How do I check my laptop's CPU temperature, and what is too hot?

Where to read the temperature

Windows does not show CPU temperature in Task Manager, which reports usage and speed but not temperature. macOS and ChromeOS also do not show it in their built-in monitors. You need a tool.

Source	How it works	Notes
BIOS or UEFI	Restart and press the setup key shown at startup (often F2, Delete or F10). Look for a hardware monitor or PC health page	Shows idle temperature only, since nothing is running
Maker's app	Lenovo Vantage, Dell SupportAssist or Dell Optimizer, HP Support Assistant or OMEN tools, MyASUS	Often shows temperature and fan speed. Features vary by model
Third-party monitor (Windows)	Free tools such as HWiNFO or Core Temp read the sensors on the processor	Use a reputable download from the maker's own site
Third-party monitor (macOS)	Tools such as the free or paid menu bar monitors read the sensors. Apple's Activity Monitor has no temperature field	Apple silicon Macs expose fewer sensors than older Intel Macs

Intel itself notes that if you use third-party software to measure temperature, you should make sure it is validated to work with your processor, and says many third-party utilities monitor the digital thermal sensor on the processor die. Different tools can show slightly different numbers for the same chip, so compare like with like.

How to test it properly

1. Close everything and let the laptop sit for a few minutes. Note the idle temperature.
2. Open the monitor, then start something demanding: a game, a video export, or a large file compression.
3. Watch the temperature and the clock speed for five to ten minutes.
4. Stop the load and see how quickly the temperature drops.

You are looking for three things: where it idles, where it peaks, and whether the clock speed falls while it is hot.

What counts as too hot

Intel's temperature FAQ explains the key terms. Tjunction max is the highest temperature a processor allows before it uses internal thermal control to reduce power and limit temperature. Intel says that limit varies per product and is usually between 100 and 110 degrees Celsius, and that you should check the product specification page for your model. Intel also says it does not provide typical operating ranges for each processor, because they depend on system design and workload.

Intel's article on whether it is bad to reach maximum temperature says that it is not necessarily a bad thing. Many processors use turbo behaviour that runs at very high frequency for a short time, so the temperature can climb rapidly and reach the maximum quickly. In sustained work, the processor may run at or near its limit, and it can adjust frequency and power to prevent overheating and damage.

The same FAQ says it is unlikely a processor would be damaged by overheating, because of two protections: throttling, then automatic shutdown. That is Intel's statement for its processors. AMD and Apple publish their own limits for their chips, so look up your model if you want a firm figure.

So a reading in the 90s Celsius during a heavy task is not alarming on its own for a laptop. These readings are more worth acting on:

• High at idle. If the laptop sits hot with nothing running, something is wrong: a runaway process, blocked vents, or a fan that is not spinning.
• Throttling. The clock speed drops well below the rated speed while the temperature sits at its limit. Intel lists reduced operating frequency and general slowness among overheating symptoms.
• Sudden shutdowns. Intel lists automatic shutdown shortly after boot as a symptom. It is the protection working.
• Hot to the touch around the keyboard or underside. Surface heat is separate from chip temperature, but a very hot case is a reason to check airflow.

What to do if it is running hot

1. Check Task Manager or Activity Monitor for a process that is working constantly.
2. Clear vents and put the laptop on a hard surface. The thread on loud fans has the airflow and dust steps.
3. Switch the power mode from performance to balanced and compare.
4. Update the BIOS and drivers from the maker.
5. If it is old, thermal paste and fan service may be needed.

If you contact support, record the idle temperature, peak temperature and clock speed. That is far more useful to a technician than "it is hot".