs air vents and prevents proper cooling.
✔ Old thermal paste – Loses effectiveness over time, causing heat buildup.
✔ Blocked vents – Using the laptop on soft surfaces like beds or couches blocks airflow.
✔ Heavy processing tasks – Gaming, video editing, or multiple apps running at once increase heat.
✔ Faulty cooling fan – A broken fan won’t dissipate heat properly.

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2. How to Fix Laptop Overheating

✅ Fix 1: Clean the Cooling Vents

Dust buildup blocks airflow, causing your laptop to heat up.

✔ Use compressed air – Blow air into the vents to remove dust.
✔ Soft brush or cotton swab – Gently clean the fan blades if accessible.

🛑 Avoid using a vacuum cleaner as it can damage internal components.

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✅ Fix 2: Use a Cooling Pad

Laptop cooling pads improve airflow and keep temperatures low.

✔ Buy a cooling pad with built-in fans for extra cooling.
✔ Use a hard surface instead of placing the laptop on soft materials.

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✅ Fix 3: Change Laptop Power Settings

Adjusting your laptop’s settings can reduce overheating:

✔ Windows Users:

1. Go to Control Panel > Power Options.
2. Select Balanced Mode instead of High Performance.

✔ Mac Users:

1. Open System Settings > Battery.
2. Enable Low Power Mode when not using demanding apps.

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✅ Fix 4: Replace the Thermal Paste

Old thermal paste can cause the processor to overheat.

✔ If your laptop is over 3 years old, the thermal paste might need replacing.
✔ Apply high-quality thermal paste (like Arctic MX-4 or Noctua NT-H1) on the CPU and GPU.

🛑 If you’re unfamiliar with disassembling laptops, get professional help for this step.

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✅ Fix 5: Reduce Background Applications

More apps running = More heat generated.

✔ Windows: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) → Close unnecessary apps.
✔ Mac: Open Activity Monitor → Quit unused applications.

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✅ Fix 6: Check and Replace the Laptop Fan (If Necessary)

A faulty cooling fan can cause overheating.

✔ Listen for weird noises (grinding or rattling sounds).
✔ Use a fan control software like SpeedFan (Windows) or Macs Fan Control (Mac) to check if the fan is working.

🛑 If the fan is broken, you may need to replace it.

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Final Thoughts

Laptop overheating is a common problem, but with proper maintenance, you can prevent it. Regularly clean your vents, use a cooling pad, and monitor your laptop’s temperature to ensure smooth performance.