Loud fans, sudden slowdowns in games, or a laptop that's too hot to touch all make you wonder how hot your CPU is running. The catch: Windows has no built-in screen that shows CPU temperature. You'll need your PC's firmware (BIOS/UEFI) or a free monitoring app. Here's how to check, what's roughly normal, and how to cool things down.
1. Task Manager: GPU temperature and CPU usage
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and open the Performance tab. If your graphics driver supports it, the GPU section shows a GPU temperature. CPU temperature isn't shown anywhere in Task Manager, though.
What Task Manager does show is CPU usage, which is still useful. If the CPU stays busy while you're doing nothing, a background process is generating that heat. On the Processes tab, click the CPU column to sort and find the culprit.
2. Check in the BIOS/UEFI
This needs no extra software.
- Go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Restart now next to Advanced startup.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
- Look on the main screen or in a menu named something like Hardware Monitor or PC Health for the CPU temperature.
Since Windows isn't running, you only see an idle reading. Many laptops don't show temperatures in their firmware at all.
3. Use a free monitoring app
To see temperatures while you actually use the PC, you need an app. Popular free options include HWiNFO, HWMonitor and Core Temp.
- Download from the official website. Avoid lookalike download sites that bundle extras.
- Run it and find the CPU Package temperature (on AMD, often Tctl/Tdie).
- Note the temperature at idle and again during a game or heavy task.
Intel and AMD's own utilities and many laptop makers' control apps also show temperatures.
4. What temperature is normal?
Every CPU has its own limits, so there's no single correct number. These rough ranges are commonly used as a guide:
| Situation | Rough range |
|---|---|
| Idle | About 30 to 50°C (laptops often run a little warmer) |
| Gaming or heavy work | About 60 to 85°C |
| Worth investigating | Staying at 90°C or above for long periods |
Some recent desktop CPUs are designed to run into the 90s under heavy load. When a CPU gets too hot, it protects itself by slowing down (thermal throttling), so it won't simply burn out, but sustained high temperatures are worth fixing. For your chip's exact maximum, check the manufacturer's spec page for your model. Our PC specs tool shows which CPU you have.
5. How to bring temperatures down
- Clean out dust: shut down and unplug, then blow dust out of vents, fans and heatsinks with compressed air. Hold fans still while you do this so they don't overspin.
- Improve airflow: use laptops on a hard surface, not a bed or your lap. Leave space behind desktop PCs.
- Stop background hogs: use Task Manager (step 1) to close what you don't need. Unexplained high CPU usage is also a reason to run a malware scan.
- Adjust power mode: in Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode, choosing a balanced option reduces heat.
- Check thermal paste and the cooler: on older PCs, fresh thermal paste or a better cooler can help a lot. If you're not comfortable opening the case, ask a repair shop.
FAQ
My PC shuts off when it gets hot.
That may be overheating protection. Start with dust and airflow. If it keeps happening, a fan or cooler may have failed, so get it checked. Our blue screen guide may also help.
Different apps show different temperatures.
They may read different sensors, so a few degrees of difference is normal. If they disagree wildly, compare with the BIOS reading.
It only runs hot in summer.
Room temperature directly affects CPU temperature. If you're within normal ranges, there's nothing to worry about.