The fastest way to check your PC temperature

Open Task Manager on Windows by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc, click the Performance tab, then select CPU from the left menu. The temperature appears in the top right corner. On a Mac, open Activity Monitor (search for it in Spotlight), click the System Report button at the bottom, then navigate to Power to see CPU temperature.

If Task Manager does not show temperature — which happens on some older Windows versions — you will need a third-party tool. HWiNFO and Core Temp are free programs that display CPU, GPU, and storage temperatures in real time. Download either one, install it, and the temperature readings appear immediately in the main window.

GPU temperature (your graphics card) does not appear in Task Manager. To check it, use the same third-party tools, or if you have an Nvidia card, open Nvidia GeForce Experience, click the settings icon, enable In-Game Overlay, then press Alt+Z during any task to see GPU temperature in a floating panel.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Task Manager shows CPU temperature under the Performance tab without installing anything, but only on Windows 10 version 1909 and later.
  • Free tools like HWiNFO and Core Temp display CPU, GPU, and storage temperatures together and work on any Windows version.
  • Normal CPU temperature under light use is 30 to 50 degrees Celsius; above 80 degrees Celsius during normal work means something is blocking airflow or a fan has failed.
  • Temperatures spike during gaming or video editing because the CPU and GPU are working hard, and returning to normal when the task ends is expected.
  • Cleaning dust from your case fans and vents is the first step if temperatures are consistently high.

What temperature numbers actually mean

Your CPU has a safe operating range. Under light use — browsing, email, documents — the temperature should sit between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius (86 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit). During heavy work like video editing, 3D rendering, or gaming, temperatures climb to 70 to 85 degrees Celsius, and that is normal. The moment the heavy task ends, the temperature drops back down within seconds.

If your CPU stays above 80 degrees Celsius during normal browsing or office work, something is wrong. The most common cause is dust blocking the intake vents or coating the heatsink fins. The second most common cause is a fan that has stopped spinning. Both are fixable without replacing hardware.

Every CPU has a maximum safe temperature, called the thermal throttling point. For Intel processors, this is usually 95 to 100 degrees Celsius. For AMD, it is typically 95 degrees Celsius. When the CPU hits this temperature, Windows automatically slows the processor down to reduce heat — your computer becomes noticeably slower to protect itself from damage. If this happens regularly, your cooling system needs attention.

Why GPU temperature matters separately

Your graphics card (GPU) runs hotter than your CPU and has a different safe range. A GPU temperature of 70 to 85 degrees Celsius during gaming is normal and expected. Above 85 degrees Celsius, the card is working hard but still safe. At 95 degrees Celsius or higher, the GPU will throttle itself, and your frame rate will drop.

GPU temperature spikes faster than CPU temperature because graphics cards are designed to handle sustained heat during gaming. However, if your GPU idles (sits unused) above 50 degrees Celsius, check whether a background program is using it — sometimes web browsers or video players accidentally use the GPU even when you are not gaming.

Where to find temperature readings in different tools

HWiNFO displays temperatures in a scrolling list. Look for lines labeled Package (overall CPU heat) and Core #0, Core #1, and so on (individual processor cores). The Max column shows the highest temperature since you opened the program. GPU temperature appears as GPU Core or GPU Memory depending on your card.

Core Temp shows a simpler layout: one line per CPU core, plus an overall temperature at the top. It also displays your CPU's thermal throttling point so you know how close you are to the danger zone. This tool is lighter on system resources than HWiNFO if your computer is already slow.

Nvidia GeForce Experience overlay shows only GPU temperature, not CPU. If you have an AMD graphics card, use AMD Radeon Software instead — open it, click Performance, then Metrics to overlay temperature on your screen during gaming.

How to lower temperature if it is too high

Start by shutting down your computer and opening the case. Use a can of compressed air to blow dust out of the intake vents (the front or bottom of the case) and the exhaust vents (usually the back). Hold the can upright and use short bursts. Do not shake the can. If your case has removable dust filters, take them out and rinse them under water, then let them dry completely before reinstalling.

