
NVRAM is a small amount of virtual memory that stores information about the MacBook’s current settings and state. A simple SMC restart can typically fix any such bugs and bring things back to normal, so we strongly advise you to try restarting your MacBook’s SMC. Sometimes, however, a bug in the Controller can cause some of those components to act in unusual ways.

The System Management Controller (SMC) of your MacBook is a system responsible for controlling many different components and aspects of the computer, including the power management and power supply, the keyboard, and the cooling fans. You can stop an app from the Activity Monitor by selecting it, clicking the X in the top left, and then clicking on Quit.Īs we mentioned earlier, heavy GPU use is what typically raises the MacBook temperature the most, so it is suggested that you first quit the apps that are using the most GPU. After that, select Memory and then Energy and see the most resource-intensive apps shown there.ĭoing this will help you figure out which app(s) is using the largest amount of system resources – stopping that app should help with reducing the amount of heat that the MacBook emits and, in turn, lower the speed at which the fan is turning. There’s also a GPU column, so pay attention to it as well. Start the Activity Monitor by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities and double-clicking on the Activity Monitor icon.įirst, select CPU and see which of the apps are using the MacBook’s CPU the most. Resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM are two other MacBook fan always on fixes that you can try. MacBook fan always on fixĪ possible MacBook fan always on fix is to check what apps are using the most CPU and battery life and stop them. Below, we’ve provided several suggestions that may help with this issue, so go ahead and try them until, hopefully, one of them gets the job done. This doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with the fan, but since, as we said, it’s always working while the computer is on, its components sooner or later start to wear out, which causes the fan to become noisierĭepending on what causes your MacBook’s fan to be noisy or to spin too quickly, there are different things you can do to fix this. For instance, a MacBook that is already several years old and has seen frequent use is expected to start making more noise with its fan.
#Macs fan control setting for macbook pro mid 2012 retina mac#
One more thing to factor in is the age of your Mac and, respectively, its fan.

Laptops, in general, are known for overheating much more easily compared to desktop computers, and this becomes especially apparent when their GPUsare being used at high intensity since the latter tend to emit lots of heat. The causes for either of those problems can differ, but they could also be the same.Īs we already mentioned, dust build-up is one very common reason why a MacBook’s fan may be making too much noise and/or running at higher than usual RPM (revolutions per minute).Īnother possible cause is if something is causing your MacBook to use its GPU (graphics card) with greater intensity than usual.

What most users are referring to when they complain that their MacBook fan is always on is either that the fan is being too loud and/or that it is running at an unusually high spinning rate. In fact, if the fan isn’t working for an extended period of time, the MacBook will most likely shut down to prevent damage from overheating. One thing that we must make clear before we go any further is that the fan in your MacBook should always be on. Possible causes of a MacBook fan being always on can be dust build-up, heavy GPU use, regular wear and tear, and more. The MacBook fan always on issue usually doesn’t indicate anything serious and in most cases can be fixed without too much hassle.
