If your MacBook is getting as hot as a summer day or sounding like a mini jet engine, don’t sweat it – I’ve got some cool tips for you! It’s not just MacBooks, either; lots of laptops can turn into little ovens. Maybe your MacBook gets super hot when you’re charging it, or when you’re trying to be the next gaming champ. Or perhaps it starts cooking after you’ve updated it, or even when it’s taking a nap with the lid closed.
These problems can be a real headache, but guess what? I’ve got some fixes that might just save the day. Ignoring it is like not putting sunscreen on at the beach – you could end up with some serious burns. In laptop terms, that means some bits inside your MacBook Air might get fried, or you could mess up the internal gizmos (those ICs everyone talks about).
Let me tell you a quick story about what happened to me once. I was using my MacBook for making some cool designs, had a bunch of apps open – Safari, Pages, Number, and iMovie. Out of nowhere, it started making this super loud fan noise and got really hot right above the keyboard. So, I peeked at iMovie and saw that my project was making the processor work way too hard. Just by closing iMovie, things calmed down, and my MacBook chilled out.
Want to know what I did to stop my MacBook from turning into a hotplate? Keep on reading! Plus, I’ll even throw in a tip about picking out a nifty cooling pad for your Apple MacBook.
Hardware guide: Why MacBook Overheating on Use Backup, Safari, Play Game, iMovie and more
You know when you download the latest game on your phone and it takes forever to start up the first time? That’s kinda like what happens when you update your MacBook. It needs a bit of time to get comfy with all the new changes. During that “getting to know you” phase, your Mac might work extra hard and get a bit warm. So, what can you do? Keep your Mac on and logged in for a whole day without switching it off. It’s like giving it a full day to get used to the update. Most of the time, this can actually make the overheating chill out on its own. But if you’re still feeling the heat, let’s tackle Fix 1.
MacBook fans become noisy after updating to Sonoma or Ventura
Ever wonder why your MacBook’s fans go nuts after an update? Here’s the scoop: your Mac is busy sorting through all your files and updating apps to make sure everything runs smoothly. It’s a lot of work, so the processor heats up. When that happens, the fans kick into high gear to cool everything down. If your MacBook’s making a racket, try leaving it alone for a bit—like an hour or so—to let it do its thing.
Fix 1: Reset SMC on Mac
If you’ve got one of the shiny new M1 or M2 Macs, you can skip this part, it’s not for you.
For some of the older MacBooks out there (think about the ones from around 2011 to 2017), there’s a little trick that might help if it’s overheating. It’s like hitting the reset button on your Mac’s brain that controls all the cooling stuff.
Here’s how you do it:
- Shut It Down: Start off by turning off your MacBook from the Apple menu.
- Press the Magic Keys: Hold down the Power button and this three-key combo—Shift+Option (Alt)+Control—for about 5 seconds. You might see the power light change colors, and you could hear a sound that lets you know your Mac has taken the hint.
- Turn It Back On: Now, just start up your MacBook and see if it’s still feeling like a toaster oven.
Fix 2: Run MacBook Hardware Test
If resetting things didn’t do the trick, let’s play detective and check your MacBook’s health. There’s this nifty feature that’s like a health check-up for your MacBook. It can sniff out if something’s not right in the hardware – that’s the physical parts of your MacBook, like the fans and stuff.
Here’s how to get your MacBook to spill the beans on its health:
- Power Down and Disconnect: First up, turn off your MacBook and unplug anything that’s hooked up to it – those are called peripherals, by the way.
- Start It Up and Hold ‘D’: Next, power on your MacBook and immediately press and hold the ‘D’ key. This is like the secret handshake to tell your MacBook, “Hey, start the health check, please.”
- Enter Diagnostic Mode: If you did it right, you’ll see something called the “Apple Diagnostic tool” or “Apple Hardware tool” pop up. It’s like your MacBook’s way of saying, “Alright, let’s see what’s going on under the hood.”
- Diagnosis in Progress: Your MacBook will start checking itself for problems. Just like waiting at the doctor’s office, but it usually doesn’t take too long.
- Results and Error Codes: Once it’s done, you’ll see some messages with error codes on the screen. These are like clues to what’s making your MacBook act like it’s in the middle of a desert.
