How to Clean a Laptop Fan (With and Without Opening It)

Dust is the number one reason a laptop fan gets loud and the laptop runs hot. It builds up as a felt-like mat on the heatsink fins right where the fan blows, and the fan has to work harder to push air through it. There are two levels of cleaning. I always try the quick outside clean first, and only open the case if that doesn’t fix it.

Level 1: Clean it without opening it

This is what HP and Dell both recommend first, and it often helps a lot.

• Shut down and unplug the laptop.
• Find the vents. They’re usually on the bottom (intake) and the back or side (exhaust).
• Hold the can upright. Tilting or shaking it can spray cold liquid propellant.
• Blow short bursts into the exhaust vent, then into the intake vents. Aim so dust is pushed out, not deeper in.
• If you can see the fan through a vent, hold a blade still with a toothpick or plastic tool while you blow.
• Repeat a few times until no more dust comes out.

Turn it on and see if it’s quieter. If the fan is still loud or the laptop still runs hot, go to Level 2.

Level 2: Open it up for a deep clean

Do this only if it’s out of warranty, or you’re OK with the risk.

• Look up your model on iFixit or in the maker’s service manual. It shows the screws and clips, and whether the fan is reachable from the bottom cover.
• Remove the bottom cover screws with the right bit from precision screwdriver set. Keep them in order. Laptops often use different lengths.
• Pop the cover off with a plastic pry tool, starting at a corner or an edge near a hinge. Watch for ribbon cables attached to the cover on some gaming models.
• Disconnect the battery if your model allows it, and follow anti-static habits that matter.
• Hold the fan still with a finger on the hub or a plastic tool.
• Brush the dust off the fan blades, then use short bursts of air on the blades and the copper heatsink fins.
• Look closely at the fins where the fan blows into them. That dust mat often sits there. You may need to lift it out with tweezers or the brush.
• For a really thorough clean, some guides (like iFixit’s for the HP OMEN 16) unscrew the fan and unplug its cable so you can clean both sides. If you do, reseat the cable firmly afterward. A loose fan cable is a common cause of fan errors.
• Put the cover back on and test.

Don’t blow into the laptop with your mouth. iFixit’s guide warns against it because it puts moisture on the electronics.

Should I repaste while it’s open?

Only if the fan is attached to the heatsink and you’re taking that assembly off anyway, or the laptop still runs hot after a good clean. If you lift the heatsink off the processor, you have to put fresh paste back. Some laptops also use thermal pads that need replacing. See thermal paste and pads.

How often should I clean it?

HP’s OMEN maintenance guide suggests every 6 to 12 months for normal use, and more often with pets, dust, or heavy gaming. I just check whenever the fan starts getting louder than usual.

Why not a vacuum?

Dell and HP’s OMEN guide both warn against vacuums. They can build up static, and the suction can spin the fan hard enough to hurt the bearing. Compressed air or an electric duster is safer.

If it’s still loud after cleaning

• Grinding, rattling, or ticking that doesn’t go away usually means a worn bearing. Cleaning won’t fix that. See laptop fan not spinning for testing and replacing the fan.
• Still loud with a clean fan? Check background apps and fan modes in laptop fan loud or always running.
• Still running hot? See laptop running hot.

On a desktop? The same idea applies, with more room to work. See clean a dusty desktop.