How to Fix a Noisy Laptop Fan

Prevent your laptop from overheating.

The fan inside a laptop computer keeps air circulating and keep its cool. A noisy fan results if the assembly is not sealed correctly or it dust and debris build up over time. This causes the oil to dry and creates a scraping sound when parts com in contact. A noisy fan may signal that your laptop is overheating.

Instructions

1. Turn the laptop off and remove from any power sources including the battery.

2. Flip the laptop over so that you are looking at its underside. Find an air vent, probably on the outer edge of the laptop, near the access panel. Remove the screws from the panel. The fan sill is underneath the panel you just removed.

3. Remove any dust on the fan either by blowing or using compressed air. Make sure to blow the air from several different angles to ensure it gets removed from all sides.

4. Replace the panel, screws and battery and restart the laptop. If you have a quiet running fan, no further work is needed (except regular cleaning of the fan). If you still hear loud noise, you may need to oil the fan assembly. An oil made for machines that run hot, such as sewing machine oil, is a good choice.

5. Repeat steps 1 and 2. Carefully add a drop or two of oil to the fan assembly, then reassemble it. You should now have a quiet running fan. If you still find the fan is noisy, it may need to be replaced.

References

• PC World: Noisy Laptop Fan