Does your laptop sound like it’s about to take off from the table? Have you ever wondered “How to fix my laptop fan noise?”
If yes, then you’re at the right place.
Laptops can suddenly become unbearably loud with a noise emanating from the fan and restarting the device won’t do much for it. There can be a lot of reasons as to why your laptop fan is making loud noises, but it can normally be resolved within a couple of minutes.
Laptop fan noise can even occur when parts of the laptop wear out over time, swapping these worn out components should rectify the issue. So, it’s up to you to decide if you want to swap out the old components or simply get a new laptop.
For those who are unable to go out there and pick up a new laptop or if you’re certain that it’s your fan which is making the noise, then I’m sure this post will help you out.
So, read on to find out more about how you can fix a loud laptop fan.
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How To Fix Laptop Fan Noise
Laptops are not quiet, they actually produce a substantial amount of noise when in use and this can range from a wide array of factors. However, the topic of the hour is the noise that comes from the laptop fan (which can be quite loud, i must say) and how to have it fixed at home.
What Causes Your Laptop Fan To Make Noise
When the laptop fan starts making loud noises it’s normally due to one of the following reasons:
- Dirt Covered Fan / Blocked Ventilation
- Malware
- Strained Resources (multiple processes running simultaneously)
Any of these three reasons can be the cause of your issue and fixing the noise should be your number one priority.
So without any delay, let me take you through the various ways you can fix your laptop fan noise.
It’s best to always thoroughly check the laptop before jumping to conclusions which may lead to it getting damaged.
Five Ways To Fix Your Laptop Fan Noise
While there are many ways you can reduce the noise coming out of your laptop fan, these 5 methods are effective and most can be done by yourself at home.
Check The System Settings of Your Laptop
Before getting into tearing your laptop down to check the fan try checking your system settings (normally for newer laptops that run large apps). Take a look at the CPU usage to see if everything is running properly.
If everything looks good, you can try reducing the fan noise by tweaking a few settings internally on the laptop.
Note: This works on laptops running Windows 10
- Start by clicking on “Start Menu” and then click on “Settings” followed by “System”.
- Here, locate “Power & Sleep” and click on it. Scroll down till you reach the section named “Related Settings” and click on “Additional Power Settings” located underneath.
- Under Balanced (Recommended) click on “Change Plan Settings”.
- Now, tap on “Change Advanced Power Settings” for the “Power Options” box to appear on the screen.
- Under “System Cooling Policy”, change the setting drop-down from Active to Passive and click on Apply to save the settings.
This should drastically reduce the amount of noise your fan makes when large games or applications are running.
Clean The Laptop Fan
Dust is by far the most common culprit behind noisy laptop fans. This is mainly due to the fact that dust easily accumulates within the laptop over years and can obstruct the blades of the fan leading to a loud and annoying noise.
It’s advisable to keep the interiors of your laptop dust free if you want it to work as intended.
Though most people tend to give their laptops to a professional to have it cleaned, it’s actually a simple task that you can do on your own. All you will need is a small screwdriver.
- Start by switching off your laptop and unplug it from the charger.
- Flip the laptop over so the battery compartment faces upwards.
- Slowly take out the battery from the laptop (make sure not to drop the battery)
- Gently unscrew the base of the laptop using the screwdriver and prop the cover open without bending or breaking it.
- Once the cover is removed, the fan will be exposed. Gently blow into the fan to remove the dust that has accumulated. Or if you’re having a tough time then you can try using another small fan or hair dryer to blow away the dust.
- Once all the dust has been removed from the fan, close it back up in the same way you opened it making sure all the screws are placed in their designated positions.
- Proceed to reinsert the battery and connect it to a power source before turning it on. The noise would have been reduced a lot because now there’s less pressure and heat buildup in the laptop.
Tips while opening the laptop:
*Make sure the laptop is not under warranty before opening it up. Doing so will void the warranty.
