CPU overheating after BIOS update [Fix]

A BIOS update is essential, as it improves system stability and hardware compatibility. Some users encountered overheating issues after installing the BIOS update on a Windows computer. In this article, we will see what you can do if your CPU starts overheating after the BIOS update.

CPU overheating after BIOS update

Use the following fixes if your CPU is overheating after installing the BIOS update on a Windows computer:

Change your power plan
Check the Task Manager
Check fan connections and clean your computer (if applicable)
Disable Overclocking (if applicable)
Reset BIOS
Reset PC
Contact support

All these fixes are explained in detail below.

1] Change your power plan

Change your current power plan and see if it helps. Open the Control Panel and go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options. Now, select another available power plan. You can also create a new custom power plan.

If only the Balanced power plan is available in the Control Panel, you can restore all missing default power plans by running the required commands in the Command Prompt. The commands to restore the missing default power plans will not work if your system supports the Modern Standby Mode S0 and it is currently active. In such a situation, you need to disable the Modern Standby Mode S0 by executing the following command:

reg add HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power /v PlatformAoAcOverride /t REG_DWORD /d 0

2] Check the Task Manager

A background application or service might be behaving inappropriately and putting a load on your CPU. You can check this in the Task Manager. Open the Task Manager and click CPU under the Processes tab. Windows will show you the applications and services consuming high CPU. Now, you can terminate those applications and services.

Do not terminate Windows Services, as this can make your system unstable. If Windows Processes or Services are consuming high CPU, such as System Process, Windows Update Service, Windows Explorer, SecurityHealthSysTray.exe, etc., you can try some other troubleshooting steps instead of terminating them.

3] Check fan connections and clean your computer (if applicable)

Check the fan connections. The fan is probably not working properly, or there may be a dust buildup in your computer. If you have not cleaned your computer for a long time, clean it now.

If your computer has a liquid cooler, make sure that it is working well. High-performance CPUs require liquid cooling systems in addition to the fans. Therefore, check if the issue is with your liquid cooling system.

Also, check the thermal paste. Your CPU temperature will spike if the thermal paste has worn out. In this case, you have to reapply the thermal paste. If you are not good at this work, it is better to seek professional help.

Read: Graphics card not working after BIOS update on Windows 11

4] Disable Overclocking (if applicable)

The CPU consumes more power when overclocking is enabled. Overclocking is not required when you are doing normal tasks on your computer. High CPU temperature for a long time can damage your CPU. Additionally, you may also experience performance issues and frequent BSOD errors. Therefore, if you have enabled overclocking, you can disable it.

Disabling the overclocking will limit the current to the CPU and fix this overheating issue. Refer to your computer’s user manual to know how to disable overclocking on your computer model.

If this works, you can enable overclocking when playing games. However, before doing this, upgrade your cooling system so that your CPU temperature remains under a safe level.

Read: Windows PC stuck in boot loop after BIOS update

5] Reset BIOS

If the problem persists, you can reset the BIOS to the factory default settings. Before resetting the BIOS to the factory default settings, note down all its current settings, so you can reapply those settings after resetting the BIOS.

6] Reset PC

You can also try to reset your PC and see if it helps. While resetting your PC, select the Keep my files option. This option will reset your computer without deleting your files. However, from a safety perspective, we recommend that you back up all your important files before proceeding.

7] Contact support

If none of these fixes work, contact support.

Does a BIOS update affect the CPU?

A BIOS update improves a system’s stability and hardware compatibility. Therefore, it does not affect the CPU. However, in some cases, after updating the BIOS, you may encounter issues with the CPU, like a sudden spike in CPU temperature. If you encounter CPU issues after installing a BIOS update, reset the BIOS. If this does not help, contact support.

Why is my laptop overheating after a BIOS update?

The BIOS update may have altered your fan and liquid cooling system settings, resulting in overheating issues with your PC. Additionally, there may be dust buildup in your system, which can cause the cooling system to malfunction. To fix this issue, clean your computer and load the default BIOS settings.