MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) Fans Flare Up During the Simplest Tasks

My MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) fans flare up during the simplest tasks. This is not a new issue; it has been unusually high ever since I bought it in 2015 or 16. But it feels like it has started happening even more randomly since my Monterey update maybe?

  • The fans heat up and start running extremely loud during tasks especially related to watching streaming videos like lives or in 1080p; I always have to bring the quality down. It has been happening at watching normal videos as well (on apps like VLC) since my latest update as well. This sometimes happened before, but now happens almost every time.
  • I use Opera for browser. I used Chrome many years ago, but because of the above mentioned overload, I switched to Opera. I used to be able to work on multiple tabs or windows. It starts doing the same thing on random occasions. Some specific sites like Amazon definitely triggers it, I don't know why, but they always do.
  • I used to run a drawing tablet with USB connection without any issues. Once I tried running a Cintiq display tablet with a HDMI cable; I started having the fans' issue once again.
  • Apps like Photoshop has almost always triggers this even when I'm doing mid-level tasks, even though my RAM should be more than enough to do what I'm doing?
  • Happens when I'm writing a post at any site or forum (like right now).


These are just the first examples that come to my mind, there are many other issues. I *know* that fans' working is needed to cool the inside down, but the abnormal heating up and the extremely loud fan running does not sound anywhere "normal" and more like borderline scary, as if it'll shut down at any second to protect itself or worse.


I read many articles about this issue, a lot of them mention 2015 Macs for some reason. I also read about SMC reset, but unfortunately it didn't do much.


Yes, I always use it on a desk to keep the airflow healthy... I use a small stand from Ikea (Brada).


There was a time 2 years ago my battery had swollen up and needed to be replaced. The official service told me that this was "an extremely rare case".


So on the same machine, it's been twice now that an extremely rare case has found me: Swollen Apple battery and extremely problematic fans that start screaming at absolutely everything I do. For an item that had costed this much, this was really frustrating.


I had to replace the battery. Another service (not from Apple anymore) I talked to mentioned it could be related to a Logic board issue, but I didn't try this since there were no guarantees and replacing would cost a lot and I couldn't do that without any guarantees.


I realize I've been using this for this many years, thankfully; but I'm in no position to replace the whole thing right now. If anything, I have never been able to use this in peace, ever. No service or article for years were able to offer me any solutions for years.


Since I feel like this started happening a bit more after Monterey; I wanted to try asking again: I'm just asking to see if anybody would be able to offer any alternatives, any solutions, suggestions, anything here.


Thanks for your time


PS: You might laugh (but I'm desperate), but I have a small desk fan for myself and I tried turning it towards the mac when the fans started losing it once and it looks like it sometimes help the cooling down faster? I don't know, it seemed like it. Should I invest in a cooling fan? But they work from below, and this model's fans aren't below it, so I didn't...


MacBook Pro 15″

Posted on Sep 9, 2023 6:27 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 10, 2023 10:07 AM

First, welcome!


...watching streaming videos


Not a "simple task." Decoding video works both the CPU and GPU at close to max and WILL make heat. Both my active Macs, my iPad, and my iPhone get noticeable warmer when I watch videos or do teleconferencing.


...Some specific sites like Amazon definitely triggers it, I don't know why, but they always do.


Here as well. I can make my Macbook Pro get hot and the battery drain fast on demand by leaving an Amazon page open int the background. That's not a fault with your computer but something within Amazon's site coding.


Apps like Photoshop has almost always triggers this even when I'm doing mid-level tasks, even though my RAM should be more than enough to do what I'm doing?


That is correct. Even PS Elements starts the temps up on both my iMac and Macbook Pro. However, RAM is not a issue here. It's all about how hard the CPU and GPU must work.


Now this is not a known heat producer:


Happens when I'm writing a post at any site or forum (like right now).


That is either a fan fault, sensor fault, or due to useless anti-virus or so-called "cleaning" app, or client-side VPNs. Running Apple Diagnostics might offer a clue if fans or sensors are involved:


Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support


Should I invest in a cooling fan?


