Cool and monitor the temperature of your laptop under Ubuntu
Published on 15 July 2025
Do you feel that your laptop is overheating abnormally under Ubuntu? This article proposes an approachsoftwarecomplete forcool, monitor et master the temperatureof your machine.
Objective of this guide
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Reduce the overall temperature of the computer
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Optimize energy management
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Monitor critical components (CPU, GPU, etc.)
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Avoid slowdowns due tothermal throttling
@startuml start :Installer les outils; :Analyser les capteurs; :Appliquer des réglages; note right: cpufreq, tlp, auto-cpufreq :Surveiller en temps réel; stop @enduml
Prerequisite
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An Ubuntu machine (20.04 or higher recommended)
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Internet connection
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Command-line proficiency (beginner to intermediate)
Install and configure the tools
lm-sensors` to detect the sensors
sudo apt install lm-sensors
sudo sensors-detect
sensors|
Answer`YES`to all the questions of`sensors-detect`to detect the modules. |
tlp` : intelligent energy manager
sudo apt install tlp tlp-rdw
sudo systemctl enable tlp
sudo systemctl start tlp@startuml (*) --> "Active TLP?" if "Yes" then --> [yes] "Consumption reduction" --> "CPU frequency limitation" else --> [no] "Startup TLP" --> "Automatic activation" endif -->(*) @enduml
cpufrequtils` : limit CPU frequencies
sudo apt install cpufrequtils
cpufreq-info
sudo cpufreq-set -g powersave-
powersave: limits frequency peaks -
`performance`favors power at the expense of temperature
auto-cpufreq` : simplified dynamic management
git clone https://github.com/AdnanHodzic/auto-cpufreq.git
cd auto-cpufreq
sudo ./auto-cpufreq-installer
sudo auto-cpufreq --install@startuml start :Analyse charge système; :Réglage fréquence CPU; :Vérification température; :Adaptation dynamique; stop @enduml
thermald` : automatic thermal protection
sudo apt install thermald
sudo systemctl enable thermald
sudo systemctl start thermaldReal-time monitoring
sensors` on the command line
watch -n 2 sensorsGUI option: `psensor
sudo apt install psensorSimple graphical interface for CPU, GPU, fans.
Additional tips
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Close heavy tabs and applications (e.g., browsers)
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Avoid intensive usage on battery
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Monitor the processes via`htop`:
sudo apt install htop
htopClean the system to limit overloads
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt autoclean
sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=3dTo go further
You can create a service`systemd`customized to automatically apply some settings at startup. Would you like an example in a future article? Let me know!
Conclusion
By combining these simple tools, you will gain:
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A controlled CPU temperature
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Less ventilation noise
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Better autonomy
Don’t forget to monitor your temperatures regularly to prevent any overheating.
__ Better to prevent than to melt your CPU. </think>