How to check your PC or Mac's CPU temperature to see if it's at risk of overheating

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If you recently upgraded your computer, you'll want to pay attention to its CPU temperature. Running your CPU too hot can burn out your components, making your computer unusable. And if you need cooling fans, you'll never know unless you check that temperature.

Fortunately, you can easily keep tabs on your PC or Mac's CPU temperature by installing a third-party monitoring app.

1. For Windows, we recommend the HWMonitor app, which is downloadable at the developer's website for free. 
   
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2. Once it's downloaded, open the .ZIP file and extract all the files inside.
   
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3. Launch the app. You'll see an itemized list of your computer's components, with the temperature listed beneath each. Just find the CPU — it'll be the first item on the page, listed with its model name and number — and check its temperature there. 
   
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1. For Macs, we recommend the free open-source app XRG. You can find and download the app at macupdate.com.
   
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2. Double-click the .ZIP file that's downloaded to unpack it, and the application icon will automatically appear in the same folder you saved the .ZIP file. You might want to move this icon to your "Applications" folder to find it easily in the future.
   
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3. Launch the app, granting it permission to open if your Mac prompts you with a warning about third-party downloads.

4. The XRG app, a slender window with a black background, should appear. You can find temperature statistics for your computer, including the CPU, in the middle portion of the window, right under the fan speed.

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5. You can see more in-depth data by clicking "Window" at the top of the screen, and then selecting "Temperature Sensors." This will give you a readout not just for the CPU in general, but also each of its cores.
   
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6. If you want to change the app's appearance or units of measurement, you can click "XRG" in the top-left corner of the screen, and then "Preferences."

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