*Do not use sharp objects within the laptop to remove dust. Only resort to soft toothbrushes, an external fan or a hair-dryer.
*Make sure to keep the screws safely as they will be required when you’re sealing up the laptop again.
*Wear gloves and NEVER open a laptop that’s plugged in.
Removing Malware from your Laptop
Malware can cause some real damage to your laptop if you’re not using a premium version of an anti-virus. As you’re aware, Malware is capable of slowing down the laptop to an extent that the laptop’s processor has to work harder to accomplish tasks, this results in your laptop overheating.
If you don’t have any anti-virus in your laptop then i’d suggest you pick one up today and preferably a premium version too.
To check if you have malware running on your laptop or if you’re infected by a virus, open the task manager and check if you find any alien symbols or words that don’t mean anything. These are probably viruses or malware that are eating into your system.
Using a premium antivirus can limit the infection and eradicate the virus or malicious files from your laptop. This will result in your laptop running smoothly with no unwanted fan noise.
Some notable antivirus software and malware software that you can download are:
Closing Background Processes and Tasks
If you use your laptop for work then you will definitely at some point experience what a noisy laptop fan sounds like. This is because of the number of applications open on the laptop and the number of tasks running in the background.
Laptops work like desktop PCs and the applications that are open take up a portion of the processor and RAM. This leads to lower accessible memory on your laptop making it slower than normal.
When a laptop becomes slow due to the number of tasks running in the background, it may overheat and produce a noise from the fan signaling that something is wrong.
The trick here is to close all the unwanted applications running on your laptop. Normally, if you have Chrome or Firefox installed in your laptop it would be the Google Chrome Processes that are slowing your laptop down. You can close these processes via the task manager and free up space and processing memory.
For example, if you’re playing a game that requires a lot of processing capabilities and running multiple tabs on Google Chrome in the background may lead to your laptop’s processor running at 100%. Closing the unwanted application and running only what is needed can help you reduce the amount of noise your laptop makes.
Replace The Fan in Your Laptop
When all else fails, the final option left would be to replace the fan in your laptop. Using a laptop for more than a year can lead to reduced heat dissipation and reduced performance.
Even if you clean the fan or reduce the processes running in the background, you will keep facing an issue with the heat build-up and fan noise.
The problem with replacing the laptop fan is that you will also have to apply new thermal grease on the graphics unit and processor.
This is not a recommended method unless you have prior knowledge in the subject. So if you really need to change the fan because the laptop is kind of old, you will have to approach the brands service center or a laptop technician to get it done.
Other Ways You Can Reduce Your Laptop’s Fan Noise
- You can try using an additional cooler with your laptop to prevent your laptop from overheating and producing a loud noise. This is highly recommended for those working on complex programs and multiple applications.
- Another way you can try and reduce the fan noise is by lifting the laptop off the surface. This helps dissipate heat properly and using a laptop stand with a cooler works wonders.
- Lastly, you can try mixing up methods to see if you get the desired result. At times you may have to clean your fan and close background tasks to cool off your laptop.
Takeaway
The noise from a laptop fan can be rectified by following the methods laid out above. If the noise does come back after trying all these methods then you may have to resort to buying a new laptop and getting rid of the one you’re using currently.
Laptops tend to wear down with age and apart from dust, this could be one of the main factors behind the noises you hear.
If it’s time to get rid of your laptop, make sure to backup all your existing data so it can be transferred to your new laptop.
Also Read:
- Here are the quietest mice for gamers
- Check out these great electric toothbrushes that are so quiet, you won’t hear them
- Have a silent hair trim with these low-noise hair clippers
Greetings! My name is Michael and this is my website.
I've been specializing in audio equipment and accessories for a while and have a little something in store for every kind of hi-fi enthusiast.
Based in California, I keep attending special launch events across the globe. This has helped me understand the products better, and with a unique hands-on experience I'm able to provide you with easy to understand reviews about the best in audio tech from around the world.
