How to Fix GPU Fans Not Spinning (2024)

When you finish building a new gaming rig, the last thing you want to know is the GPU fans aren’t spinning. This also happens to many gamers: the temperature keeps rising and the fans just won’t budge.

But don’t worry if you’re in the same boat. Here’re some working fixes that have helped many users, try them and get your fans working right away.

Is it normal?

Well, it depends. GPU fans don’t always spin. Some only spin at specific temperatures, especially when you’re talking about high end GPUs that come with a thermal control gimmick.

But if the GPU temperature hits 80°C and you don’t hear the sound of the fans, that could be a bad sign.

Try these fixes

You might not need to try all the fixes. Simply work your way down until you find the one that does the trick.

1. Make sure all cables are plugged in
2. Check the GPU fans
3. Update your graphics driver
4. Configure GPU RPM (fan speed)
5. Upgrade BIOS of your GPU

Fix 1: Make sure all cables are plugged in

The first thing you want to do is make sure the PCIe power cables are securely plugged in. This usually happens on the first PC built. You should check if your GPU is connected to the PSU, and the cables are not torn or threadbare.

If you can see the GPU in device manager or you have output from the GPU, that means it’s largely not a connection problem.

Fix 2: Check the GPU fans

Next you need to take a look at the GPU fans. When powered off, you can try to spin the fans with your finger to see if they’re stuck. If it’s an old computer, you can pull the card out and cotton-swab it a bit. To revive an old GPU, you can also try greasing the bearings with machine oil or lubricant grease.

If you’re sure it’s not a hardware issue, take a look at the next fix.

Fix 3: Update your graphics driver

More often than not, you’re actually dealing with a driver issue. The fans not spinning issue could mean that you’re using a broken or outdated graphics driver. To rule out this possibility, always make sure you’re using the latest correct computer drivers.

You can update your graphics driver manually, by visiting the GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA/AMD), downloading the latest correct installer and installing step by step. But if you’re not comfortable playing with device drivers, you can use Driver Easy to scan, repair and update your drivers automatically.

1. Download and install Driver Easy.
2. Run Driver Easy and click the Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
   
3. Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system.
   (This requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All. If you don’t want to pay for the Pro version, you can still download and install all the drivers you need with the free version; you just have to download them one at a time, and manually install them, the normal Windows way.)
   

After updating all your drivers, restart your PC and check if the fans spin now.

If the latest drivers can’t help you, check out the next fix. (Or you can go a bit further to do a clean driver reinstall with DDU.)

Fix 4: Configure GPU RPM (fan speed)

RPM stands for revolutions per minute, which is what we usually call fan speed. To see if it’s a wrong configuration, you can use hardware monitor programs like MSI Afterburner to adjust the fan speed manually. This is a safer approach compared to stress tests.

1. Download and install MSI Afterburner.
2. Open MSI Afterburner. At the bottom right corner, click the A icon to toggle auto control.
   
3. When the fan speed control becomes available, drag the slider to toggle the fan speed.
   

If you’re not hearing anything even when the slider is at 100, simply continue to the next fix.

Fix 5: Upgrade your GPU BIOS

A corrupted GPU BIOS can also cause fan problems. Usually you don’t need to worry about GPU BIOS, but it’s a potential culprit and should be in your checklist. Note that this is not for everyone, and if you’re not so confident about your computer skills, it’s best to ask an expert.

You can follow this post to upgrade the GPU BIOS. Normally you’ll be fine if you choose the correct model and manufacturer. On top of that, be sure to back up the original BIOS in case things go south.

Hopefully this post helps you get the fans spinning with zero issues. If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to jot them down in the comments below.

• GPU