I’m using Windows 11 and lately my laptop has been getting really warm, especially when I’m running multiple programs. I’m worried it might be overheating, but I don’t know how to check the CPU temperature. Can anyone tell me the easiest way to monitor CPU temps on Windows 11? Looking for built-in methods or trusted apps.
Man, I feel you—I once thought my laptop was gonna straight launch into orbit it got so hot. You can’t check CPU temp directly in Windows 11, which is just classic Microsoft “why would anyone want that?” logic. But it’s easy with some tools.
For most folks, HWMonitor (just Google and download it) is super simple. Open it, and bam, “Temperatures” column shows what your CPU cores are doing. You’ll see numbers for each core—not rocket science, but if you see stuff sitting above 90°C for a while, it’s sweating bullets in there.
Some people use Core Temp or Speccy too, both free and lightweight. Core Temp literally shows temps in the system tray, so you can watch CPU panic in real time while you open 18 Chrome tabs like a madman.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can peek in your BIOS/UEFI (restart, smash F2/Del, cross your fingers). But it’s usually less detailed and doesn’t actually help if you want temps during normal laptop use.
If it’s hotter than usual, check if your fans sound like jet engines. Or, you know, maybe dust bunnies have set up a cozy commune inside your laptop. Give those vents some compressed air love, and if you’re brave, maybe peek inside and clean it out (but take pics first if you’re forgetful like me and can’t remember which screw goes where).
Seriously, don’t ignore high temps—thermal throttling will slow you down, and eventually hardware can croak. Keep an eye, maybe set alerts in HWMonitor, and if all else fails, use your laptop as a space heater next winter.
Honestly, kinda wild that Windows STILL won’t just show CPU temp out of the box—thanks for nothing, Microsoft. @mike34 covered most of the external tools, but here’s a twist: some newer laptops actually bake basic temperature monitoring into their manufacturer control panels. Think Dell Power Manager, HP Command Center, Lenovo Vantage, all that jazz. They’re usually pre-installed (or hiding in the Start menu), and may give you a dashboard with CPU temp, fan speed, thermals, sometimes even per-component breakdowns. Worth a dig if you hate extra downloads or want less nerdy graphs.
Also, I’d be cautious with “watch it spike in real time for fun” advice. If your laptop’s running hot even idling, there’s probably something amiss—bloatware, runaway process, or a sketchy Windows Update gone wild. Neat trick: open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), watch what’s eating CPU. Sometimes it’s just a dumb app running amok, not natural heat output at all.
One thing I’ll disagree with @mike34 on: using BIOS/UEFI. In my experience, it’s a pain, and honestly not practical since it only shows temp when you’re not stressing the system—so not much use diagnosing while your machine is actually hot from real workload. BIOS temp isn’t gonna catch your CPU sneaking into meltdown territory mid-Zoom call.
If you’re seeing constantly high temps (>90°C sustained), don’t just clean vents—rethink where you’re using your laptop. On a bed or couch = heat trap. Flat hard surface or cooling pad is a lifesaver. Oh, and keep an eye on Windows Updates and battery firmware. Recent updates sometimes introduce random power bugs that make fans run wild for no reason.
In short: try the built-in OEM tools if you have them, double-check what’s eating up resources, and yeah, install a reputable monitoring app if you want all the nitty-gritty. If you’re feeling fancy, undervolting your CPU (search for “ThrottleStop” or “Intel XTU,” but BE CAREFUL) can also work if you know your stuff and want to shave off a few degrees without killing performance. But, seriously, don’t ignore thermal paste replacement if your system’s a hot potato and over a couple years old—no software will fix dried-up goop.
Not gonna lie, it’s kind of wild that Windows 11 still can’t show you CPU temperature natively when even your fridge flashes temps on a display these days. Others already mentioned HWMonitor, Core Temp, and their thoughts on using OEM tools, but here’s another angle: If you absolutely hate installing extra stuff, or just want something that blends in, take a look at Rainmeter with a sensor skin. Not as plug-and-play as HWMonitor, but you can make your desktop show live temps, no switching windows needed.
On the flip side: The learning curve is steeper, and you depend on Open Hardware Monitor or similar as a data source, so setup’s less idiot-proof than Core Temp or even those OEM dashboards. Still, big style points, and no obsessed tray icon staring at you.
Whether you go with a tool like , or one of the classics already discussed, here’s a quick pit stop on what really matters:
- Pros: gives you constant, detailed CPU readings, sometimes per-core and with logging. You can even set alarms, which is handy if you ever get distracted and forget your laptop’s frying.
- Cons: GUI overload for newbies, sometimes too much data, and minor risk that third-party software misreads sensors or throws up false alerts. Also: HWMonitor, as solid as it is, still isn’t “official” readings—OEM tools sometimes pull from proprietary controllers.
Competitors like @andarilhonoturno brought up the importance of dusting and undervolting (solid), while @mike34 is all about those classic hardware utils, but there’s no one-size-fits-all. If you want totally minimal, try a Rainmeter skin or lean on your laptop’s manufacturer utility. If you’re a monitoring nerd, go wild with HWInfo (which is more detailed but absolutely not friendly for first-timers).
In the end: Pay attention to temps and context—short spikes are fine, constant 90°C+ isn’t. Don’t stress if your CPU chills in the 70s when busy, but re-evaluate your setup or maintenance if it starts sweating for no good reason. And for heaven’s sake, keep your laptop off the blanket pile while gaming.