Why Is My MacBook Fan So Loud? How to Stop Fan Noise

Mac computer fan is too noisy? Try these solutions!

With a few exceptions (such as the 2020 MacBook Air and 2015 MacBook), most Mac computers are equipped with cooling fans. The processor and other electronic components will generate heat during use, and the longer the service life, the higher the temperature.

Normally, you won't even notice the fan is running. They usually buzz quietly in the background. However, if you do some more laborious operations, such as video editing, they may start spinning faster, resulting in greater noise.

However, sometimes the fan is too noisy or it will boot when you are not using your Mac. In this case, you might be wondering why the fan of your Mac is so noisy.

This guide will explore several potential causes of excessive noise from Mac fans, as well as some solutions that may solve the problem. Of course, we cannot determine the specific reason for the problem with your Mac fan, so we recommend you try all of the following methods.

Check if the vent of the Mac is blocked

Mac's fans work by venting hot air and sucking fresh air. If any vents are blocked, this is not possible, so the Mac will continue to overheat and the fan will speed up to compensate.

This happens often when users place their MacBook on soft objects, such as beds or cushions. So if your MacBook is running very noisy, try moving it to a hard flat surface like a desk or desk.

For all types of Macs, you should also make sure that the vents are not clogged by anything. If so, use a brush to clean them.

Cleaning dust inside Mac

A major problem with fan-based cooling systems is that it draws in dust and air. Over time, dust will build up on the motherboard and components, like a blanket. Remove this dust to prevent your Mac from overheating and creating large fan noise. If you own a Mac Pro, you can easily remove the sides and clean them, but you can't do that with other models.

You can try to blow off some dust with a can of compressed air. Vacuums can do this, too, but be careful, especially if you use a powerful vacuum.

Stop the process with high CPU usage

When the processor load on the Mac is too high, it will heat up. The more tasks it needs to handle, the higher the temperature. Using the Activity Monitor app, you can stop the big fan noise of your Mac by closing the process that caused the processor to overload.

How to stop a process using macOS activity monitor:

1. Go to Apps > Utility and open Activity Monitor.
2. In the CPU tab, click the top of the % CPU column to sort by the highest value.
3. If any process uses too much CPU time, select it and click the X button.
4. Click Exit to close the process.

Reduce the ambient temperature

This seems obvious, but your Mac will be very hot too if you are in a hot room. In our experience, this is enough to make it rotate the fan and start making noise.

The solution is simple: reduce the room temperature by opening the window or reducing the heating. You can also point the desktop fan at your Mac to help it cool.

Check hardware problems

Faulty components sometimes generate too much heat. But that's not the only potential hardware problem—there are several thermal sensors inside the Mac that tell the fan when it spins faster. If these sensors fail, it can also cause the Mac's fan to spin faster and louder.

With the Apple Diagnostics built in macOS, you may be able to find the root cause of the problem. However, this does not guarantee that the problem will be solved.

Here's how to run Apple diagnostics on an Intel Mac:

1. Open your Mac, and hold the D key.
2. Continue to hold it down until the language list appears.
3. Select a language, Apple Diagnostics will run automatically and output the result at the end.

On M1 Mac, you can run Apple Diagnostics as follows:

1. Press and hold the Power button to turn on the Mac.
2. Release the Power button when you see the startup option.
3. Now, press Cmd D to load the Apple Diagnostics.

Reset SMC

You can fix many issues in Intel-based Macs by resetting the System Management Controller (SMC). It controls various components on the Mac, including power, indicator lights, and of course fans. The process of resetting your Mac's SMC depends on your model.

The following is how to reset SMC from Intel desktops produced since 2018:

1. Switch off the Mac and unplug the power cord.
2. After 15 seconds, re-plug the power cord.
3. Then, after another five seconds, turn on your Mac again.

For other models of Macs, it is recommended that you check out our guide on how to reset SMC on your Mac.

Check for malware

Malware can do several things that keep your Mac's fan running continuously or louder than usual. It can increase the load on the processor, which can lead to overheating. Or it can directly control your fan. In fact, research shows that hackers can regulate fan vibrations and transmit information through sound waves.

You can use MacKeeper to scan for malware:

1. In MacKeeper, select Anti-Virus from the sidebar.
2. Click to start scanning.
3. Let the scan run.
4. If you find any problem, select it and click to move to Quarantine.

Related Readings: How to Remove Viruses and Malware from Your Mac

What to do if the fan of your Mac still fails to turn off

If your Mac is overheated, or the fan is loud even in cold environments, there may be more serious problems. This may be software or hardware-related. If the hardware fails, there is little you can do except try to repair it. Please contact Apple Support or Qualified Repair Services and they will most likely help you.

However, usually, the solution is simple when the fan of your Mac makes a lot of noise. Hope one of our tips here can help you.

FAQ

1. What happens if my Mac's fan stops working?

If your fan stops working altogether, your Mac will only get hotter and hotter. Eventually, it closes itself to prevent permanent damage to the components. This can also happen if the vents on your Mac are blocked.

2. Can I manually control the fan of my Mac?

By default, not possible. Your Mac will rotate the fan as fast as possible to keep it cool as needed. However, you can download the software to manually control the fan of your Mac. This is very useful if you know what you are doing, but it is also dangerous – which is why we don't recommend any fan control solutions here.

3. What is the normal calories?

Mac can generate a lot of heat while still running safely. For example, Apple says that the MacBook's normal operating temperature is between 50ºC and 95ºC. So if you feel it's warm when using your Mac, don't worry.

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