MacBook Air 2020 intel core i3 retina making buzzing noise with fan off

Hello community, I have had my MacBook Air 2020 for a couple months and I was fully aware of the overheating issues. So, I got a cooling pad and made sure to keep the MacBook Air off of pillows and my bed. However, no matter what I do, the computer still heats up very fast when I am opening safari and other web browsers or joining teams meetings. Since this was a common issue with the MacBook Air 2020 models and I have AppleCare +, I decided to ignore it. Recently today, I put my computer up to my ear to see if the fan is going and its not, but I hear a weird faint buzzing sound coming from the middle of the computer above the keyboard. Is this normal? Or should I be worried? I'm new to a MacBook Air so I don't know. Also the computer is NOT plugged in, my screen brightness was at half, and my keyboard backlight was off. Thanks for all replies!

Posted on Nov 20, 2020 4:13 PM

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1 reply

Nov 29, 2020 6:28 AM in response to William_Phillips

Hello William_Phillips,


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!


Based on what you mentioned, your MacBook Air's fans are not running as expected, you hear an unusual noise, and your Mac lowers power consumption when it's not plugged in. For more information on power management, review: Save energy on your Mac.


For the issue with the sound and fans, try resetting the SMC (System Management Controller). You'll see how this can be done here: How to reset the SMC of your Mac.


Best wishes!

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MacBook Air 2020 intel core i3 retina making buzzing noise with fan off

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