Windows 11 doesn’t show your CPU temperature anywhere in its settings. To check it, install a free monitoring app such as Core Temp, HWMonitor or HWiNFO, or look in your PC’s BIOS/UEFI. Windows can show two other temperatures on its own: your graphics card’s temperature in Task Manager > Performance > GPU, and your SSD’s temperature in Settings > System > Storage > Disks & volumes. As a rough guide, a CPU that idles at 30–50°C and stays below about 85°C under heavy load is healthy.
Applies to: Windows 11 desktops and laptops with Intel or AMD processors. Most steps also work in Windows 10. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Which temperatures can you check?
- CPU (processor): the one most people mean by “PC temps”. It needs a third-party app or the BIOS/UEFI.
- GPU (graphics card): built into Task Manager for most dedicated graphics cards.
- SSD (storage drive): built into Settings for NVMe and many SATA SSDs.
- Motherboard and fans: available in full monitoring apps such as HWiNFO and HWMonitor, or in the BIOS/UEFI.
Check your GPU temperature in Task Manager
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Select Performance in the left pane. If you only see a small window, select More details first.
- Select GPU 0 or GPU 1. A desktop with a graphics card or a gaming laptop usually has the dedicated card listed as GPU 1.
- Look for GPU Temperature under the graphs. It’s also shown next to the GPU’s name in the left pane.
Task Manager shows the temperature only for dedicated graphics cards with up-to-date drivers. Integrated graphics built into the processor, which most thin laptops use, don’t report a temperature here.
Check your SSD temperature in Settings
- Press Windows logo key + I to open Settings.
- Go to System > Storage.
- Expand Advanced storage settings and select Disks & volumes.
- Select Properties next to your drive.
- Find Temperature under Drive health.
Most SSDs are comfortable below about 70°C. Older hard drives usually don’t report a temperature in Settings.
Check your CPU temperature with a free app
A monitoring app reads the temperature sensors built into your processor. These three are free and widely used. Download them only from the developer’s own website, because copies on download sites often bundle unwanted software.
Core Temp (simplest)
- Download Core Temp from the official Core Temp website.
- Run the installer. On each screen, read carefully and clear any checkbox that offers extra software you didn’t ask for.
- Open Core Temp. The temperature of each processor core appears at the bottom of the window, next to the Max value it has reached since you opened the app.
- Core Temp also adds a temperature icon to the system tray. If you don’t see it, select the up arrow on the taskbar to show hidden icons.
HWMonitor (CPU, GPU, drives and fans)
- Download HWMonitor from the CPUID website. The ZIP version runs without installing.
- Open it. Expand your processor’s name, such as Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 5, and look under Temperatures.
- Read Package (Intel) or Tctl/Tdie (AMD) for the overall CPU temperature. The Value column is the current reading and Max is the highest since you opened it.
HWiNFO (most detailed)
- Download HWiNFO from the HWiNFO website. Choose the installer or the portable version.
- Open it, select Sensors-only, and then select Start.
- Scroll to your CPU section and find CPU Package (Intel) or CPU (Tctl/Tdie) (AMD).
HWiNFO shows hundreds of readings, which is useful for troubleshooting but can be overwhelming. Use Core Temp if you only want the CPU temperature.
AMD and Intel tools
If you have an AMD Ryzen processor, AMD’s free Ryzen Master app shows the CPU temperature along with clock speeds. Some PC makers, including Dell, HP and Lenovo, also include their own system utilities that show temperatures and fan speeds. Check the apps that came with your PC before installing something new.
Check your CPU temperature in the BIOS/UEFI
Your PC’s firmware shows the CPU temperature without installing anything. The reading is taken while Windows isn’t running, so it shows an idle temperature, not what happens when you play a game or render a video.
- Open Settings > System > Recovery.
- Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now, then confirm.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
- Look for a page called Hardware Monitor, PC Health Status, H/W Monitor or similar. On some PCs the temperature is shown on the main screen.
- Exit without saving changes to return to Windows.
Many laptops have simplified firmware that doesn’t show temperatures at all. Use an app instead on those.
What about PowerShell?
You may see a PowerShell command that reads MSAcpi_ThermalZoneTemperature. It reports a motherboard “thermal zone” reading, not the CPU itself, and on many PCs it returns an error or a value that never changes. It isn’t a reliable way to check CPU temperature, so use one of the apps above.
Signs your PC is overheating
You don’t always need a temperature reading to know something is wrong. Check your temperatures if you notice any of these:
- Fans running loudly all the time, even when you’re only browsing or reading email.
