iMac random clicking noise

Hello DocPrinzel,

We would be happy to assist you with your iMac.

When do you hear the 3 clicks?

Do you hear them while performing a certain task on the Mac?

View disk activity in Activity Monitor on Mac to check the status of the hard drive.

Have a great day!

I had a similar problem with my 2020 27 inch. Turned out to be a brand new LaCie 1TB drive I was using for backups. Being the two devices (iMac and LaCie drive) are so close together it sure sounded like it was the iMac. Unplugging all external drives and then restarting with only one drive attached at a time identified the noisy unit.

I have never had good luck with LaCie drives. Most experienced users on these forums prefer the OWC Mercury Elite Pro. If you live outside the USA, you can find a distributor in your general area that can assist. OWC International Resellers

I've had exceptionally good luck with LaCie. I bought six in 2015 for a pair of 2015 iMacs and they are still working. I did replace the 2015 ones used for backups early this year but the new one that clicks is still clicking in a non critical role. The old ones are still working fine but have been relegated to the hard drive cardboard coffin. No matter how you cut it, it's all a crap shoot and no drive brand is free of its lemons.

I'm stumped, but that's not all that hard to do when it comes to computers of any ilk.

If you have no peripherals attached, does that mean you have no current backups? If so, I'd suggest you need to make at least one backup ASAP. Your sound may be innocuous, but it might also be a portent of a future failure.

Well said!

I was simply voicing my experiences, I am very happy your experience with LaCie products have been all positive.

Best,

RK