Quick tips to cool down a Mac laptop
Here are some quick tips to help cool down your Mac laptop:
- Keep it elevated – Place your MacBook on a solid surface like a table or desk to allow airflow underneath.
- Point a fan at it – Use an external fan to create additional airflow over the surface of the laptop.
- Use a laptop cooling pad – These pads go under your laptop and have built-in fans to promote cooling.
- Clean out the vents – Use compressed air to clear any dust buildup blocking the airflow through the vents.
- Close unused apps – Quit any apps you aren’t actively using to reduce CPU usage and heat output.
- Adjust Energy Saver settings – Choose better battery life over higher performance to reduce heat.
- Reset the SMC – This can clear any issues with fans and cooling components.
These quick tips can provide an immediate cooling boost to a hot MacBook. For more in-depth solutions, read on.
Why does my Mac laptop run hot?
There are a few key reasons why Mac laptops tend to run hot:
- Powerful components in a compact design – Newer MacBooks pack a lot of CPU and GPU power into a thin, crowded enclosure.
- Insufficient cooling systems – The cooling fans and heat sinks have to work harder to cool compact architectures.
- Blocked air vents – Dust and debris easily block the tight air vents on MacBooks.
- Resource-intensive tasks – Activities like gaming, video editing, and streaming can push the CPU/GPU and generate more heat.
- High ambient temperatures – Hot external environments make it harder to dissipate internal heat.
These factors cause the internal temperature of a MacBook to rise during use. The tight enclosure has less room for hot air to freely escape, creating a hotbox effect. Understanding what makes your Mac run hot allows you to better manage and prevent overheating issues.
How to monitor and check MacBook temperature
To manage your MacBook’s temperature, you first need to monitor how hot it’s getting. Here are some ways to check the temperature:
- Use Activity Monitor – Check CPU temperatures under the Energy tab.
- Try TG Pro – This utility displays CPU, GPU, and enclosure temperatures.
- Use iStat Menus – Adds temperature sensors to your Mac’s menu bar.
- Check with Macs Fan Control – Provides temperature readings for different components.
- Use Terminal – Type
sudo powermetrics --samplers smc | grep -i "CPU die temperature"to get CPU temp.
Aim to keep CPU temperatures under 90°C when under load. If temperatures exceed this consistently, steps should be taken to improve cooling.
Monitoring programs can run in the background and alert you when your Mac is getting too hot. Knowing the temperature will help you judge the severity of the issue.
Best practices to keep your MacBook cooler
Here are some of the top recommendations to help keep your MacBook running cooler:
1. Elevate your MacBook
Lifting your MacBook up improves airflow and cooling. The bottom vents are obstructed if placed directly on a desk or lap. Use a stand, cooling pad, or even books to elevate your laptop by at least an inch. Keeping it elevated ensures unrestricted air intake.
2. Point a fan at your MacBook
Actively blowing air on your MacBook helps force more efficient convection cooling. Point a desk fan or air conditioner vent directly at your laptop, focusing on the bottom vents and back exhaust area. This extra airflow removes more heat from its surface.
3. Use a laptop cooling pad
Cooling pads are placed under your laptop and provide several big advantages:
- Lifts laptop for improved airflow
- Built-in fans direct cool air into vents
- Adds additional heat-dissipating surface area
- Some models have USB pass-through to power fans
Just make sure to get a laptop cooling pad made to fit a MacBook’s size and shape. Popular among Mac users are ultraslim models from Twelve South and PWR+.
4. Keep the vents and fans clear
Dust buildup in the air vents can greatly restrict airflow, leading to heat problems. Every few months, use compressed air to blow out any debris clogging the vents or fan intakes. Avoid holding the can upside down, which can push liquid into the laptop.
Also watch for any cables, fabrics, or papers obstructing airflow around vents. Keep the areas around vents clear for unimpeded intake/exhaust.
5. Close unused apps and browser tabs
The more apps and browser tabs open, the harder your MacBook has to work. This generates heat that the cooling system then needs to dissipate. Close down unused apps and browser tabs to reduce CPU and memory demands. The more you can simplify workload, the cooler your system can operate.
6. Adjust Energy Saver settings
The Energy Saver settings in System Preferences allow you to control the performance-vs-cooling tradeoff. Choosing “Better battery life” triggers the CPU/GPU to use less power and generate less heat. For a cooler system, optimize for battery life over performance.
Disabling “wake for network access” and “enable Power Nap” during sleep can also reduce background CPU usage and heat. Close the lid when not in use so the MacBook can sleep and cool down.
7. Create a RAM disk for temporary files
When your MacBook writes files or performs intensify read/write operations, it can cause spikes in heat. Creating a RAM disk allows temporary files to be stored in your Mac’s memory instead of the SSD. This reduces SSD activity and associated heating.
Use an app like RAMDisk or TmpDisk to easily create a RAM disk. Set the temporary storage location for apps to use this RAM disk location. Just be sure to save important files elsewhere since a RAM disk is erased when shut down.
8. Use a SSD temperature monitoring app
Apps like DriveDx and Fanny provide live readouts of your MacBook’s internal SSD temperature. SSDs can run hot with prolonged intense read/write sessions. Monitoring SSD temperature helps you recognize when throttling may occur.
