GPU Fans Not Spinning? Main Causes And How To Fix

Often when building your PC, you'll run into one issue or another. Your GPU fans not spinning is one of those issues, but it might occur later as well. Here's how you fix it.

Your GPU fan not spinning is a frustrating issue and one that can occur for various reasons. As a result, there are several remedies to this problem, some of which are quick and straightforward, while others are a bit more intricate.

There are few things more frustrating than building your brand new PC and realizing that a component isn’t functioning properly, potentially rendering your entire machine useless. If that issue is as fundamental as the GPU fan not working, it can be even more aggravating.

Important: Some GPU fans aren’t supposed to spin all the time. These GPUs feature what’s called passive cooling or 0 RPM Mode, which leaves the heatsink responsible for cooling the GPU when it’s not under intense stress.

Most contemporary GPUs have a certain threshold where the fans should stop spinning. This is usually around 40 or 50 degrees Celsius.

If you try running a game and the GPU fan isn’t spinning, there is likely a problem.

Fortunately, the simplest and most direct solution will often fix the issue. To know exactly how to deal with the GPU fan not spinning, you need to know how to diagnose your problem accurately.

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Software Bugs And Fixes

There are numerous potential issues that can occur due to a software bug or a similar issue. There are a few superb ways to troubleshoot and fix your problem.

Stress Test

msi afterburner screenshot
You can use MSI Afterburner to stress test your GPU

If your GPU fan or fans aren’t set to spin constantly, you can easily force them to kick into gear and do what they are intended for. The most straightforward solution is to run a demanding game and check if the fan activates.

A superior solution is to install a benchmarking tool like MSI Afterburner, for example, and run it. The top benchmarking tools will tell you precisely what speed your fan is spinning (measured in revolutions per minute or RPM) when under different stress levels.

Modern graphics cards come with automatically-adjustable fan speeds and will work perfectly in most cases, provided the GPU isn’t overclocked. If you want to tinker with that, we strongly advise that you properly set up your fan’s RPM to support the temperature increase that comes with overclocked GPUs.

If the factory fan speed settings aren’t sufficient, you can always install a tool like the previously mentioned MSI Afterburner or something more specialized, such as SpeedFan, and adjust the temperature yourself.

Check Your Drivers

NVIDIA GeForce Experience
If you have an NVIDIA GPU, you can use NVIDIA GeForce Experience to update your drivers.

If the fan still isn’t rotating after you have applied stress tests or manually altered the fan speed, it’s possible that you’ve been barking up the wrong tree.

To fix the issue, you might need to update your GPU driver. However, due to the ever-changing and dynamic nature of GPUs, this is improbable as most contemporary graphics cards come with software that is in charge of checking for new drivers and installing them.

It’s also possible that you’ve unintentionally deactivated your fan’s default settings, preventing the driver from functioning correctly. However, more often than not, this is a manufacturing issue.

Once you’ve verified that you have the most recent drivers, it might be a prudent idea to reinstall them, just to be entirely certain that they’re up to date.

Restart Your PC

Restarting A Windows 10 PC
Restarting your PC is very easy and quick if you have your OS installed on an SSD

To quote Roy from “The IT Crowd,” “Have you attempted turning it off and on again?

The actual numbers will only ever be anecdotal, but you would be surprised by just how many PC-related problems can be solved with a system restart.

The benefits of a reboot are numerous, so we’ll only mention a few here. For example, the RAM is wiped clean when you restart your computer.

Due to its nature, the RAM loses all data when the power shuts off, but while it is active, it can slow down your processes. This is because a memory leak can sometimes occur when an app uses RAM but fails to flush it properly on exit, so it is still assigned to that task.

When you reboot the PC, you free memory that wasn’t being utilized but was reserved as though it was.

Restarting can also fix your internet connection. If the manufacturer’s software is unable to establish a connection with the server, it will now have a fresh chance. If that doesn’t work, you probably have a network connectivity issue, which is a separate problem altogether.

Hardware Issues

Regrettably, these occur more often and are more difficult to resolve. Repairing them will necessitate you to unlock your case and manipulate the GPU or other parts. Let’s begin with the task.

