Many people enjoy using a laptop: it’s lightweight, portable, and can be quite powerful. However, portability comes at a price: the components and the battery are often cramped inside the laptop. So, when things get hot, you may notice your laptop fan is struggling to keep the temperature down and making a lot of noise. Numerous things can cause your laptop fan to become loud, but fortunately, you can take care of most of the issues without difficulty.
If you’re interested in learning why your laptop fan is so loud, you’ve come to the right place. This article reveals the potential causes and suggests solutions.
Laptop Fan Loud on a Mac
Usually, Mac devices don’t make a lot of noise, so you may be surprised when you notice yours has become louder out of nowhere. This can be annoying, especially if there’s no obvious reason. Here are a few things that can cause your laptop fan to struggle and become louder than normal:
Poor Air Circulation
While using your Mac in bed may sound convenient, it can affect the fan’s behavior. Pillows, blankets, or any other soft surface can cover your Mac’s air vents, thus causing poor air circulation. In such cases, the fan doesn’t get enough air and starts to struggle, creating a lot of noise.
Fortunately, the solution to this problem is easy: put your Mac on a flat surface and allow the fan to “breathe.” If you want to make the fan even more efficient, you can purchase a laptop holder that elevates it from the surface. Besides helping your fan work better, laptop holders provide a better view angle, which improves your posture.
Dust
One of the most common reasons for noisy Mac fans is dust. Dust can build up around the fan, affect its performance, and damage various components. The solution is simple: remove the dust from around the fan. You’ll need to open your Mac using a screwdriver to do that.
If you’re uncomfortable with this, we recommend taking your Mac to a professional.
Apps Running in the Background
If you have a lot of apps, programs, or games running in the background, your Mac’s temperature may rise, and the fan may be struggling to function properly. You can use the Activity Monitor to review the apps and quit the processes to ensure your fan isn’t overworking. Here’s what you need to do:
- Go to “Applications.”
- Press “Utilities.”
- Select “Activity Monitor.”
- Go to the “CPU” tab to view a list of all active apps and tasks. The ones draining your CPU the most will be at the top.
- Select the task(s) you want to quit and press “X” at the top-left corner.
SMC Settings
The System Management Controller (SMC) is responsible for different power functions, including fans. Problems with the SMC settings can affect the fan’s performance. If you suspect this is the problem, try resetting the SMC settings. The process varies depending on the model and battery you have.
If you have a Mac with an M1 chip, you don’t need to reset the SMC at all because the chip actually handles all SMC functions.
Those who have older Macs with a removable battery should follow these instructions to reset the SMC settings:
- Shut down the device.
- Remove the battery.
- Press and hold the power button for around five seconds.
- Reinsert the battery.
- Turn on your Mac.
If you have a Mac with a non-removable battery, here’s what you need to do to reset SMC settings:
- Shut down your device.
- Press and hold Shift + Control + Option on the keyboard’s left side, then press and hold the power button. Keep all four buttons pressed for 10 seconds.
- Release the keys and turn on your device.
Those who have a Mac laptop with a T2 chip should follow the steps below to reset SMC settings:
- Turn off your Mac.
- Press and hold the power button for around 10 seconds.
- Release the button, wait a few seconds, and turn on your Mac.
Laptop Fan Running Loud in Windows 10 or 11
If you have a Windows laptop and you notice your fan has become louder all of a sudden, there are numerous actions you can take to reduce the noise. Let’s look at the most common causes of noisy fans on Windows laptops:
Dust
Dust is among the most common causes of loud laptop fans. Over time, dust can build up around the fan and affects its performance. The fan needs to work much harder to deliver the same efficiency, resulting in overheating and noise.
Most experts recommend cleaning your laptop once a year. Open your laptop and use a blower to remove the dust particles. If you haven’t done this before, it may be better to leave it to a professional.
Malware
One of the worst enemies of Windows laptops is malware. Malicious programs can jeopardize your device’s performance, cause overheating and strain the fan.
You can check whether your Windows laptop is infected by following these steps:
- Open the Start menu, type “Task Manager,” and open it.
- Under the “Processes” tab, you should see a list of apps and background processes. Your laptop is infected if any letters or numbers look unusual or disorganized.
Keep in mind that this method may not always work. That’s why paying attention to your laptop’s behavior is vital. Symptoms like unexpected pop-up windows, random noises, unexplained file and folder modifications, and lack of hard drive space are typical indicators your laptop is infected.
A good antivirus program is essential for keeping your fan operating smoothly and for your laptop’s overall performance and security.
Apps and Processes Running in the Background
The more apps, programs, and processes are running on your laptop, the harder the fan has to work to keep the temperatures at an optimal level. So, to ensure the laptop fan isn’t overworking, you should end the unnecessary processes. Here’s what you need to do:
- Launch the Start menu, type “Task Manager,” and open it.
- Ensure the “Processes” tab is selected. You’ll see a list of apps and background processes.
- Find the one you want to end, right-click on it, and choose “End task.” Repeat the process if necessary.
Jeopardized Air Circulation
Most Windows laptops have fans underneath the system. If you’re using the laptop in bed or keeping it in your lap, you risk restricting the air circulation, thus preventing the fan from operating normally. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix: keep your laptop on a flat, hard surface where there are no airflow obstructions.
You can go a step further and buy a laptop stand that will keep your device in the right position and give you a better viewing angle. Laptop coolers are also a great choice if you want to prevent overheating.