- Games or videos stutter after a few minutes of smooth play. That’s often thermal throttling, when the processor slows itself down to cool off.
- The case or keyboard is uncomfortably hot, especially around the vents on a laptop.
- Random restarts or shutdowns during heavy work, with no error message.
- Blue screen errors that appear only when the PC is under load.
Test your temperatures under load
An idle reading tells you little on its own. To see how well your PC cools itself, check the temperature while it’s working hard:
- Open Core Temp, HWMonitor or HWiNFO and leave it running.
- Play a demanding game, export a video, or run a benchmark for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Switch back to the monitoring app and check the Max value it recorded.
If the maximum stays in the normal range below, your cooling is fine. If it reaches 95°C or more on a typical processor, work through the cooling tips that follow.
What’s a normal PC temperature?
Exact limits depend on your processor, but these ranges apply to most modern Intel and AMD CPUs:
- Idle or light use (browsing, email): about 30–50°C on a desktop, and up to about 60°C on a thin laptop.
- Gaming or heavy work: about 60–85°C is normal.
- Above 90°C for long periods: too hot for comfort. Some recent chips, such as AMD Ryzen 7000 and 9000 desktop processors, are designed to run up to 95°C under full load, but a steady 90°C on a typical PC is a sign of a cooling problem.
- Maximum: every CPU has a maximum safe temperature, often listed as TjMax and usually 95–105°C. When a CPU reaches it, the processor slows itself down (thermal throttling) to protect itself. If it keeps rising, the PC shuts down.
For graphics cards, 65–85°C while gaming is typical. Check your processor’s exact limit on Intel’s or AMD’s product page if you’re unsure.
How to lower high PC temperatures
- Clean out dust. Dust in the fans and heat sink is the most common cause of overheating. Turn the PC off, unplug it, and use short bursts of compressed air on the vents and fans.
- Give it room to breathe. Keep a desktop a few inches from walls. Use a laptop on a hard, flat surface, not on a bed or sofa that blocks its vents.
- Check that the fans spin. If a fan is silent under load or makes grinding noises, it may need replacing.
- Close heavy background apps. Open Task Manager, select Processes, and sort by CPU to find what’s working the processor hardest.
- Change the power mode. In Settings > System > Power & battery, choose Balanced or Best power efficiency instead of Best performance.
- Replace the thermal paste. On a PC that’s several years old, fresh thermal paste between the CPU and its cooler can lower temperatures noticeably. If you’re not comfortable opening the PC, ask a repair shop.
Troubleshooting
Task Manager doesn’t show GPU temperature
Your PC uses integrated graphics, or the graphics driver is out of date. Update the driver from your graphics card maker or through Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates. Integrated graphics don’t report a temperature in Task Manager.
The monitoring app shows 0°C or no CPU temperature
The app doesn’t recognize your processor yet. Update to the latest version from the developer’s website. Very new processors can take a few weeks to be supported.
Two apps show different temperatures
They’re probably reading different sensors, such as one core versus the whole package. Compare the Package or Tctl/Tdie reading in each app. A difference of a few degrees is normal.
The temperature jumps up and down quickly
Modern processors boost their speed for a fraction of a second when you open an app, which causes short spikes. Watch the average under steady load rather than the peaks.
The PC shuts down by itself when it gets hot
The CPU or GPU is hitting its safety limit. Clean the fans, check that every fan spins, and run the PC with its side panel or vents unobstructed. If shutdowns continue, the cooler or its thermal paste may need attention.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in CPU temperature monitor?
No. Windows 11 shows GPU temperature in Task Manager and SSD temperature in Settings, but not the CPU temperature. You need a monitoring app or the BIOS/UEFI.
Can I show the CPU temperature on the taskbar?
Yes. Core Temp adds an icon to the system tray that shows the current temperature. Drag it from the hidden icons area onto the taskbar to keep it visible.
Is 80°C too hot for a CPU?
Not during gaming or other heavy work. It’s within the normal range for most processors. It would be high if the PC were idle.
Why does my laptop run hotter than a desktop?
Laptops have smaller fans and heat sinks in a tight space, so they run warmer under the same load. Higher readings are normal as long as the laptop doesn’t throttle heavily or shut down.
How do I check CPU temperature in Windows 10?
The same apps and BIOS steps work. See how to check CPU temperature in Windows 10 for details.
Related: How to enable AVX support in Windows 11.
Related: How to check fan speed on Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.