Overheating is a malicious problem which if isn’t taken care of timely eats away at the components of your laptop. So, the worst-case scenario would be you requiring urgent MacBook repair services to fix the several problems caused by overheating. That’s why we’ll explain here five fixes to counter this problem.
The equation is simple. The more load you put on the processor, the more the MacBook heats up. However, this isn’t the one and only reason. Other causes include zero storage space, blocked vents, dust piled up in the fan system, old MacBook, bad battery, outdated macOS, hot room temperature, Malware, etc.
You can try a couple of solutions that may help you control the overheating issue and also prevent it in the future.
Keeping your laptop neat and clean is a good maintenance practice whether it’s new or old. But even though it’s that obvious, people neglect this step the most. The point is: Please clean your MacBook if you want it to last longer than usual.
The dust, gunk, and grime can not only hurt the fans but also render the notebook’s ports non-usable. So, you may take a screwdriver and open the bottom of your MacBook. Use a mini vacuum cleaner and suck all the dust and grime away. You could also invest in a laptop cleaning kit or use your old toothbrush to gently clean the narrow spaces.
You have to be conscious that you do not block the vents by carelessly putting other devices near them. Or using your laptop on a bed or a sofa. The hot air flows from the vents to the outside. Blocking the vents could interrupt the proper release of heat and trap it inside causing overheating.
Also, if you put other heat-generating devices near the laptop, it’ll be bad for both because there’ll be no room for both gadgets to release the heat. So, you must take precautions to prevent vent blocking and overheating in its outcome. Moreover, you may regularly clean the air vents for better airflow.
Avoid hot environments that can affect the temperature of the MacBook. The ideal room temperature ranges from 50 to 95 °F which is considered optimal for using the MacBook. You may get a cooling pad if possible or keep a mini cooler on your desk beside the laptop to maintain the laptop temperature as extra fans would assist the notebook’s fans to work optimally.
Using two to three intensive apps together may put an extreme load on the CPU and cause your MacBook to overheat. For instance, if you use programs like Adobe Photoshop or Apple Final Cut Pro together, your notebook will heat up. Even if you use a single app but run iTunes along to listen to music, it again won’t be good for the processor.
Similarly, using too many browser tabs could again cause overheating. As you browse various websites, opening several tabs, it puts a heavy load on the processor. This type of activity might also slow down your laptop. So, whenever your notebook starts to heat up, you may close down a few tabs that aren’t very necessary.
A malware invasion could also lead to an overheating issue. You may run the antivirus program and scan the system for viruses to ensure that your MacBook is malware-free. If you’re running a free version of some antivirus software, you may want to invest in a paid one to get real-time protection and other benefits.
There are several other fixes you could try like checking the Activity Monitor to figure out what apps put stress on the CPU and closing them, ensuring your macOS is updated, checking the battery settings in the Energy Saver, etc. If nothing works, run Apple diagnostics tool. However, if after trying everything, the issue doesn’t go away, you may want to contact a PC/Mac expert for help.
