Windows 11 doesn’t come with a built-in, always-on display of your CPU’s temperature. Task Manager shows plenty of detail about your processor, including usage and speed, but temperature isn’t part of that view. If you want to check how hot your CPU is running, you generally need to look at your PC’s firmware setup screen, a diagnostics app from your device manufacturer, or a dedicated monitoring tool. This guide walks through each option and what a normal temperature range tends to look like.
Quick steps
- Check Task Manager’s Performance tab first. It won’t show temperature, but it confirms whether your CPU is under heavy load right now.
- Restart your PC and enter its firmware setup screen to view hardware sensor information, which often includes CPU temperature.
- Look for a diagnostics or support app from your PC’s manufacturer, since some include a temperature reading without needing a restart.
- Install a reputable third-party monitoring tool if you want to watch temperature change in real time while you use your PC.
Before you start
A few things are worth knowing before you go looking for your CPU’s temperature:
- Windows 11’s Task Manager shows CPU usage, speed, and core count on the Performance tab, but it doesn’t display temperature by default.
- A reading taken in your PC’s firmware setup screen reflects an idle temperature, since nothing is actively running while you’re sitting in that screen. It won’t tell you how hot the CPU gets under load.
- For ongoing or real-time monitoring, most people rely on software from their PC manufacturer or a third-party monitoring utility, since Windows itself doesn’t ship one.
- Firmware setup screens look different across manufacturers and even between different models from the same brand, so the layout and wording you see may not match exactly what’s described here.
Method 1: Check CPU temperature in your PC’s firmware setup
Viewing your firmware setup screen is one of the few ways to see a temperature reading that comes directly from your motherboard’s own sensors rather than from a separate app.
- Save your work and close any open programs.
- Restart your PC. Depending on your device, you can usually get to the firmware setup screen either through an advanced restart option in Windows settings, or by pressing a specific key during startup. Check your manufacturer’s documentation if you’re not sure which key applies to your device.
- Once you’re in the firmware setup screen, look through the available menus for a section related to hardware information or system status. CPU temperature, if shown, usually appears there in Celsius.
- After noting the reading, back out without saving any changes, then let your PC continue starting up into Windows 11.
Remember that this reading only reflects your CPU at idle, since nothing is really running while you’re in the firmware screen. It’s a reasonable baseline check, but it won’t show you how hot your processor runs during gaming, video editing, or other demanding tasks.
Method 2: Check CPU temperature with your manufacturer’s software
If you bought a prebuilt desktop or laptop, there’s a decent chance it came with a diagnostics or support app that can report system information, including temperature, without having to restart into firmware setup.
- Open the Start menu and search for your manufacturer’s support or diagnostics app, if one came installed on your device.
- Look inside for a system information, diagnostics, or health check section.
- Run a scan if the app asks you to, then check whether CPU temperature appears among the results.
Not every manufacturer tool reports CPU temperature, and the layout varies a lot between brands and models, so you may need to look around a bit on your specific device.
Method 3: Use a dedicated CPU monitoring tool
If you want to watch your CPU temperature in real time while gaming or running demanding software, a dedicated monitoring tool is usually the most practical option, since Windows doesn’t include a live temperature widget of its own.
- Download a monitoring utility designed to read motherboard sensor data. These tools are made by third parties rather than Microsoft, so download only from the developer’s official site and check reviews before installing.
- Install the tool and open it.
- Look for a reading labeled for your CPU, often shown per core or as an overall average.
- Leave it running in the background while you work or play, then check back to see how the temperature changes under different loads.
Because these tools aren’t part of Windows, accuracy and features can vary between programs and even between different motherboards and laptop models. If one tool shows a reading that seems off, it’s worth comparing it against a second tool or your firmware setup reading.
What’s a normal CPU temperature?
Exact safe ranges depend on your specific processor model and cooling setup, so there’s no single number that applies to every PC. As a general rule, most desktop and laptop CPUs run cooler at idle and noticeably warmer under heavy load, and modern processors are designed to throttle performance automatically if temperatures climb too high, in order to protect the hardware. If you’re unsure what’s normal for your exact CPU, check the specifications published by your processor’s manufacturer rather than relying on a generic number.
If it doesn’t work
You can’t find a temperature reading in your firmware setup screen
Some firmware setup screens hide hardware or monitoring information behind an advanced or expert mode toggle. If your screen opens in a simplified view by default, look for an option to switch to a more detailed or advanced mode, then check again for a hardware or system status section.
Your PC boots straight back into Windows instead of the firmware screen
This usually means the restart happened too quickly or a different key or option was needed. Check your manufacturer’s documentation for the correct method of reaching firmware setup on your specific device, and try again.
A monitoring tool shows a temperature that seems unusually high or low
Different tools sometimes read different sensors on the same motherboard, which can lead to slightly different numbers. Compare the reading against your firmware setup value at idle, and if the gap is large, try a second monitoring tool to see which one lines up more closely.
Your laptop feels hot but no tool shows an alarming temperature
Thin and light laptops often feel warmer to the touch than desktops even at normal CPU temperatures, partly due to compact cooling systems. If performance stays smooth and the system isn’t shutting down or throttling heavily, the external warmth alone isn’t necessarily a sign of a problem.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in CPU temperature monitor?
No, Windows 11 doesn’t include a native, always-visible CPU temperature reading. Task Manager shows usage, speed, and other performance details, but temperature has to be checked through your firmware setup screen, manufacturer software, or a third-party monitoring tool.
Why doesn’t Task Manager show CPU temperature?
Task Manager’s Performance tab focuses on usage statistics, such as utilization percentage and clock speed, rather than thermal sensor data, which is why temperature isn’t part of its display.
Is it safe to check CPU temperature in firmware setup?
Simply viewing information in your firmware setup screen is safe, as long as you don’t change any other settings while you’re in there. Back out without saving any changes once you’ve noted the temperature.
Can I monitor CPU temperature while gaming?
You can’t do this through firmware setup, since that requires restarting your PC, but a dedicated monitoring tool running in the background can display live temperature readings while you game or run other demanding software.
Why does my CPU temperature change so much between checks?
CPU temperature naturally rises and falls based on how much work your processor is doing at any given moment. A reading taken at idle in your firmware setup screen will almost always be lower than what you’d see during gaming, rendering, or other CPU-intensive tasks.
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