No. Had you the older "silver-key" Macbook Pro (pre-2009), yes, a "chill pad" would be effective because their heat dissipation hardware touched the bottom plate.That plate became part of the cooing system, With your model, the logic board hangs from the upper deck; a cooler baseplate could make at best only a tiny difference.


The Etrecheck report Leroy wisely requested is our best step for giving you a data-based evaluation in this setting where we can neither see not touch your computer.




Similar questions

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 10, 2023 10:07 AM in response to vinniea22

First, welcome!


...watching streaming videos


Not a "simple task." Decoding video works both the CPU and GPU at close to max and WILL make heat. Both my active Macs, my iPad, and my iPhone get noticeable warmer when I watch videos or do teleconferencing.


...Some specific sites like Amazon definitely triggers it, I don't know why, but they always do.


Here as well. I can make my Macbook Pro get hot and the battery drain fast on demand by leaving an Amazon page open int the background. That's not a fault with your computer but something within Amazon's site coding.


Apps like Photoshop has almost always triggers this even when I'm doing mid-level tasks, even though my RAM should be more than enough to do what I'm doing?


That is correct. Even PS Elements starts the temps up on both my iMac and Macbook Pro. However, RAM is not a issue here. It's all about how hard the CPU and GPU must work.


Now this is not a known heat producer:


Happens when I'm writing a post at any site or forum (like right now).


That is either a fan fault, sensor fault, or due to useless anti-virus or so-called "cleaning" app, or client-side VPNs. Running Apple Diagnostics might offer a clue if fans or sensors are involved:


Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support


Should I invest in a cooling fan?


No. Had you the older "silver-key" Macbook Pro (pre-2009), yes, a "chill pad" would be effective because their heat dissipation hardware touched the bottom plate.That plate became part of the cooing system, With your model, the logic board hangs from the upper deck; a cooler baseplate could make at best only a tiny difference.


The Etrecheck report Leroy wisely requested is our best step for giving you a data-based evaluation in this setting where we can neither see not touch your computer.




Sep 10, 2023 9:31 AM in response to vinniea22

vinniea22 wrote:

• My MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) fans flare up during the simplest tasks. This is not a new issue; it has been unusually high ever since I bought it in 2015 or 16. But it feels like it has started happening even more randomly since my Monterey update maybe?


ref: operating temps

Keep your Mac laptop within acceptable operating temperatures


Verify your software is up to date…

The current stable release of Monterey including bug fixes 12.6.8

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support



Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/Anti-Virus/VPN

all known to cause issues on the macOS



To get a good look at your User/System config. and reveal conflicts or issues, you can download/run this trusted utility https://etrecheck.com

If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the editing toolbar below, in your reply.




Sep 11, 2023 8:54 AM in response to leroydouglas

These were among the first answers that come up when i was researching; Activity Montior doesn't show anything unusual.


Although as I explained; I'm not entirely sure where exactly this model's ventilation openings are (suggested in that article). If they're up top (above the keyboard), of course there's nothing blocking them.


Software is up to date.


I don't have Cleaners/Optimizers/Anti-Virus/VPN.


Thank you for your reply. But had I not tried or looked at these first go-to articles/suggestions, I wouldn't be this frustrated with Apple's service.

Sep 11, 2023 9:01 AM in response to Allan Jones

Thank you for the answer.


I feel like if watching a video/live is going to be considered not simple and get fans screaming and the machine heating up abnormally; they shouldn't be asking for the prices they're asking because the tech specs definitely say they should be able to handle that load. And again, I'm not talking about a new issue, this has been the case from the moment this machine was brand new. :(


Amazon was just an example, but yeah, I noticed some sites tend to trigger this a lot more than others and that was the first one I could remember. :)


I don't have cleaning apps or virus apps (since I thought I don't need them on Macs), but I'll go over everything and delete things I don't recognize just in case!


Good to know that I won't have to invest in a cooling fan too I guess. ^^;


I'll try Etrecheck you both suggested! Thank you. I hope I can find something at least. Let's hope.

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MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) Fans Flare Up During the Simplest Tasks

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