2020 Macbook Pro overheating

During one of my several calls, they did mention that Chrome is not optimized for Mac use so it tends to stress out the CPU.

While that makes sense, I’ve always used Chrome on my old MacBook and it didn’t overheat right away like the 2020.

I have the $1,799 version with the two fans and the 4 usb-c ports. mine is overheating as well. I haven’t been able to find a solution from Apple. Today Apple said they can’t exchange because I’ve had it for more than 14 days (mine is 19 days since I got it but I Was only able to try it out 5 days ago because I wasn’t home to open it an try it out right after delivery). I’m so frustrated !!! They only offer me to bring it in for repair! But why would I need to repair something that is brand new !!! They should just let us exchange it! Ahhh and I’d i mention that I upgraded from a MacBook Pro 2012? My old one didn’t do all these things and I’ve been literally using the new MacBook for the exact same things that I used my old one for. I only upgraded it because it was Super slow and because this new computer was a gift. I’m only using Safari Now... today they actually made me delete the MacOs and re-install it again. I’ve done SMC reset and all the other things they suggested and nothing has worked, So we will see what happens. It might just be a bad designed and we were unlucky with this year’s MacBook Pro.

That's messed up, I actually bought my Mac on B&H to avoid the steep tax price, but it seems now not only do I have to worry that I may not get good support in the future due to Apple switching to ARM chips, but also fan issues. These problems worry me because I’m a first time Mac user and I don’t know what to expect.

I used mine on a stand with its own fan. I was using the laptop in exactly the same way as I do when it is on its usual stand but it stayed totally cool. I think that either the internal fans are wrongly calibrated so that they do not kick in early enough or (more likely in my view) they are badly positioned and simply cannot do the job. I have the 13 inch, 4 port 16GB Pro. It is my third one. My first one overheated and the fans were so noisy that they sent a replacement. That one also overheated and died. They refused to replace it. The repair basically gave me a new laptop anyway as they had to replace practically everything. So I paid for a brand new one and now have effectively a refurbished one with all new parts. It still overheats. Something has gone wrong with the production of these machines and it is about time Apple dealt with it instead of us running around trying to find ways to work around it. I have now purchased a small, more portable, cooling stand because in normal times my job involves a lot of travelling around and using my laptop on my lap or random work surfaces. I would probably end up burning my thighs or melting the machine if I tried it with this one. So disappointed with Apple, which I have loved since I got my first computer in 1986. Still couldn't contemplate moving over to Windows as the Apple operating system is still far superior (and I am fully integrated across a number of devices. Let's hope they get on top of this and sort it out for the next generation of laptops.

I have responded in another thread about this same issue. I have model #A2251. The device felt hot to the touch so I purchased a third party app to monitor the temp 'Battery Monitor.' The temp consistently runs between 90 - 100 degrees regardless of what I'm doing. The fan NEVER kicked on. I am not a gamer, or heavy user. The most I ever do is stream on Hulu, Netflix, or Prime. I previously had a 2017 MacBook Air that didn't get this warm, ever.

After several calls to Apple, then having me reset the SMC, run in safe mode, run a diagnostics I made an appointment at my local Apple store. After doing some things to the device they sent it back to Apple. Apple replaced the Logic Board, Touch ID board, and 'clean' installed the latest Mac OS version (side note: it was not the latest version, I had to do an update). I received it yesterday afternoon. Reinstalled my files (files, Outlook, Word, Excel) from TimeMachine and am using normally this morning.

Currently I have open this page (Safari), Chrome, Outlook Mail, Messages, and Battery Monitor and the temp is sitting at 95 degrees. Still no fan has come on. The bottom is extremely hot, the top uncomfortably warm.

Apple did ask me multiple times if I am using the device on a table or desk. I told them that yes, I do that sometimes but I also use on my lap, the sofa, my bed, etc. which is why I bought a laptop. If I wanted something that would only be used at a desk or table I would have gotten an iMac.

Specs:

2.3 GHz quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor, Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz

Intel Iris Plus Graphics

16GB 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory

1TB SSD Storage

13 inch Retina display with True Tone

Four thunderbolt 3 ports

Touch Bar and Touch ID

Backlit magic keyboard

I'd love if there was an answer for me if this temp is normal, no fan running normal (pretty sure it isn't, I had a MacBook Air previously) and if not would like a fix or another model.

Just as mentioned somewhere else in a different post ...

i installed Turbo Boost Switcher Pro for Mac. Cost me 10 euro.

Works.

The reason for the problem is discussed on https://youtu.be/EkmdHVfk4XE

As it seems reasonable for me, so i give it a try, it works.

