Some PC users like to control their fan speed and use a Speedfan app to control them. Other’s simply use it to monitor their PC’s temperature and voltages. However, your Speedfan may not show you your computer fans from time to time.
Sometimes, this is related to the speed of your fans, and they might be the only ones not showing up on your app. In other cases, various errors can make the app buggy, and it won’t show you the CPU temperature either.
Whatever the case, in this article we will present to you all the main reasons why many users face the SpeedFan not showing fans errors, and what you can do to fix it!
Why is SpeedFan not showing fans or CPU temps?
For some users, nothing is more frustrating than an overheating laptop. A Speedfan software is their best solution. However, what do you do when your Speedfan can’t detect your fan on your PC? Here are the most common reasons why this happens.
1. Outdated software
Your Speedfan might be outdated, and thus it can’t detect your fans. Outdated software doesn’t perform as well, especially when you consider new technology. Your Speedfan might also have issues displaying your CPU temperature or lack control when it comes to fan speeds.
The latest Speedfan software should work on most PCs. However, you should also consider that you may have installed a faulty Speedfan app as well.
2. Outdated BIOS software
Though maintaining your BIOS software up-to-date won’t necessarily make your PC faster, an outdated BIOS can cause various problems, including making your Speedfan have problems with detecting your fans.
3. Motherboard incompatibility
Your motherboard might be incompatible with Speedfan, and thus it won’t work correctly, and it won’t show up your fans.
New motherboards, or even very old ones, are usually among the most common reasons for Speedfan or other alternative software issues, especially when detecting fans.
You have to make sure that your Speedfan supports your motherboard chip. If your motherboard is blinking orange, here is what it means.
4. Windows 7 and 10 issues
When it comes to using Speedfan on Windows 7, you might face some compatibility issues, and your fans won’t show up.
Windows 10 might have CPU control and fan speed and might not support alternative software sometimes.
This can result in what appears to be a buggy Speedfan app. However, it’s mostly related to compatibility.
5. Slow fan speeds
Some users reportedly encountered the Speedfan not showing fans error because their fan speeds, in general, were too low.
It’s entirely possible for this to happen, especially if there is some sort of software issues at play as well.
6. Dying CPU fan
In the direst cases, a Speedfan not showing fans might indicate a dying CPU fan. Though this is rarely the case, you should check the status of your fans by disassembling your PC and performing a visual check.
Read more about the signs that your CPU fan is dying here. Learn what the signs are and what you can do about them, and more about general CPU fan problems and how to fix them.
7. Something might block your fans
Many CPU and GPU problems come when something is blocking your fans, which can also cause your fans to not be detected in your Speedfan app.
If the fans are somehow blocked, in some cases they won’t be detected at all by most software, not just Speedfan.
8. Weak or unsecured fan connection
It only takes a couple of minutes to check and see if your CPU fan is secured correctly to your PC. If the connections are weak or wrongly placed, it might result in the Speedfan app not detecting your fans at all.
9. Faulty OS
Any operating system has its flaws, which is especially true when it comes to pirated versions. If you don’t own a proper license for your Windows, it can cause many issues in the long run, especially bugs and glitches.
If you installed your OS through such ways, this may be the reason your Speedfan is not detecting PC fans. This, however, won’t be the only problem in the long run.
How to make Speedfan detect fans?
Speedfan provides a great link between your fans and a control system, yet there are various reasons why your Speedfan is not showing any fans in its software.
No matter the reason, here is how you can fix the Speedfan not detecting fans issue!
1. Update software to fix SpeedFan not working
Your Speedfan might not show your fans because you may be using outdated software. Be sure to use the latest Speedfan for fan control and to get your gaming laptop to the ideal temperature.
Also, make sure that you have installed a good Speedfan source. You might have downloaded faulty software. The best thing to do is to uninstall and reinstall the software from a trusted online source.
2. Update BIOS
Any outdated BIOS won’t necessarily cause problems right away, but sooner or later, it will, including hardware detection. To ensure that your Speedfan detects your fans, you should update your BIOS to the latest version.
To update your BIOS, you need to download the latest version from the manufacturer’s website. Unzip this version on a USB flash drive. Reboot your PC and enter the BIOS settings with the commands appropriate to your device.
