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Download Core Temp for Windows

This page is the single place to grab Core Temp — the desktop temperature monitor that reads the digital thermal sensor built into each processor core. Everything below refers to the same current release; there is no separate “pro” edition and no bundled extras in the package.

Current release: Core Temp 1.20.1

Download the installer
Windows installer, 32-bit and 64-bit in one package.

Compare the hash of the file you saved with the values above before you run it. On Windows you can do that in PowerShell with Get-FileHash .\Core-Temp-setup-v1.20.1.150.exe.

Portable builds

If you would rather not install anything — on a work machine, a test bench or a USB stick — use the standalone archive instead of the setup file: 32-bit or 64-bit. Unpack it anywhere and start the executable; the program keeps its settings in an ini file next to itself.

What you need to run it

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8/8.1, 7, XP and the Server line from 2003 through 2025.
• Processor: any x86 chip from Intel, AMD or VIA with a digital thermal sensor — see the usage guide for what the readings mean.
• Privileges: the sensor is read through a kernel driver, so the first launch asks for administrator approval.

Installing step by step

1. Save the installer and check its hash against the values published above.
2. Run the file and confirm the Windows account-control prompt.
3. Read the component screen. Optional third-party offers, when present, have their own checkbox — clear it if you only want the monitor itself.
4. Finish the wizard and let it start Core Temp.
5. Approve the driver prompt on the first run so the sensor can be read.

Nothing else has to be configured. The main window fills in as soon as the program has identified the processor.

After the install

The first thing worth doing is watching the numbers for a minute while the machine is idle, then again while something heavy is running. That pair of figures tells you far more than a single reading — the CPU temperature guide explains how to read them. If you are on the current Windows release, the Windows 11 notes cover the taskbar and start-up details; Windows 10 users have their own page.

Download questions we get often

Is Core Temp free?

Yes for private use. Deploying it inside a company or shipping it with another product is a separate matter — the terms of service cover what the licence allows.

Installer or portable build?

The installer registers the program with Windows so it can be removed from Programs and Features and can start with the system. The portable archive leaves no trace outside its own folder. Functionally they are the same monitor.

My antivirus flagged the download

Reading a thermal sensor requires a kernel-mode driver, and that pattern is what heuristic scanners react to. Verify the checksum first; if it matches the value on this page, the file is the one that was published here.

Do I need the 32-bit or the 64-bit build?

The installer contains both and picks the right one. Only the portable archives are split, and virtually every desktop or laptop sold in the last decade runs 64-bit Windows.

Something is not working

Blank readings, a missing tray icon or a failed start are covered on the troubleshooting page.

Older builds and the translation tool are listed under “More downloads…” on the home page, together with their checksums.