Fix that noisy computer fan yourself! And no, we don't mean your highly enthusiastic tech-savvy friend. You know that moment when you need to do something on the computer, perhaps play a video or start a program or a game, and the moment you start it up, the computer fan starts raving and revving? What is this noisy computer fan telling you? Is there a method to safely diminish its sound? Let's find out.
The purpose of a computer or laptop fan is to prevent the inner circles of your device from heating up. When so many technological components are crammed together in one metal box, chances are they will generate more heat than is safe. That's where the fan comes in.
If your laptop fan makes uncharacteristic noises, it may be broken and must be replaced by a professional. But sometimes, if it's not that serious, you can fix the problem on your own.
1. Ease the workload
You may be putting your computer in great strain without even realizing it.
Windows users:
Open your task manager by holding Ctrl and Alt together, and then hitting the Delete button. Either the Task Manager will pop up promptly, or you'll be offered a menu, from which you can select the Task Manager.
The Task Manager window shows you each and every action and program going on on your computer. From this window, you can easily close programs and processes happening in the background by choosing a program and clicking the End Task button on the bottom right.
You can also prevent apps from popping up altogether by going to Settings>Apps>Startup, and tweaking on or off any apps that automatically run when you turn your computer on.
Mac users can press the Cmd, Option, and Esc buttons to open their Force Quit Application window, from which they can choose the apps to be closed.
2. A tip for Mac users...
Even the most powerful and newest models of MAC computers tend to have particularly noisy fans. To fix that problem, you might want to reset either your System Management Controller, or the NV-RAM. Sound like gibberish? Let Jason Cross from Mac World walk you through it.
...and a tip for Windows users
There are several steps you can take on your computer that directly control when your fan will go into action. This video briefly explains all the steps you can take. We suggest keeping it as a reminder of what you did, in case you'd like to reverse your actions.
3. Clean it up
Just like any fan, your computer fan loves accumulating dust. This is also something best done by a professional. The inner parts of a computer are extremely delicate, and sometimes opening your computer yourself may void the warranty.
4. Try physically cooling down your computer
If you have a laptop you can purchase an external fan stand for your laptop to sit on, or simply perch it up on an elevated laptop stand, so that it is exposed to airflow from the bottom. An external cooling method such as these two is a nice temporary solution if your computer is chronically overheating. We suggest you read further about overheating causes, and if the problem persists, back up your computer and consult a professional.
