How Can I See the Temp of My Laptop?
How Can I See the Temp of My Laptop?
3 Answers

Ever wondered how hot your laptop is running? There are a few straightforward ways to keep tabs on those temps:
- Poke Around in BIOS/UEFI:
- Give your laptop a restart and dive into BIOS/UEFI by hitting keys like F2, F10, Delete, or Esc when it boots up.
- Once in, snoop around the hardware section. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot your CPU’s temperature. But heads up, not every system shows this info in BIOS/UEFI.
- Grab Some Cool Software:
- Core Temp: It’s a handy little app that tells you exactly how hot your CPU is getting. Just download it from their site.
- HWMonitor: Want the full scoop on your hardware health? This tool’s got you covered with all the temps, including CPU and GPU, from the folks at CPUID.
- Speccy: Brought to you by Piriform, this tool spills the beans on all your laptop’s guts, including those crucial temps.
- Peek into Windows Task Manager (if you’re keeping it simple):
- Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to pop open the Task Manager, or just right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.”
- Head over to the “Performance” tab and click on “CPU.” Sometimes, it might not show the temperature, so you might still need the other tools mentioned above.
Keeping an eye on your laptop’s temperature is no small potatoes. It’s a great way to make sure everything runs smoothly and to avoid any nasty overheating surprises. Just remember to always keep your laptop on a flat, hard surface to let it breathe easy.

Keeping your laptop from overheating is a big deal if you want to avoid frying its insides or dealing with annoying shutdowns. So, let’s chat about how you can keep an eye on your laptop\’s temperature and stop it from turning into a hot mess.
For Windows Users
- Using Software
- HWMonitor (free): Just download, install, and run. You\’ll see the CPU, GPU, and others listed along with their temperatures.
- Core Temp (free): Spot-on for checking CPU heat. Once it\’s installed, you can see temps right in the system tray.
- MSI Afterburner: This is your go-to for GPUs, offering handy overlay options for when you’re gaming.
- BIOS/UEFI
Restart your computer and hit something like F2 or Del to dive into BIOS. This spot gives you idle temps, but don\’t get too comfy—it won\’t show the heat when you\’re, say, on a Call of Duty spree.
- Windows PowerShell
You can try some cheeky code:
Get-WmiObject -Namespace \"root\\wmi\" -Class MSAcpi_ThermalZoneTemperature | ForEach-Object { ($_.CurrentTemperature / 10) - 273.15 }
It might not work with all hardware, but worth a shot!
For macOS Users
- Terminal Commands
- Install osx-cpu-temp via Homebrew:
brew install osx-cpu-temp
osx-cpu-temp - Or grab smcTool for checking out Apple’s secret sensors.
- Install osx-cpu-temp via Homebrew:
- Apps
- iStat Menus (paid): This app gives you the full scoop on your temps—graphs and all.
- Macs Fan Control (free): It not only shows your temps but lets you mess with fan settings too.
Your laptop naturally heats up—especially when you’re multitasking or gaming. But if it gets too toasty (we’re talking above 90°C), things get dicey. Your hardware might slow down to cool off, die sooner, or just downright crash on you—how lame!
Normal temps? You\’re looking at 40-60°C when idle and 70-90°C when it\’s really working, but this depends on what laptop you\’re rocking.
What’s Causing the Heat and How to Fix It
Cooling System’s Not Cutting It
- Issues: Dust-magnet fans, dried thermal paste, or lazy fans.
- Fixes:
- Clean your fans/vents: Shut it down and hit it with some canned air. Curious about the inside? Go ahead—carefully unscrew the back (check your warranty first!) and clean those fans.
- Swap your thermal paste: Clean off the old stuff, put on a little fresh Arctic MX-4, and put it all back together.
- Fan check: Are the fans even spinning? Peek with HWMonitor and team up with tech help if you need to.
All Work, No Chill
- Issues: Games and apps push the CPU/GPU too hard.
- Fixes:
- Reduce load: Ditch extra apps using Task Manager or Activity Monitor.
- Cool it down with a pad: Pop on a cooling pad to keep the air flowing.
- Undervolt/Underclock: Use ThrottleStop or Volta to lower how hard your CPU/GPU works.
Too Many Background Stowaways
- Issues: Malware, sneaky miners, or junk apps.
- Fixes:
- Malware scan: Fire up Malwarebytes or the macOS tool.
- Disable startup junk: Chop off unneeded startup apps via Task Manager or System Settings.
Bad Habits
- Issues: Tucking your laptop in bed or working in a hot room.
- Fixes:
- Elevate your space: A stand or even a book under your laptop helps.
- Stay cool: Keep it out of the sun.
- Break it up: Pause your heavy sessions with a breather.
Keep things smooth by updating your BIOS and drivers, swapping out old batteries (they’re heat hogs), and scheduling cleanouts if you’re in a dusty place.
By keeping tabs on temperatures and giving your laptop a bit of TLC, it’ll keep humming along for years. And if the heat\’s still on after all this effort, maybe it’s time for a pro to take a look.

Hey there! So, you’re curious about how to see the temperature of your laptop, huh? No worries, it’s pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it. Although Windows and macOS won’t just tell you the temperature out of the box, there are some neat free tools that can come to the rescue. Let’s dive into it:
1. Pick Your Tool
Deciding on a software to use is the first step. Here are a few you might like:
- Core Temp: It’s simple and gives you live readings for each CPU core.
- HWMonitor: This one shows a bunch of hardware stats, from CPU to GPU temps.
- HWiNFO: If you’re into detail, this tool\’s got a deep dive function with all kinds of sensor info.
- NZXT CAM: I like this for its slick look and extra performance stats.
- Fanny: If you’re rolling with a Mac, this free widget shows both CPU and GPU temps.
2. Download & Set It Up
Alright, for example, if you’re going with Core Temp, you’ll need to:
- Pop over to their website, grab the installer, and keep an eye out so you don’t snag any junk software along the way.
- Once you’re set up, open it up, and bam! You’ll see the current, low, and high temps for your CPU.
3. Checking Out Those Readings
Once the tool’s running, you’ll see the numbers for each CPU core. Now, just so you know, idle temps around 50°C are cool, while on load, 70°C–80°C is normal—but this can vary with different laptops. Some software even lets you stick a widget on your taskbar to monitor temps all the time. Handy, right?
4. Old School – Using BIOS
Here’s a different route: you can sneak into the BIOS or UEFI when starting up your laptop. It’s not gonna show live temps as you’re working, but it’s a nice plan B if software isn’t handy. Just a heads up though, every laptop’s different, so your manual can help navigate this.
5. Keep it Cool, Literally
Dust can be a real bad guy when it comes to cooling. Try to keep those laptop vents clear. Consistently high readings? Might be time to try a cooling pad or tweak some power settings to ease the thermal stress.
So, there you have it. With the right tools and a bit of maintenance, you’ll keep an eye on those laptop temps and ensure your trusty device runs smoothly for years to come.