Noisy Laptop Fan: How to Fix A Noisy Laptop Fan

A noisy laptop fan is every gamer worst nightmare.

Even though the fan is the loudest component on your computer, it shouldn’t create the impression of a mini rocket launchpad in your office.

If your laptop was previously silent but notice a sudden increase in noise from the fan, then the culprit could be changes to in the software or something blocking the hardware.

Luckily, there are simple DIY fixes that can help you fix a noisy laptop fan.

A-List of Ways on How to Fix a Noisy Laptop Fan

Below are some of the simplest and easy to achieve DIY techniques on fixing a noisy laptop fan. Let’s get started.

1. Remove the Dust

Dust is among the leading causes of noise in the fan.

Since laptops are more complex to open, many users ignore this important maintenance step until it is too late.

Accumulated dust may obstruct your laptop’s fan blades.

This obstruction will mean that the fan will have to work harder to do its job resulting in the increased noise.

To ensure that your laptop stays in perfect condition, make a habit of cleaning the cooler. Ensure that the dust is blown out at least once every year

The good thing is that with just a screwdriver, you can open the laptop and prepare it for a thorough clean.

Below are the steps to follow to rid the cooler of dust.

Switch off your laptop and disconnect it from the power supply.

Flip the laptop to the back, remove the battery, and find the air vent on the outer edge of the computer.

Unscrew the panel on the vent area. You should see the fan at this point.

Use a fan or a blow-dryer to blow the dust out of the fan. This process should be completed outside as the fan accumulates a lot of dust in a year.

Be careful not to open a laptop under warranty as this will render it useless. If you have a noise problem, take the computer to the seller and let them handle the noise problem.

Going forward, try to keep your laptop in a dust-free area.

2. Remove Malware

 If you own a laptop, a good antivirus is a must-have if you want to keep your device in perfect condition.

Otherwise, you expose the computer to all kinds of malware.

Malware is a virus that will significantly slow your laptop.

It also raises the laptop’s temperature since the device cannot follow your commands.

If your laptop has malware, you will notice that it gets loud even when performing the simplest of tasks.

If you want to check if your laptop has malware, go to the task manager, click on the process tab, and if strange letters emerge, you likely have a malware problem.

The same applies if you see a strange process.

You can google the process to get a better understanding of the problem you are handling.

If Google doesn’t show anything about it, then it is possibly malware.

If you do not have an antivirus, get one for your laptop. There are many free versions that you can download.

For enhanced protection, get the premium version.

You may pay a few dollars for premium service, but your device will thank you for it.

Even if you don’t see anything from the task manager, remember that malware operates incognito, so it is not easy to see them.

 Just get antivirus, run it to get rid of any malware, and your laptop will be much quieter once this is done.

3. Close Unnecessary Processes

If you have many processes, programs, and opened tabs, your laptop will get noisier. 

Even when the processes are running in the background, they take a considerable part in the laptop’s memory.

Close any unnecessary process running on your PC.

To see which processes are running, go to the task manager and close the ones you do not need.

You can set your chrome browser not to open a process every time you open another tab.

A single process can support multiple tabs as long as they are on the same browser.

You can also avoid opening two processes that will increase the system load.

For example, watching a movie or playing games is more taxing compared to browsing on the net.

Avoid opening two or more systems that stress your computer at the same time.

4. Elevate Your Laptop

You can fix a noisy laptop fan by simply elevating your machine.

This leaves the fans exposed to the air so they can blow enough cool air to keep the computer cool.

You can either buy an elevation tool, and there are plenty of those in the market or improvise with anything that will keep your device off the surface.

Even if you don’t have a noisy fan, consider getting a stand or table that doesn’t cover the laptop fans.

This enhances the processor’s productivity.

5. Get an Extra Cooler

If you hear some grinding noises from your laptop, it may be time to get another cooler.

With an additional cooler, overheating will seize being a problem, and the loud noise will become a thing of the past.

The cooler must be placed under the laptop for you to get the desired results.

Now you have a few fans working to keep your computer cool, so performance is guaranteed.

Any laptop owner who runs complex programs should consider getting a cooler for their device, as this will protect it in the long run.

6. Replace the Thermal Paste

The thermal paste fitted in the heat tank works to absorb heat, so the fan doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the laptop cool.

If this paste is worn out, you should consider replacing it.

Avoid using this method unless you are skilled in opening up and repairing laptops.

If you have not done this before, just get a professional to do it for you.

Use Multiple Method to fix noisy laptop fan

There is no reason you cannot combine all the above methods to fix a noisy laptop fan.

For example, you can close all the programs running in the background and elevate it to ensure optimal cooling.

Getting malware is also recommended for your laptop’s health. In short, do everything that will keep your machine running efficiently now and in the long run.

7. Hard Drive Failure

If none of these methods work, the noise could sign an impending hard drive failure.

 If you realize that the noise originates from the hard drive, you should consider backing up your data.

The grinding, whirring, and clicking sounds could sign that the HDD’s mechanical components have started failing. In this case, the only solution is getting a new hard drive before the one you have fails you.

Final thoughts on Noisy Laptop Fan

Above are some of the best tips on how to fix a noisy laptop fan.

If you’ve discovered increased noise from your computer simply use CTRL+ALT+DEL to force stop some background processes.

You should also let it sit on a flat hard surface. Don’t forget to clean it internally, and always run a reliable computer antivirus program.