These error codes are super helpful. They’re like breadcrumbs that can lead you to figure out why your MacBook could be overheating. Once you have these codes, you can search online or get help to fix the issue.
Fix 3: Remove Large Apps Which are Eating High Resources
Sometimes, your MacBook might feel like it’s working out super hard, getting all hot and bothered, and you’re just sitting there wondering why. Well, it could be that some really big apps are gobbling up all the power and making your MacBook sweat. It’s like when you eat too much and feel super full – your MacBook feels the same when apps take up too much space and energy!
So, what can we do about these hungry, resource-hogging apps? Let’s hunt them down and see if we really need them. If not, it’s time for them to go. By the way, Apple knows all about this issue. That’s why they made the new MacBook Pro with a lot of memory (RAM) and a strong processor to handle these big apps better.
Let’s walk through the steps to find these sneaky apps:
- Open Finder: Click on the happy Mac face at the bottom of your screen to open “Finder”.
- Go to Applications: In the Finder window, look for the “Applications” folder.
- Utilities Time: Inside the Applications, find another folder named “Utilities”. That’s where the tool we need lives.
- Activity Monitor: Click on “Activity Monitor”. Think of it as your MacBook’s fitness tracker. It shows you what apps are using the most energy.
Once you’ve got Activity Monitor open, watch out for any apps that are using a lot of power. If you see one, you can try to stop it. But be warned, just like playing whack-a-mole, they might pop back up and make your MacBook hot again. If you don’t really need those apps, it’s best to uninstall them. Or if you think they’re important, try re-installing them to see if they behave better.
If all else fails and your MacBook is still acting like it’s on a beach in the middle of summer, you might need to give it a fresh start with a clean install. That’s like hitting the reset button on the whole system, giving it a brand-new beginning without all the clutter.
Fix 4: Force quit apps
You’re at a party and there’s that one friend who just won’t leave, even when the party’s over. Some apps on your MacBook are like that—they start up the moment you turn on your MacBook and hang around, using up energy and resources. What we want to do is to tell those clingy apps it’s time to head home so your MacBook can have some peace and quiet.
Here’s how to get those apps to take a hike:
- Magic Keyboard Moves: Press (Command-Option-Escape) all together. It’s like the secret knock to open the “Force Quit Applications” window.
- Select All the Party Crashers: Hit Command + A to highlight all the apps that are currently running.
- Force Quit: This is the tough love part. Tell them all to take a break and hit “Force Quit”.
But wait, there’s more! Let’s make sure they don’t just start up again next time.
- Head to the Apple Menu: Click on the Apple logo at the top corner of your screen, then pick “System Settings” or “System Preferences”.
- General Settings: Look for the “General” section.
- Stop the Autostart: Now, find the “Login items”. This is like the VIP list for the party. If you see apps there that you don’t want starting up automatically, it’s time to cross them off the list.
- Kick Them Out: Choose the app and click the minus (-) button to say goodbye.
And just like that, you’ve told those energy-hogging apps to take a break and not come back the second your MacBook starts up. It’s like a breath of fresh air for your Mac, and it should help keep things running cooler and smoother.
Fix 5: Use Energy Saver Settings
Think of your MacBook like a runner. If it’s sprinting all the time, it’s going to get super hot and worn out, right? So, we want it to take it easy sometimes, and that’s where the Energy Saver settings come in. It’s like giving your MacBook permission to chill out and not use up so much energy, which means it won’t get as hot.
Here’s how to flip on the chill mode for your MacBook:
If you’ve got macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or something newer, here’s what you do:
- Apple Menu: Click that Apple logo at the top of your screen.
- System Settings: It’s like the control room for your MacBook.
- Battery: Find the “Battery” section – that’s where your MacBook’s power settings are.
- Low Power Mode: Now, here’s the cool part. Turn on “Low Power Mode” and set it to “Always”. This is your MacBook taking deep breaths, using less power, and staying cooler.
But if you’re rocking macOS Monterey or something a bit older, here’s your move:
- Apple Menu, Round Two: Hit up that Apple logo again.
- System Preferences: This is your MacBook’s version of a tool belt.
- Energy Saver: Click this and it’s like you’re telling your MacBook, “Hey, let’s take it slow.”
- Automatic Graphics Switching: Tick this box. It’s your MacBook being smart, switching to low power when it can, like using a fan instead of an air conditioner.
