First off, the MacBook Pro is a fantastic machine. Its specifications are awesome and its capabilities can make you an extremely productive person. Unfortunately, an overheating MacBook Pro can’t be described this way. If your device is like this, be warned: it’s a machine that needs to be immediately fixed.
Fortunately, you can fix an overheating MacBook Pro on your own and at home. All it may take could be a tweaking a few metaphorical screws in the System Preferences through a number of hardware fixes, or proactive practices. Let’s find out what some of these are so you won’t have to deal with an overheating MacBook Pro after an hour of use.
Use laptop cooling fans
Laptop cooling fans are a necessity if your MacBook Pro tends to heat up pretty quickly. Though there are cooling fans within the device itself, they might not be enough to lower its temperatures to acceptable levels. Note that if your MacBook Pro heats up to 167 Fahrenheit, it will undoubtedly suffer.
External cooling fans do a good job in preventing your MacBook Pro’s temperature to skyrocket. Most of these accessories take the form of:
- Cooling pads which are inserted into your device’s USB socket. The downside to using them is they can drain your battery, albeit minimally.
- External desk fans. Simply aim a small desk fan towards your MacBook Pro’s air vents and it will definitely help cooling down its insides by blowing away the hot air.
Running a quick Google search will enable you to find a number of cooling pads good for the MacBook Pro. It’s highly recommended to check the ones available on Amazon,
Use a small box
Seriously, all it may take to prevent your device from overheating is a small box, like the ones they store rings in:
To use this, all you have to do is place it at the back of your device, right under where the air vents are. And yes, I’m serious: putting the box in there allows the interior fans to blow freely at the back.
Additionally, the underside of your device might also warm up and the heat is then transferred into the surface – which then heats up your MacBook Pro as well. Putting a box underneath your Mac elevates it, separating it from the surface. This means your device won’t be in contact with the hot surface, allowing it to cool off more efficiently.
Remember though, DO NOT USE cushions or pillows to elevate your MacBook Pro because…
Cushioned surfaces trap heat: avoid them
Yeah, it’s a horrible idea to place your MacBook Pro on a pillow or on your bed, like this:
Why? Well, try placing your computer there for five minutes and after doing so, remove it and place your hand on the surface. It’s hot, right?
Beds and other cushioned surfaces tend to trap heat. Always place your MacBook Pro on a hard surface, such as wood or plastic in order to transfer or expel heat for efficiently. Plus, you shouldn’t be using a computer while in bed: your mobile devices are up for the task.
Tweaking your system settings
One of the reasons why the MacBook Pro tends to overheat is its power. It functions at an extremely high level, thanks to its powerful processors and retina display which treats you to fast operating speeds and high-definition graphics. Thankfully, you can prevent overheating by changing a few settings:
- System Preferences > Energy Saver > Graphics > Pick Better Battery Life
This will negatively affect your graphics performance ever so slightly, but it’s a small price to pay if you think about it.
- System Preferences > Energy Saver > Remove Automatic Graphics Switching
This will only make your computer process on-screen graphics, this lessening the strain put on it. However, this setting is not available in all MacBook Pro models, only the ones with certain graphics cards.
An overheating MacBook Pro should be the least of your worries. If it isn’t, just follow the above mentioned tips and experience the difference. Remember, you should never let the temperature reach dangerous levels since this will direly affect your device’s longevity.
Do you have any tips you would like to share? Tell us in the comments!
