If your MacBook Pro starts showing symptoms of becoming overheated, you might feel as if your whole world is in danger.
For many people, that MacBook holds important files for work, cherished personal photos, and much more. You feel as if those essential files will be trapped inside your overheated MacBook Pro forevermore.
Not to worry! There are several ways you can go about troubleshooting (and fixing) your overheating issue. Knowing those solutions can help you eradicate this issue the next time it happens.
Here’s how to fix your MacBook Pro overheating problem and get back to work as soon as possible.
1. Get Rid of Malware
Even though the macOS on your MacBook Pro has the latest in safety and security features, it isn’t bulletproof.
There are still certain types of malware that can creep into your computer and cause a bit of havoc. They’ll try to redirect you to fraudulent websites while you’re searching the web for answers to your questions.
Many modern-day computer users can easily identify these, yet they still find a way into your computer from time to time.
To get rid of the malware on your computer, you should invest in Bitdefender Antivirus software specifically for Mac computers. Believe it or not, the cumulation of different malware can quickly lead to your Mac overheating.
2. Monitor Your Tab Amount
Tabs are wonderful, especially when doing a lengthy project for school or work. But they also require a fair amount of space to be used.
Not all websites are created equal. Some require a large amount of attention from your computer and, in doing so, will cause your CPU to work overtime.
Whenever your CPU is forced to kick things up a notch, your MacBook Pro’s cooling fan will turn on to try and monitor the temperature of the laptop.
If you notice that your computer is getting slower while hopping from page to page, then take it as a sign the MacBook is on its way to overheating.
To give it relief, close some of the tabs that you aren’t currently using. If you need to save them for later, then bookmark the page so you can find it the next time you need to pull it up.
3. Move Your MacBook Around
As previously mentioned, your MacBook Pro’s first (and only) line of defense when it heats up is the fan and vents.
If you are using the laptop while laying down or reclining a majority of the time, then you’re inhibiting its ability to breathe.
Apple-designed the MacBook Pro to cool itself off from the back, which is perfect when being placed on a table or desk. but if you set it on your lap, your clothes and blankets will block those vents, thus trapping the temperature.
As Apple points out on their support site, you should always keep the laptop in conditions that are between 50 and 95-degrees Fahrenheit.
That also means no leaving it inside of your car, no using it outside in the sun for an extended period of time, and no using it on hot surfaces.
If you notice that your MacBook Pro is unbearably hot, then stick it in the fridge or near a fan for a few hours to help it cool off.
4. Clean the Inside
You might not think it, but the inside of your MacBook Pro can get dirty in a hurry. In fact, that might be the very thing that’s overheating it from time to time.
The only way that you can remove that gunk is by taking the face off of your MacBook and cleaning it for yourself.
Use a tiny Phillips screwdriver to remove the covering on the underside of your MacBook Pro. Next, invest in a can of compressed air to get rid of any dirt or debris that’s collected inside.
Do not, under any circumstances, touch the inside of your computer with a towel or try to remove the dirt by hand. Doing so can lead to further complications… Compressed air only, people!
5. Get to Know Your MacBook Pro
This might sound a bit odd at first. After all, it’s not like you’re taking your 2014 MacBook Pro out on a date.
However, not understanding your MacBook might be your biggest problem. It has needs too, you can’t just ignore them.
If you’re running several apps and tabs simultaneously and expecting your 7-year old MacBook Pro to run like new, then you’re dooming yourself from the get-go.
Be sure to learn more about the integrity of your system by finding a system report. To do that, click the Apple logo at the top left of your screen, then go to “About this Mac”, then click “System Report”.
The report will give you specifics on the memory that’s left on your drive, as well as how that memory is affecting your system.
The quickest way to make your MacBook Pro run better might be as simple as storing more memory on an external drive to relieve it of some storage.
MacBook Pro Overheating? Try All of These Tricks
Now that you’ve seen several tips to cure your MacBook Pro overheating issue, it’s time to apply them all to how you care for your laptop.
Doing so can help you and your MacBook Pro better understand each other, as silly as that may sound.
Be sure to browse our website for more articles on tech troubleshooting, as well as many other helpful topics!