Next, check that all fans are spinning. Look inside the case with a flashlight. The CPU cooler fan (mounted on top of the CPU), the case intake fans, and the case exhaust fans should all be turning when the computer is on. If any fan is still, it has failed and needs replacement. A replacement fan costs between $15 and $40 depending on size.

If fans are spinning and vents are clean but temperature is still high, the thermal paste between the CPU and its cooler may have dried out. This is a more involved fix that requires removing the cooler, cleaning off the old paste, and applying new paste. If you are not comfortable doing this, a computer repair shop can do it for $50 to $100.

Temperature monitoring during gaming and heavy tasks

When you are gaming or doing video editing, temperature will rise. This is not a problem — it is what the hardware is designed for. Open your temperature tool before starting the task and leave it running in the background. Watch the Max reading (the highest temperature reached) rather than the current reading, since current temperature bounces around constantly.

If your Max temperature during gaming reaches 90 degrees Celsius or higher, your cooling system is working at its limit. The computer will still function, but you are close to throttling. If it exceeds 95 degrees Celsius, throttling will kick in and your frame rate will drop noticeably. In that case, improve cooling by cleaning fans and vents, or consider adding a second case fan.

Some gaming laptops run hotter than desktops because they have less space for airflow. A laptop GPU at 85 to 90 degrees Celsius during gaming is normal. If a laptop consistently exceeds 95 degrees Celsius, place it on a hard, flat surface (not a bed or pillow) to allow air to flow underneath, or use a laptop cooling pad — a fan-equipped stand that costs $20 to $50.

Reading temperature in BIOS and UEFI

Your computer's BIOS or UEFI (the firmware that runs before Windows starts) also displays temperature. Restart your computer and press Delete, F2, or F12 during startup (the correct key appears on your screen for a few seconds). Navigate to a menu labeled Hardware Monitor, System Health, or Monitoring. Temperature readings appear there, though the display is less detailed than Windows tools.

BIOS temperature readings are useful if you suspect a problem during startup, before Windows loads. If temperature is high in BIOS but normal in Windows, the issue is likely a Windows driver or background program, not a hardware failure. If temperature is high in both places, the cooling system itself needs attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 60 degrees Celsius normal for my CPU?

Yes, 60 degrees Celsius is normal during moderate use like video playback or document editing. It is in the middle of the safe range. If your CPU sits at 60 degrees Celsius while idle (just browsing), your cooling system is working harder than it should, and you may have dust buildup or a background program using CPU power.

Why does my temperature jump around so much?

Temperature fluctuates because your CPU speeds up and slows down based on what you are doing. When you click a button or open a program, the CPU works harder and heats up. When nothing is happening, it cools down. Jumps of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius in a few seconds are normal. Jumps of 20 degrees or more in seconds suggest a fan is not working properly.

Can I trust the temperature reading in my BIOS?

BIOS temperature readings are usually accurate, but they may differ slightly from Windows readings because BIOS reads the sensor directly while Windows goes through drivers. A difference of 2 to 5 degrees Celsius between BIOS and Windows is normal. If they differ by more than 10 degrees, a sensor may be failing.

What should I do if my CPU temperature is 100 degrees Celsius?

Shut down your computer immediately. At 100 degrees Celsius, the CPU is at or past its thermal limit and throttling hard. Do not use the computer until you have cleaned the fans and vents. If temperature is still 100 degrees Celsius after cleaning, the thermal paste between the CPU and cooler has likely failed and needs replacement.

Do I need to monitor temperature all the time?

No. Check temperature once when you first set up your computer or after opening the case for cleaning, then check again if you notice the computer is slow or the fans are loud. If temperatures stay in the normal range, you do not need to monitor constantly. Temperature tools use a small amount of CPU power themselves, so closing them when you are not checking saves resources.