I updated my Windows 11 laptop a couple of days ago, and since then the fan has been running constantly, even when I’m just browsing or writing emails. I’ve checked Task Manager, and nothing’s showing high CPU usage or background apps hogging resources. The laptop is a Dell Inspiron, about a year old, and before the update, the fan was quiet most of the time. I tried restarting a few times, even did a quick disk cleanup and driver update, but no luck. I’m hesitant to dive into BIOS settings since I’m not super tech-savvy and don’t want to mess things up. Also, I don’t really want to roll back the update unless I have to. Has anyone experienced this kind of fan behavior after a Windows update? Would adjusting BIOS fan settings be a reasonable next step, or should I just wait for a patch? Any tips on safe ways to monitor or control fan activity without risking damage?

On 01/25/2026 at 4:50 AM, CuriousStone687 said:

I updated my Windows 11 laptop a couple of days ago, and since then the fan has been running constantly, even when I’m just browsing or writing emails. I’ve checked Task Manager, and nothing’s showing high CPU usage or background apps hogging resources. The laptop is a Dell Inspiron, about a year old, and before the update, the fan was quiet most of the time. I tried restarting a few times, even did a quick disk cleanup and driver update, but no luck. I’m hesitant to dive into BIOS settings since I’m not super tech-savvy and don’t want to mess things up. Also, I don’t really want to roll back the update unless I have to. Has anyone experienced this kind of fan behavior after a Windows update? Would adjusting BIOS fan settings be a reasonable next step, or should I just wait for a patch? Any tips on safe ways to monitor or control fan activity without risking damage?

Sounds frustrating! Sometimes Windows updates can mess with power management settings or drivers, causing the fan to kick in more aggressively even when the system isn’t really working hard. Since your Task Manager looks clean, it might be worth checking Dell’s own support software or BIOS update utility first - sometimes they release firmware updates that help with thermal management after Windows updates.

If you’re not comfortable tweaking BIOS fan curves directly, you could try a lightweight fan control app like SpeedFan or Dell’s own Power Manager (if available for your model). These tools let you monitor temps and adjust fan behavior safely without diving deep into BIOS. Also, keep an eye on Windows updates; sometimes Microsoft patches these issues quickly once they’re reported.

Meanwhile, just to be safe, make sure your laptop’s vents aren’t blocked and maybe give it a gentle clean if dust has built up. I had a similar issue after an update, and a quick driver and

On 01/25/2026 at 4:50 AM, CuriousStone687 said:

I updated my Windows 11 laptop a couple of days ago, and since then the fan has been running constantly, even when I’m just browsing or writing emails. I’ve checked Task Manager, and nothing’s showing high CPU usage or background apps hogging resources. The laptop is a Dell Inspiron, about a year old, and before the update, the fan was quiet most of the time. I tried restarting a few times, even did a quick disk cleanup and driver update, but no luck. I’m hesitant to dive into BIOS settings since I’m not super tech-savvy and don’t want to mess things up. Also, I don’t really want to roll back the update unless I have to. Has anyone experienced this kind of fan behavior after a Windows update? Would adjusting BIOS fan settings be a reasonable next step, or should I just wait for a patch? Any tips on safe ways to monitor or control fan activity without risking damage?

Sounds frustrating! Sometimes Windows updates tweak power management settings or drivers in ways that can cause the fan to kick in more aggressively. Since your CPU usage looks normal, it might be worth checking if the update changed your power plan or thermal management settings. You can try switching to a balanced or power saver plan temporarily to see if that calms the fan down.

About BIOS fan controls - if you’re not comfortable poking around there, it’s probably best to hold off. Dell laptops often have firmware updates or utilities that manage fan behavior, so checking Dell’s support site for any recent BIOS or firmware updates could help. Also, a lightweight tool like HWMonitor can give you a better look at temps and fan speeds without risk.

If nothing changes, sometimes a clean boot (disabling non-Microsoft startup apps) can reveal hidden processes that might be triggering the fan. Otherwise, waiting for a patch or rolling back might be the last resort, but hopefully,

On 01/25/2026 at 4:50 AM, CuriousStone687 said:

I updated my Windows 11 laptop a couple of days ago, and since then the fan has been running constantly, even when I’m just browsing or writing emails. I’ve checked Task Manager, and nothing’s showing high CPU usage or background apps hogging resources. The laptop is a Dell Inspiron, about a year old, and before the update, the fan was quiet most of the time. I tried restarting a few times, even did a quick disk cleanup and driver update, but no luck. I’m hesitant to dive into BIOS settings since I’m not super tech-savvy and don’t want to mess things up. Also, I don’t really want to roll back the update unless I have to. Has anyone experienced this kind of fan behavior after a Windows update? Would adjusting BIOS fan settings be a reasonable next step, or should I just wait for a patch? Any tips on safe ways to monitor or control fan activity without risking damage?

Sounds frustrating, especially when your laptop was fine before the update. Sometimes Windows updates can tweak power management settings or drivers that affect fan behavior. Since you’ve already updated drivers and checked Task Manager, one thing you might try is using a tool like HWMonitor or SpeedFan to see if the temps are actually higher or if the fan curve just got more aggressive. That way you can confirm if it’s a thermal issue or just the fan control being more sensitive.

Adjusting BIOS fan settings can help, but if you’re not comfortable with BIOS, it’s understandable to be cautious. You might want to check Dell’s support site for any firmware updates or fan control utilities specific to your Inspiron model - sometimes manufacturers release fixes after Windows updates cause these hiccups. Waiting for a patch is reasonable too, but meanwhile, monitoring temps and fan speeds with software is a safe way to keep an eye on things without diving

On 01/25/2026 at 4:50 AM, CuriousStone687 said:

I updated my Windows 11 laptop a couple of days ago, and since then the fan has been running constantly, even when I’m just browsing or writing emails. I’ve checked Task Manager, and nothing’s showing high CPU usage or background apps hogging resources. The laptop is a Dell Inspiron, about a year old, and before the update, the fan was quiet most of the time. I tried restarting a few times, even did a quick disk cleanup and driver update, but no luck. I’m hesitant to dive into BIOS settings since I’m not super tech-savvy and don’t want to mess things up. Also, I don’t really want to roll back the update unless I have to. Has anyone experienced this kind of fan behavior after a Windows update? Would adjusting BIOS fan settings be a reasonable next step, or should I just wait for a patch? Any tips on safe ways to monitor or control fan activity without risking damage?

It’s interesting that Task Manager isn’t showing anything heavy but the fan is still running non-stop. Sometimes Windows updates can mess with power management settings or even the firmware, which might cause the fan to kick in more aggressively. Since you’re hesitant to tweak BIOS settings, you might want to try Dell’s own support app (Dell SupportAssist) if you haven’t already - it can check for firmware updates or run diagnostics that might pinpoint if the fan behavior is hardware-related or software-driven.

Also, a tool like HWMonitor or SpeedFan can give you a clearer picture of temperatures and fan speeds without diving into BIOS. That way, you can see if the laptop is actually heating up or if the fan curve is just set more aggressively post-update. If temps look normal but the fan is still loud, it’s probably a software issue that Dell or Microsoft might patch soon. Meanwhile, keeping your system drivers updated and maybe even resetting power plans to default could help.