How to Check CPU Temperature on Windows
Windows 11 doesn't show CPU temperature on its own. Here is how to read it in the BIOS or a free tool, and what counts as a safe temperature.
Windows 11 does not show your CPU temperature anywhere built in — Task Manager’s Performance tab reports a GPU temperature, but never the processor. To read the CPU you either check the BIOS/UEFI or install a small, trusted monitoring tool. Both take a couple of minutes. This has not changed on Windows 11 24H2 or 25H2 — Task Manager still reports only a GPU temperature, so a free tool such as Core Temp or HWiNFO remains the way to see per-core numbers and confirm whether the chip is throttling near its Tjmax.
Why Task Manager won’t tell you
People look in Task Manager, see no CPU temperature, and assume everything is fine — it simply is not measured there. The Performance tab can show a GPU temperature when the graphics driver exposes it, and that is the only temperature Windows surfaces on its own. For the processor you need firmware or a third-party reader.
Two reliable ways to read it
The quickest one-off check is the BIOS/UEFI: restart, tap the setup key during boot (often Del or F2), and the CPU temperature is usually on the main hardware page. For ongoing monitoring inside Windows, install a trusted tool such as Core Temp, HWiNFO, or HWMonitor, or your motherboard maker’s app. These show live per-core temperatures while you work or game.
| Method | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| BIOS/UEFI | A quick at-rest reading | Can’t watch it under load |
| Core Temp / HWiNFO | Live monitoring | Free, shows per-core temps |
| Motherboard app | Desktops with a vendor suite | Armoury Crate, Ryzen Master, etc. |
What counts as a safe temperature
Numbers vary by chip, but as a rough guide: idle around 30-50°C, under load roughly 60-85°C, and thermal throttling near 95-100°C. A modern CPU touching the high 80s during a game is normal; sitting near 100°C, or throttling, is not. When one runs hot, the usual causes are dust in the heatsink and fans, poor case airflow, old thermal paste, or a process pinning the processor. If temperatures climb whenever load spikes, check high CPU usage, and if heat is making the machine lock up, why Windows 11 keeps freezing covers the crash side.
Read the temperature before you worry about it — most PCs run warmer than people expect and are completely fine. Clean the dust and improve airflow first; repasting the cooler is the step to try only if a clean, well-ventilated machine still runs hot.
Common questions
Does Windows 11 24H2 show CPU temperature in Task Manager?
No. Task Manager still shows only a GPU temperature, and only when the graphics driver exposes it. Reading the processor needs the BIOS/UEFI or a tool such as Core Temp, HWiNFO, or HWMonitor.
At what temperature does a CPU start throttling?
Most modern Intel and AMD chips set their maximum junction temperature, or Tjmax, near 100°C, and thermal throttling begins as they approach it. Brief spikes into the high 80s or 90s under load are normal; sustained time at 100°C is not.
My CPU runs hotter since the 24H2 update. Why?
After a feature update, older chipset, power-management, or GPU drivers can leave the CPU running warmer or busier than before. Install the latest chipset and power drivers from your motherboard or PC maker before assuming a cooling fault.
Is it safe to install Core Temp or HWiNFO?
Yes. Both are widely trusted, free tools that read the CPU’s built-in sensors. Download them from the developer’s own site and decline any bundled extras during setup.