I am once again on the phone with Apple Support. Reset the SMC again... still no fan. I understand the turbo boost switcher may work but seems silly to me that we need to install an additional resource for an expensive machine. Seriously thinking of going back to the MacBook Air or requesting a model that isn't 2020. Is this issue normal for all MacBook Pro's, regardless of the model? There are a lot of complaints around the 2020 model I know.

Same here. I have now bought a couple of stands with USB run fans. One with legs for using in bed, on sofa etc and one lighter weight for travelling. Not ideal but I am on my second machine which has also had practically everything replaced but still runs hot. There is CLEARLY a serious problem with these 2020 machines. They sent mine back without the latest Operating system as well. And if I didn’t back pathologically backup to cloud/time machine I would have lost everything because it literally died in front of me!

I already tried everything with apple support. Even went bitching about it on Twitter and tagged them and they got me to talk with a “senior advisor” who did absolutely nothing. He only told me my two options were sending it for repair by mail or at a Mac distributor. I just don’t understand why I need to send a brand new device for repair. They wouldn’t exchange it because now it’s 19 days old and it’s passed it 14 days exchange policy 😡.

I came to the conclusion that it’s probably just a very bad design like you all Said. The last thing I did that apple support advised was Reset the MacOs (and it kinda worked) but it’s still heating up. I even measured the temperature and it got as hot as 119F in the back of the computer by the fan outlet and 105F around the Touch Bar area.

Also FYI I upgraded from a 2012 MacBook Pro which didn’t do all these things. It’s working great if it wasn’t for how slow it sometimes gets, but otherwise far better than the 2020 model in terms of heating issues. It’s never heated up at all. I don’t remember it ever being like this. I’m so disappointed, also super dissatisfied by how apple is managing this situations. It seems so dumb to me that they wouldn’t let me exchange it.

Mine runs as warm as 103F by the Touch Bar and 119F in the bottom part around the fan outlets. (I measured it with a kitchen thermometer. I only use it on my desk, never while in bed or sofa or anything AND it gets super warm only by having safari opened with YouTube and word at the same time. I don't use it for any professional stuff, so for simple stuff like that it seems ridiculous to me that they heat up so badly. My 2012 MacBook Pro didn't have these problems.

No. It happened from the beginning however, I always had 10.15.5. Not sure about others. You only have 14 days to get another device so I'd talk to Apple now. I didn't order the 2020 MacBook Pro but they upgraded me. So, since you have only had it for two days you still have time to change your mind. I can't say what you should do, for yourself. For me, I'd want the 2019 version or the MacBook Air. But, that is an opinion. You know how those are. :)

This happened to me the first day I had the laptop. I had just transferred all my data from my 2013 MacBook Pro to my new 2020 MacBook Pro. I thought that perhaps the transfer of so much data had caused the heating. This was before I did any Software update.

My laptop got so hot that I was worried that it would cause a fire. So I didn't use it at all to give it time to cool down, then shut it down before going to sleep that night.

I think I called Apple Support the next day. They tried various shutdowns, and said they thought that might solve the issue. But it kept getting hot even after that. I called Apple again and they walked me through a diagnostic test and said the results of the test showed that there were no hardware issues. So they said to try the software update, that should help solve the problem. But it didn't.

The pandemic was in full swing, with all stores shut down. So I couldn't take it in to an Apple Store to have it looked at or to have it replaced. Apple gave me the name of some smaller businesses in my area that might be open and could look at my laptop for me. But I was afraid to take it there for fear that a small company might go bankrupt during the pandemic. And I didn't think it right to take a brand new laptop in for repair.

By the time our stores opened again, I was long past the 14 day mark.

So I keep my laptop on a cake cooling rack, and check it regularly for how hot it is getting. When it gets really hot, I stop work and give it time to cool down.

I do a lot of detailed graphics with it, but while doing graphics will cause it to become warm, it doesn't make it hot. But using Zoom along with a share screen will make it hot. So will reading newspapers on line while having other applications open when I'm researching an article.

I had the same issue with my 2020 Macbook pro 13” 10 gen model. It was heating up and actually slow (almost like my 2012 MBP model). I exchanged it for another one within 14 days. Now I can’t say it’s slow but the heating still persists (around 50-80 degrees Celsius) while watching a youtube video, with some other tabs open and MS outlook on the side. I think I will be returning it for a full refund since the exchanged one is still not even 1 week old and I am starting to think that it is an issue with this year’s model and not an individual case issue especially after reading all those similar cases. Definitely not expected when paying so much for a lap top from a consistent brand like apple in 2020 so I am disappointed and I guess i’ll be waiting for those rumored ARM MBP to be released.

I agree there is a problem with the design however after my multiple conversations with Apple they do not agree. I think everyone needs to reach out to them and let them know if the issue. I have pointed them to these discussions multiple times however, I'm not certain they read them.