Video card fan not spinning [Solutions-2022]

Locking ourselves at home and spending time in front of the computer is one of the most effective ways to escape from the summer heat we are in. It can be quite annoying if your video card fan does not work while playing games on one of these days.

Ways to re-enable the video card fan

The fact that the fans do not spin in the summer heat can make the already hot graphics cards more troublesome. Failure of this system to prevent your graphics card from overheating can cause display problems or even hardware failures.

Graphics cards need fans to run properly in order to operate at the desired performance level. In cases where the video card fan does not rotate, we recommend that you do not use your hardware. You can try some of the following ways to get your video card fan running again.

Does the video card fan really need spinning?

Before moving on to the other steps, you may need to double-check that your graphics card fans are not actually spinning. Because in general, GPU fans do not start spinning unless they are under load and the card reaches a certain temperature. If the graphics card temperature is below a certain level, the GPU fans will not work in order not to waste energy.

There are several ways to test this. First, restart your computer and monitor your GPU fans. Your system will usually run all your fans at full speed for a short time at boot to check all the hardware. If your video card fan isn’t spinning during this process, there might be a real problem.

As a second method, you can stress test your GPU. For this, you can find various applications such as FurMark. While the program is running, your GPU will heat up and your fans will kick in. If your fans have not started, terminate the test shortly. If your GPU fans are still not spinning after these tests, we can move on to the next steps.

Check video card and cables

Now it’s time to take a look inside your computer. Turn off your computer, unplug it and open your case. First remove and reseat the GPU from the PCIe slot. Push firmly and make sure it locks into place. If you have a second PCIe slot of the appropriate size, you can also place your video card in this section.

Second, if your graphics card has an external power outlet (this is what modern high-performance graphics cards usually do), make sure all the cables from your power supply to your graphics card are plugged in. Check several times to make sure these cables are not connected incorrectly.

Dust off the graphics card

Let’s not forget to clean the video card while opening the inside of the ready case. A large amount of dust accumulation can cause your GPU fans not to spin. We recommend that you wipe the dust in this section gently with a lint-free cloth. If your video card is clean, you can skip this step.

Update your video card drivers

It’s helpful to keep your GPU drivers up to date so you can take advantage of the latest features and bug fixes. By updating the video card drivers, you can eliminate the software problem that prevents your fans from spinning, if any.

Or you can try to do the opposite of this situation. With the last update of your video card, it may have encountered an error that prevents the fans from working. That’s why it’s a good idea to reinstall the last driver for your video card.

Check the graphics card fan curves

As we mentioned earlier, typically a GPU’s fans don’t spin until they reach a certain temperature. As the temperature rises, the fans start spinning faster to keep the card cool. You can change the fan curve if you want the fans to spin earlier than the default setting.

A fan curve usually charts the temperature of the card against the fan speed. If your GPU fan is not spinning, your fan curve may be misconfigured. You can find different programs to change your GPU fan curve. MSI Afterburner is one of them.

Try the video card in another computer

If you have the opportunity, you can try your video card on another system. So you can test if the error is from the graphics card or another component in your computer. For example, due to a fault in your power supply, the graphics card may not be getting enough power. When testing your video card in another system, it’s a good idea to make sure that all connections are in place.

Take the graphics card to the authorized service

If all these steps failed, we can assume that your video card is faulty. If your video card is still under warranty, you can replace your video card or get a refund. If you have an older graphics card, you can try to have it repaired by a trusted place. On the other hand, replacing the graphics card will appear as another option.

If your video card fan is not spinning, we recommend that you solve this problem as soon as possible without taking it lightly. Otherwise, you may face a bigger expense. So, what kind of controls do you do when your video card fan is not spinning? You can share your views with us in the comments section.