How to show CPU and GPU temperature on your Windows desktop
Windows doesn't show hardware temperatures on the desktop. Spacedash's free Sensors widget does: it reads GPU temperature from the NVIDIA driver, and CPU temperature (and AMD or Intel graphics) from HWiNFO.
Setting it up takes a few minutes.
What you need
- Windows 10 or 11
- Spacedash (free)
- HWiNFO (free), for CPU temperature and for AMD or Intel graphics
Steps
1. Install Spacedash
Download Spacedash and run the installer. It's free and needs no account.
2. Choose the screen
Open Settings and find Screens. Switch on the monitor you want. Under Show, “Desktop only” keeps Spacedash on your desktop behind your apps, and “Always” keeps it over every window.
3. Turn on HWiNFO's sensors
Install and run HWiNFO, open its settings and switch on Shared Memory Support. With an NVIDIA card and only GPU temperature in mind, you can skip this step.
4. Add the Sensors widget
In Spacedash, open Layout and pick your monitor under Screen. Tap an empty cell and choose Sensors. It starts with CPU temperature and GPU temperature.
5. Place it and pick a style
Drag the widget where you want it and pull a corner to resize. Right-click it and choose “Customize…” to switch between Gauges, Bars, Big numbers and List, and to choose up to four readings.
Checked against the app on 15 Nov 2026.
Tips
- The free version of HWiNFO switches Shared Memory Support off after 12 hours. Turn it back on in HWiNFO and the readings return.
- A reading your PC doesn't report shows a dash instead of a number.
- The colours turn warm at 70 °C and hot at 85 °C by default; change both under Customize.
- To see only the numbers over your wallpaper, set the monitor's Background to “Transparent” under Settings → Screens.
Widgets in this guide
Questions
Can I see CPU temperature without HWiNFO?
Not in Spacedash. CPU temperature comes from HWiNFO. GPU temperature on NVIDIA cards works without it.
Does this need administrator rights?
Spacedash doesn't. It reads what the NVIDIA driver and HWiNFO already publish.
Can I keep the temperatures visible while a game is running?
Put Spacedash on a second monitor, or set the monitor's Show option to “Always” so it stays over other windows.
More how-to guides
How to put a clock on the Windows 11 desktop
Add a clock to your Windows 11 or 10 desktop with Spacedash's free Clock widget: five styles, any size, any time zone, on any monitor.
How to show the current song on a second monitor
Show the song playing in Spotify or your browser on a second monitor in Windows, with artwork and controls, using Spacedash's free Now Playing widget.
Make your desktop yours.
Free for Windows 11 and 10. No account needed.