Fix 6: Clean the Fan
Imagine if you never dusted your room. It’d get pretty stuffy, right? Well, the same goes for your MacBook. It needs a good clean-up, especially if it’s been around the block a few times. All that dust bunnies partying inside can make your MacBook overheat because the fans that cool it down are working extra hard to blow through the clutter.
Here’s the game plan for a dust-free MacBook:
If your MacBook is getting on in years and you haven’t peeked inside, brace yourself – it might be a dust fest in there!
- Open Sesame: Carefully open up the back of your MacBook. You might need some special screwdrivers for this, so make sure you have the right tools.
- Shock Alert: Be ready to see the dust build-up. It’s been collecting for ages.
- Gentle Does It: Now, don’t go in there like a bull in a china shop. Be gentle. If you’re not sure about touching the inside of your MacBook, or if the idea of opening it up feels like performing surgery, it’s okay to ask for help.
- Phone a Friend: Maybe you’ve got a buddy who’s good with tech stuff. Or, if you’re feeling like you want a pro to handle it, take it to a specialist.
By giving your MacBook a good clean, you’re letting it breathe and cool down. Those fans can spin easily and keep everything nice and chill. So, don’t wait – if your MacBook is older and getting hot, it might just need a good dusting! Just remember to handle with care – you’re dealing with the heart and lungs of your MacBook, after all.
Fix 7: Purchase Stand or Cooling pad for MacBook Pro/ Air
Let’s get some air flowing! Think of your MacBook like it’s relaxing in a hammock instead of lying flat on a hot sidewalk. A stand or a cooling pad is like that hammock. It lifts your MacBook off the desk and lets the cool air move all around it, which helps to keep it from getting too hot.
Here’s what you can do:
- Shop for a Stand: Take a trip online or to your local tech store and pick out a stand. There are lots of options, so you can find one that fits your MacBook Pro or Air just right.
- Cooling Pad Magic: These are like little chill mats for your MacBook. Some even have fans built in for that extra breeze.
Fix 8: Remove Malware
Malware and viruses are like those annoying mosquitos that sneak up on you when you’re having fun outside. You might not even know they’re biting until it’s too late. Same goes for your MacBook. These pesky bugs can sneak in while you’re downloading files or just surfing the web and start causing trouble.
Here’s your battle plan:
- Get a Digital Bug Spray: This is basically anti-virus software. It helps to find those sneaky viruses and malware and gets rid of them.
- Learn to Spot ’em: Learn how to find viruses on your Mac. There’s a trick to spotting them, and once you do, you can tell your anti-virus software to kick them to the curb.
By keeping your MacBook raised for better airflow and making sure it’s clean from malware, you’re giving it a fighting chance to stay cool.
Wrapping It Up: Keeping Your MacBook Cool
Alright, friends! We’ve journeyed through the land of overheating MacBooks together, and now it’s time to bring it all home. Keeping your MacBook cool isn’t just about making it last longer—it’s about making your time with it more enjoyable, without that hot keyboard or the constant hum of a fan trying to keep up.
Here’s a quick recap to make sure your MacBook stays as cool as a cucumber:
- Stay Updated: Keep up with those updates, but give your MacBook a little time to adjust without freaking out.
- SMC Reset: Remember, this is for the older MacBooks that need a little extra TLC.
- Hardware Test: Run that test to see if there’s anything under the hood that’s not working right.
- Goodbye, Resource Hogs: Kick out those apps that are eating up all your MacBook’s energy.
- Quit the Overachievers: Don’t let unnecessary apps hog your start-up; trim that list.
- Energy Savvy: Use those energy settings to keep things light and efficient.
- Clean Machine: Dust off the insides now and then; it’s good for your MacBook’s health.
- Raise the Roof: Well, just the MacBook—get a stand or a cooling pad.
- Malware Be Gone: Don’t let the digital bugs bite; get some solid anti-virus protection.
Remember, your MacBook is a trusty sidekick in your daily adventures, from work to play and everything in between. Treat it right, and it’ll do the same for you, staying cool under pressure and ready for action.
So go ahead, give these tips a try, and keep your cool—both you and your MacBook. Thanks for sticking with me! Now, go enjoy that happy, healthy, and cool-running MacBook of yours!