Macs are computers that normally work quite well and are very comfortable to work with, but sometimes they can present problems. One of the most serious failures that you can have is that the internal temperature of the components rises causing the operation to go
Keep an eye on where you use your Mac
High temperatures do not go well with technological products. All are developed to function optimally at a specific temperature and if they go out of the established range they will begin to lose effectiveness. There are many reasons for a computer to get hot, such as where you are using it. From Apple they recommend that the room temperature oscillates between 10 and 35ºC and that you do not leave it in a place where it can be exposed to direct sunlight, such as on the beach. Leaving it inside a closed vehicle that is not ventilated can also cause these recommended ambient temperature values to be exceeded. Humidity is also an important factor since in no case should the equipment be subjected to a value of 100% humidity , the maximum being 95%.
It is quite typical to use a MacBook on a bed or on a cushion for comfort, but in reality what you are causing is it to overheat. Being on surfaces that are stable, ventilation is not 100% optimal, so it ends up overheating, forcing the fans to increase their speed without having a totally free air outlet. The same applies to using the Mac on the lap of the legs where proper ventilation is also impeded.
Speaking of air vents, they should always be well located. This way you will avoid putting something in them like a piece of paper or a blanket. This could be fatal to all internal components by not escaping the hot air outside the Mac and entering air with a suitable ambient temperature. As a result, the equipment could be stopped for its own safety. Another aspect that should always be taken into account is not to put absolutely anything on top of the keyboard as it will also affect ventilation.
Keep your Mac up to date
We always recommend installing the latest updates released by Apple. Unfortunately there is a latent fear to perform this action in case a strange bug appears, but the truth is that with each update dozens of security and performance problems are solved. The fans inside the Macs work thanks to the ‘orders’ of the operating system. With the sensors that are included in each of the critical components of the computer, it is able to know how many revolutions the fans should go. This process is taking shape with each of the updates that are released.
That is why if you are suffering from this type of overheating it is important that you make sure that the computer is in the latest version available.
Use official adapters
We have emphasized on numerous occasions that the type of charger used with technology products is very important. To the surprise of many, a simple charger contains a great deal of engineering work inside to ensure that constant power is supplied to a device without surges. This is something really important and can only be obtained with those chargers that are authorized by Apple. The company’s official chargers do not necessarily have to be purchased, but other brands have the approval of Apple to market their products. You will know that they have this authorization thanks to the MFi seal that you will find on the product packaging.
As we have said before, a cheap adapter and from a brand that does not have a proper high reputation does not guarantee safety. You can end up putting more power into your battery than you’re really prepared to handle. This can be fatal since this energy is ultimately transformed into heat that is dissipated by the components causing the heating that you will end up suffering. Obviously the battery will also suffer in your health. The charging cable is also important so that you can guarantee a good supply from the transformer to the battery of the Mac.
That is why even if it is a bit more expensive, in the long run you will appreciate having a quality charger with you since this is one of the great reasons that cause Macs to overheat, and you will also protect the battery so that its useful life lengthens.
Look for processes that hog the CPU
In the event that the heating occurs when you are not doing any intense activity such as editing video or photography, it is important to check the activity of the CPU. Sometimes some processes do not work correctly and remain in the background overloading the CPU. This can end up causing the CPU to overheat and generate all the heat you feel in the case. It is important that when you open the activity monitor you go to View> All processes. In this section you will click on the column “% CPU” so that all the processes are ordered from highest to lowest use.
In the event that at the beginning there is a process that is unknown to you and occupies a high% of the CPU, simply click with the secondary click on it and force its exit. Obviously it is important to do homework as long as all applications are closed. There are some apps that normally have a high percentage of CPU resources to be able to perform all the necessary calculations, such as Final Cut. The problem is when there is no app that justifies this consumption and it must be forced out in this way.
The only process that makes sense within the monitor to be at 70% is called kernel_task. Any other process does not make any sense that it is at a very high level if it is not being given a justified use.
Reset SMC
If the problem is that the fans are running late and do not turn on until the computer is very hot, the SMC may need to be reset. We are talking specifically about the system management controller that is responsible for managing the battery and the fans among other features. The reset process varies depending on the type of computer you have:
- MacBook with T2 chip: Hold down the Control + Option + Shift keys for 7 seconds and then also hold down the power button for an additional 7 seconds. Then press the power button again to start it up.
- iMac with T2 chip: Unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds to plug it back in. Boot iMac after 5 seconds.
- MacBook without a T2 chip: Turn off your Mac and hold the Shift + Control + Option keys next to the power button for 10 seconds. After a while he turns on the computer.
In this way it is possible that the management of the fans is more efficient and that they turn on when they are really necessary when the temperature sensors detect an increase in the amount of heat generated by the components.
Format Mac
When this type of failure occurs on a Mac, it is important to note that it is a problem with the operating system. This is why you should consider completely formatting your Mac to reinstall the latest version of the operating system. In this way you will clean all the hidden processes that may be taking place and that are not seen in the activity monitor as it does not involve a high percentage of the CPU.
To be able to format any Mac you simply have to press the Command + R keys when turning on the computer. In macOS Utilities, you must access ‘Disk Utility’ to be able to erase the main disk to later reinstall macOS from scratch.
Contact Apple
In the event that the problem is not resolved with these solutions and tips, Apple itself should be contacted so they can perform a diagnosis. You should know that some MacBook models suffer from excessive overheating due to their construction. It is important that an adequate air outlet is included as well as fans with a size that allows to ventilate the heat generated by the CPU and the rest of the components. This is something that some MacBook models have clearly failed to do and may be what you are suffering from right now. The solution is to make sure with Apple of this problem and rule out a factory defect in the air cooling system or in the CPU itself.