Sometimes, you only need to press ESC or various F keys to enter BIOS. Once there, use the menu to update your BIOS. It’s a good idea to save your PC files beforehand. In some cases, BIOS might recommend this to you.
Do not try to skip it, as you may lose valuable information. After the updates are completed, install the latest version of Speedfan and check to see if your fans show up or not in the app.
3. Check motherboard compatibility
Though Speedfan works on most motherboards, some don’t work well together. If you suspect compatibility issues, search for your motherboard model and check if other users experience issues with Speedfan as well.
Any incompatibility will result in glitches, such as your fans not showing up in Speedfan. This is also triggered by outdated software, so be sure to use the latest Speedfan app.
If you have updated both the Speedfan software BIOS and checked your motherboard compatibility, and your fans still won’t show up or cause overheating, then you need to go again into BIOS and bypass CPU fans.
You need to open the Power tab and access ACPI. Change the settings from S3 to S1, and save them as Custom Default Settings. Exit BIOS (might work by pressing F10), and check your heating status once again.
4. Windows 7 & 10 configuration
If your Speedfan is still not showing your fans in neither Windows 7 nor Windows 10, you need to do some modifications. Open Speedfan and click on Configure. Go to the Advanced tab, and open the Chip option.
Select your motherboard, and then PWM1 mode. Use the scrollbar to get to the Set To option. Select Software Control, and then go back and do the same for PWM 2 and PWM 3 modes. Click the OK button.
Now, you need to test your Speedfan. Press the UP key to increase CPU fan speed. If the Speedfan software is working correctly, then your CPU fan speed will increase.
5. Increase fan speed
In some cases, your Speedfan might not detect your fans since they aren’t working properly. Try to increase your fan speed by opening up some applications. If you have other methods of manipulating your fan speeds, do it.
Check to see if there are any changes in your Speedfan app. If your fan speeds don’t increase, something might be blocking your fans, which is why the software doesn’t detect your hardware.
6. Check the CPU fan
Open up your PC and inspect your CPU fan. See if anything blocks the fan blades.
Be sure to turn off your device and unplug it before doing so. Carefully remove the object from the fans, if there is something to remove.
7. Clean up the CPU fan
Dust accumulation can also cause some hardware detection issues, and this might also be a reason why your Speedfan doesn’t detect your fans. When you open up your device, make sure to give it a proper cleanup.
Since you most likely installed the Speedfan due to temperature or speed issues with your device, a cleanup will also help you with these issues. You will need compressed air, a cotton swab, and adequate cleaning products, such as alcohol, to clean your fan.
Hold the fan blades when you use the compressed air, and then gently rub them with the cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Use a cloth to wipe clean the fan, and remove any remaining liquids. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, move on to the next step.
8. Reconnect the cables
Your fans might not be adequately connected, and thus the hardware isn’t detected in the Speedfan app. Similarly, you may have connected your CPU fans to the wrong socket. Check if the cables are properly connected.
Make sure that they are connected in the proper sockets. After everything is complete and you don’t notice other issues or physical damage, reboot your PC and try the Speedfan app again.
9. Reinstall OS or try different fan control software
If you don’t regularly update your OS or install a pirated version, it will cause a lot of problems for you in the long term. Apart from failing software, hackers can also target you, as outdated software acts as a gateway for them.
If all the other solutions above didn’t solve your Speedfan not showing fans error, you might need to either update your PC or completely reinstall your OS. Make sure you install a licensed OS on your device.
If you don’t want to do this yet, you can also try other fan control apps apart from Speedfan, such as Corsair Link 4, MSI Afterburner, Argus Monitor, or Easy Tune 5, among others.
These apps mostly work on Windows, but if you use Linux, you can try Mac Fan Control or smcFanControll.
10. Take it to service
Checking up the status of your device by taking it into service is a healthy practice that will ensure its lifespan and functionality.
If you still can’t detect your fans in Speedfan or other fan control apps and you have tried all of the above solutions, the best thing to do is to take your device into service.
There, a professional will inspect your device and assess what the problem is and if you have any other unknown issues. You can also get some tips on maintaining the ideal temperature on your device and how to properly maintain your fans. If you have hard drive issues, then this article is for you!
