Why is the fan not spinning in the computer power supply?

Updated: 03/05/2023 by Computer Hope
Computer power supply

Some users may notice that the fan in their power supply isn't spinning and become concerned. However, it's most likely not running because the computer is at an appropriate temperature and doesn't need to be cooled.

If your computer is under heavy load (gaming, video editing, etc.) and the fan never comes on, the PSU (power supply unit) may be faulty. While you can check the motherboard connections and spin the fan to see if it rotates, there's not much to be done beyond that.

In most cases, if the power supply never spins, we recommend replacing it, as trying to open the device and repair it yourself can be very dangerous. Furthermore, as fans help to cool down components and reduce overall temperature, failure to replace the hot PSU could result in additional damage to the other internal parts of your computer.