Cooling fan stopped working and nothing I try works

[Sydney-28]

My HP ENVY x360 Laptop keeps telling me that my cooling fan is no longer working and use of my laptop is not recommended. My laptop is only two years old. I have tried clearing the vents and a hard reboot, but nothing is working.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Sydney-28 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

My sincere apologies for the issue with your laptop—when your HP ENVY x360 says the cooling fan isn’t working and use is “not recommended,” it’s likely detecting a hardware fault that could lead to overheating or shutdowns. 

Since you’ve already tried clearing the vents and doing a hard reboot, let’s go deeper into what might actually help.

What’s Likely Going On

• The fan may be physically stuck or failing due to wear or dust buildup.
• The fan sensor could be misreporting, especially if the fan spins briefly at startup.
• A BIOS or firmware glitch might be preventing proper fan control.
• There could be a power delivery issue to the fan itself.

Steps to Diagnose and Fix

1. Check BIOS Settings

• Restart your laptop and press Esc, then F10 to enter BIOS.
• Look for “Fan Always On” or similar settings and enable it.
• Save and exit. If the fan spins briefly and then stops, it may be a sensor issue.

 

2. Run HP UEFI Diagnostics

• Restart and press Esc, then F2 to launch diagnostics.
• Run System Tests > Component Tests > Fan.
• If it fails, it confirms a hardware issue.

 

3. Update BIOS and Chipset Drivers

• Visit the HP ENVY x360 support page.
• Download and install the latest BIOS update and chipset drivers.
• These updates can fix fan control bugs and improve thermal management.

 

4. Try Compressed Air Again (Fan Access)

• If you’re comfortable opening the back panel:
  • Power off and remove the battery (if removable).
  • Use compressed air directly on the fan blades.
  • Gently nudge the fan to see if it’s stuck or stiff.

 

5. Consider Fan Replacement

• If diagnostics confirm failure and the fan doesn’t spin at all, it may need replacing.
• You can check out this iFixit guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.
• Replacement fans are relatively inexpensive and can be installed with basic tools.

Let me know how it goes!

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye