Fan running while iMac is sleeping

Question

Level 1

6 points

Fan running while iMac is sleeping

I took my iMac, Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020, Sequoia 15.3 to a pc repair shop since the fan was running even while asleep figuring the fan had dust on it, it is in quite a dusty area.

He cleaned it, yet when I got home it was still running while asleep, so I did a search and came up with going to Apple, System Settings, General, Login Items and Extensions and I tuned off all the items except for Macs Fan Control.

Now I can't hear the fan running at all, especially not running while it's in sleep mode, which is the way it was.

I believe now those apps will no longer update automatically?

Sometimes solving one problem could cause another....

Thank you!

iMac 27″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Feb 5, 2025 4:30 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

96,134 points

Feb 5, 2025 6:53 PM in response to traveler582

In most cases it is only one or two third party App’s that are causing the problem. Look down the Preventing computer sleep column in Activity Monitor and remove those that report Yes from your open at login list and then quit the ones you open before sleeping.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

96,134 points

Feb 5, 2025 4:41 PM in response to traveler582

Sounds like it is only going into display Off mode and not into full computer sleep mode. Which is perfectly OK for that year model with an SSD.

If you wish to dig into why it might not be going into full sleep mode. Open your Activity Monitor and activate the Preventing computer sleep column.

Activity Monitor User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

traveler582 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 5, 2025 5:10 PM in response to den.thed

I just couldn't understand why the fan kept whirring, running almost continuously.....even in sleep.

I can only assume it was all those apps at log in

thx

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Answer 4

traveler582 Author

Level 1

6 points

Feb 5, 2025 4:51 PM in response to den.thed

The way I put it to sleep was going to Apple, Sleep, I would have thought that was a deep sleep? And I looked into Activity Monitor and checked it on. Thank you

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