Power Connectors May Not Be Connected

GPU Power Connector Cables
Ensure that the power connectors are connected properly to your PSU and your GPU

This isn’t a revolutionary point, but it is something that can be easily overlooked, mainly due to how small the cables are. It can be hard to see with the naked eye whether or not they’re connected, especially if you’re unsure what to look for.

Before checking for this, you should know if your GPU requires a PCIe cable or if it can take power directly off a PCIe lane. It can be worrying to open your PC and see that there’s no cable connected to the graphics card. Before you jump into that, make sure you know if your GPU even needs the power cable.

It’s also important to know that it is possible, due to a recent upgrade, that either your GPU or another component has overwhelmed your PSU (power supply unit). This can result in it being unable to adequately supply power to all the components.

If you are unsure precisely how much energy your PC uses, don’t worry, as there’s no need for you to possess that knowledge.

You can simply use a component detecting software, like CPU-Z, and then use a power consumption calculator to see exactly how much power your PC needs. If it looks like your PC is supplied with enough power, you can move on to the next possible issue.

Related:Best PC Power Supply Calculators

If you have already checked all the cables in your PC and everything is connected properly, but your GPU fan is still not working, it might be a good idea to plug it into a different computer (one that you know is functioning correctly) and see if the issue persists.

Dusty Fan

dusty gpu
GPUs will accumulate a lot of dust over time. You should clean them occasionally.

Sometimes, due to gradual dirt buildup, the fan will eventually stop spinning.

The simplest solution is to simply clean it, but that might not be such a straightforward prospect. Fortunately, if this is the issue, you won’t need to be very meticulous to get the fan moving again.

If you want to avoid this issue in the long term, you should give the fan a comprehensive clean. There are two main approaches as far as cleaning is concerned, which include compressed air and the use of a cotton swab.

On the surface, using compressed air seems like a flawless method. While it is very efficient, there are often small pockets that you miss, either because they’re difficult to reach or you missed that spot.

used to be the preferred technique, and it can be highly effective for accessing tight spots. Still, it is also laborious having to clean every component individually, not only on the GPU but the entire motherboard.

In short, our recommended method is to use compressed air, but you should also have cotton swabs ready to make sure you can get to the challenging spots in your case.

Oil The GPU’s Fan Bearings

Lubricating GPU Fan Bearings
Apply some lightweight oil to the whole of your GPU fans’ bearings

Another result of age: a fan’s bearings can start grinding and even stop spinning completely. The solution for this is to use a light lubricating oil, and the difference will be instantly noticeable.

Many people will turn to WD-40 in these situations as it is so easily available, but you should absolutely not use it. It will only make things worse and potentially cause irreversible damage to the bearings, rendering your GPU fan useless.

If none of the preceding tips have worked for you, there is only one solution left.

Change The Fan

GPU Fans
If nothing else works, you need to change your GPU fans, which may still be cheaper than replacing the whole GPU

Unfortunately, if nothing else has worked, you are left with no option but to replace the fan. For obvious reasons, this is the most problematic solution and should be your last resort.

You will first need to remove the GPU from the case and then cautiously remove the fan. If you are inexperienced, you can easily damage the GPU. Don’t be put off but remember to do this very meticulously.

Once the fan is removed, you can insert the replacement fan. When getting a new fan for your GPU, make sure you get one specifically for your graphics card. The positive news is that fans are usually adaptable to multiple GPUs, but they will probably need to be from the same series.

Another thing to be wary of when getting a new fan is to check that your PSU has the appropriate power cable. It probably does, but, especially if you’re looking to upgrade your fan, you need to be 100% sure.

If your fan has stopped working, it’s most likely to be an age issue. If that’s the case, you should consider getting a brand new GPU. Most modern mid-range graphics cards can easily outperform the high-end cards from five years ago.

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How To Install A New Graphics Card
Aleksandar Cosic

Alex is a Computer Science student and a former game designer. That has enabled him to develop skills in critical thinking and fair analysis. As a CS student, Aleksandar has very in-depth technical knowledge about computers, and he also likes to stay current with new technologies.