Fan Running Loud on an HP Laptop
HP laptops are known for their quality, innovative technology, and battery life. Although durable and reliable, HP laptops can experience different issues, including noisy fans. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to reduce the noise and ensure your fan is running smoothly.
Thermal Profile Settings
Select HP laptops have thermal profile settings within the HP Command Center app. These settings allow users to customize cooling and temperature preferences to maximize the laptop’s performance.
Here’s how to reduce the fan noise by changing the thermal profile settings:
- Open the Start menu, type “HP Command Center,” and open it.
- Select “Thermal Profile” from the menu on the left.
- Choose the desired mode. We recommend using the quiet mode if you’re not running demanding apps, programs, or games.
Dust
Even though it may look clean outside, your laptop’s interior could be filled with dust. Dust buildup is among the most common causes of overheating, noisy fans, and damaged hardware. When there’s a lot of dust around the air vents or laptop interior, the fan has to work harder to remove the heat.
A detailed cleaning is recommended once a year. It involves opening your laptop and using a blower to remove the dust buildup. You can also use a vacuum to remove the dust buildup around the vents.
Apps and Processes Running in the Background
Your laptop fan is designed to keep your device operating at optimal temperatures. Its efficiency depends on several factors like the material quality, design, frequency of use, etc. The fan’s efficiency also depends on the apps and programs you’re running on your laptop.
If you’re using a bunch of demanding apps, games, and programs simultaneously, the fan will need to work harder to keep the temperature down. While this may not be an issue immediately, it can damage the fan over time and result in a loud noise.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, you should pay attention to the apps and processes running in the background. Sometimes, you may not even be aware certain apps are running while your laptop is on. Here’s how to check and close apps and processes you aren’t using:
- Launch the Start menu, type “Task Manager,” and open it.
- Under the “Processes” tab, you’ll find a list of all active apps and processes.
- Find the one you don’t need, right-click on it, and choose “End task.” Repeat this step for every app and process you want to end.
Poor Air Circulation
Keeping your laptop on cushions, blankets, or laps may be convenient, but it doesn’t do the device any good. Such surfaces restrict the airflow to the fan, and without air, the fan can’t do its job.
Don’t worry; your laptop can handle this if you do it from time to time. But if you constantly use your computer like this, you’ll notice your fan is struggling to function properly. This results in overheating and can lead to hardware damage.
The best way to ensure the fan gets enough air is to place the laptop on a hard, flat surface. If you don’t like sitting at a desk while using your device, you can purchase a laptop stand for your bed. Such stands are designed to provide optimal airflow. Moreover, you can buy cooling pads to give your fan additional support and increase its efficiency.
There’s a quick and easy solution for reducing the fan noise if you’re using the laptop in bed or on any soft surface. Lift the device and wait 10-20 seconds. This will help the fan get the air it needs to dissipate the heat much faster.
Laptop Fan Running Loud on an Asus Laptop
Asus is one of the best-known laptop manufacturers on the market. The company’s laptops are durable and built of high-quality materials, but they aren’t resistant to different issues. One of the problems that can appear is a loud fan. Since the fan is in charge of ensuring your laptop doesn’t overheat, you should never ignore issues that indicate there’s a problem.
Here are the most common culprits for a noisy laptop.
Dust
Just like your laptop’s exterior can become dusty if not cleaned, the same can happen to the interior. Over time, dust can crawl into the air vents and reach the fan. This strains the fan and causes it to work harder than usual to keep the temperature down.
If you want to allow your fan to do its job properly, you should clean the area at least once a year. For the best results, open your laptop with a screwdriver and use a blower to eliminate the dust. You can also use a vacuum around the air vents.
Not Enough Air Circulation
No matter how powerful your laptop fan is, it can’t operate as intended if it doesn’t have enough air. Since most Asus laptops have fans at the bottom, you need to be careful where you’re holding your laptop. For example, if you’re keeping it in your lap or on cushions, you are almost certainly restricting the airflow to the fan.
The best thing you can do to ensure proper air circulation is to keep your laptop on your desk or another hard, flat surface. You can always use a laptop stand if you want more portability. Moreover, laptop coolers are always a good choice to prevent the fan from overworking.
Apps and Processes Running in the Background
The more apps run in the background, the harder your laptop fan must work to keep optimal temperatures. If you have numerous apps and processes open at the same time, your fan may not be able to handle it, resulting in a lot of noise.
Here’s how to ensure no unnecessary apps and processes are running in the background:
- Launch the Start menu, type “Task Manager,” and open it.
- Under the “Processes” tab, find the app or process you don’t need, right-click on it, and click “End task.” Repeat the steps as necessary.
Fan Mode
Select Asus laptops allow you to choose the fan mode depending on the workload. If you’ve set the device to performance mode, your laptop fan noise will be louder than usual. Here’s how to customize the fan mode on your Asus laptop:
- Open the Start menu, type “MyASUS,” and launch it.
- Choose “Customization.”
- Find “ASUS Intelligent Performance Technology” and choose one of the three modes. If you want a quiet fan, choose the whisper mode. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t run demanding apps and games while using this mode because it could result in overheating.
Nobody’s a Fan of a Loud Fan
A noisy laptop fan is more than just annoying; it’s a sign something’s wrong. Noisy fans usually go hand in hand with overheating, which can severely damage the hardware and affect the device’s performance. Several factors can cause a loud fan, and the sooner you take care of the cause, the better.
Have you ever had problems with your laptop fan? Did you manage to identify the cause and resolve the issue? Tell us in the comments section below.
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