Try limiting continuous file transfers or backups to 10GB intervals. This gives the SSD time to dissipate heat in between transfers rather than sustaining heavy writes.
9. Replace thermal paste on the CPU and GPU
Old, dried-out thermal paste between the CPU/GPU and heatsink prevents effective heat transfer. Every few years, it’s a good idea to reapply high-quality thermal paste like Arctic Silver or Noctua NT-H1 to improve cooling.
This helps transfer processor heat into the heatsink and fan system rather than building up internally. DIY pastes kits with tools make this easier for MacBooks.
10. Use a vacuum desk fan
A unique option is a ventilation fan built right into your desk. Fans like the Vacmate Desk Vac 4 Liter VD4 evacuate hot air from underneath your MacBook through vents in your desk surface. This constantly pulls heat away from the underside intake vents.
Advanced cooling mods and hacks
More advanced mods can further improve MacBook cooling for extreme needs:
- Replace stock thermal pads – Upgrading to higher performance thermal pads like Fujipoly Sarcon can enhance heat transfer from components.
- Attach small heatsinks – Heatsinks glued onto parts like the Thunderbolt controllers and inductors reduce localized hotspots.
- Remove bottom cover film – DIY removal of the bottom insulating film improves heat dissipation through the case.
- Replace CPU with lower TDP version – Swapping in a lower wattage CPU reduces thermal output at the silicon level.
- Laptop stand with fans – Certain stands like the Rain Design mStand direct air through the vent holes for forced convection cooling.
- Undervolting – Apps like Volta can undervolt your CPU/GPU to run at lower temps with small performance compromise.
- Liquid metal thermal paste – Gallium-based liquid metal pastes like Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut can lower CPU/GPU temps by several degrees.
Note that extreme measures like liquid metal pastes should only be performed by experienced technicians. But components like laptop stands, fans, and heatsinks provide easier DIY ways to enhance MacBook cooling.
How to reset SMC on a MacBook
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) can help resolve many Mac temperature issues. The SMC controls fans, sensors, power management, and other essential components. Resetting it clears any corrupt settings that may be inhibiting cooling.
Here is how to reset SMC on different MacBook models:
For Intel-based Macs:
- Shut down your MacBook
- Press and hold the Shift, Control, and Option keys on the left side of the keyboard, and press the power button at the same time.
- Release all keys at the same time
- Turn your MacBook back on
For M1 and M2 Macs:
- Completely shut down your Mac
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds
- Without releasing the power button, press and hold the power button again for 10 seconds
- Your Mac will turn back on
This simple SMC reset can fix temperature sensors, fans, and power-related issues caused by corrupt settings. It’s one of the easiest first steps to help cool down a hot MacBook.
Best MacBook cooling accessories
Using additional accessories can enhance your MacBook’s cooling abilities. Here are some of the best MacBook cooling gadgets:
Laptop Cooling Pads
| Product | Key Features |
| Havit Laptop Cooling Pad | – Extra large fans with blue LEDs – Portable and slim design |
| Deepcool Multi Core X6 | – 6 high performance fans – Useful for gaming laptops |
| Tree New Bee Cooling Pad | – Honeycomb mesh surface – Built-in dual USB hub |
| Thermaltake Massive 20 RGB | – 20cm main 200mm fan – 4 adjustable height settings |
External Laptop Fans
| Product | Key Features |
| TopMate C5 Laptop Cooler | – Clips onto side vents – Whisper quiet operation |
| OPOLAR LC06 Laptop Fan | – Clips or stands to aim airflow – Battery or USB powered |
| AC Infinity MULTIFAN S7 | – High airflow 175CFM fan – Aluminum construction, variable speed |
| Kootek Laptop Cooling Fan | – Portability friendly – Noise below 50dB |
Vacuum Cooling Pads
| Product | Key Features |
| Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim | – 200x200mm vacuum fan – Ultra slim and portable |
| YIKESHU Laptop Vacuum Fan | – Uses desk vent for suction – LED light bar display |
| Nexstand Laptop Vacuum Stand | – Innovative wind wheel suction – Built-in cable management |
| Fellowes OfficeSuite Laptop Riser | – Ergonomic design – Whisper quiet vortex fan |
Combining external cooling pads, fans, vacuums, and stands creates the ultimate cooling experience for any MacBook. Be sure to use accessories specially designed for Apple’s slim unibody chassis.
With the right tools, you can effectively cool down even the hottest Mac laptops. Monitor your temperatures and make upgrades until you sustain temperatures reliably under 90°C. Keep your Mac running cool for improved performance and lifespan!
Conclusion
Keeping a MacBook cool can be challenging but is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. Monitor temperatures with built-in tools and third party apps. Maintain proper airflow by elevating the laptop, pointing additional fans at it, using a cooling pad, and keeping vents clear. Manage workload by closing unused apps and adjusting Energy Saver settings. Consider advanced cooling modifications for extreme needs. With vigilant monitoring and adopting best practices, Mac laptops can sustain proper operating temperatures for a faster, more stable user experience.