My MacBook Pro suddenly started overheating- how to fix?

Question

Level 1

62 points

My MacBook Pro suddenly started overheating- how to fix?

I have a MacBook Pro from mid-2012. It still works great. Two days ago I was downloading a movie from iTunes and the laptop started making a noise like it is working super hard and it got very hot. I shut it down and restarted but that sound continued. I shut down all apps and programs and rebooted again and it is still getting hot and making that noise. Suggestions? I read online that this can often be from dust but is it strange that it would just suddenly go into overheating mode or is that what happens? I'd appreciate any help on how to remedy this! I am not sure I should be keeping the laptop on as it gets so hot after 30 minutes?

Thanks.

Bernice

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 13, 2015 5:28 AM

Reply

Answer 1

dominic23

Level 10

84,018 points

Jul 13, 2015 5:47 AM in response to Bernicer

Reset SMC.

Choose the method for “On Mac notebooks with non-removable battery”.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Reply

Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Jul 13, 2015 6:34 AM in response to Bernicer

Install a temperature/fan speed monitoring application.

Open Activity Monitor to ALL PROCESSES and CPU to display values fro high to low.

When the MBP gets hot, post images of both for evaluation.

Do open the MBP and see if there is dust and debris inside, especially around the fan(s).

Ciao.

Reply

Answer 3

Bernicer Author

Level 1

62 points

Jul 13, 2015 6:00 PM in response to dominic23

Dominc23, what does resetting the SMC do?

Is there any risk in doing this? I have the instructions below

To reset the SMC:

Shut down the computer.
Plug in the MagSafe or USB-C power adapter to a power source and to your computer.
On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.

Is the magsafe power adaptor the one I got with my MAC?

THanks!

Reply

Answer 4

Bernicer Author

Level 1

62 points

Jul 13, 2015 6:02 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi, This is my screenshot. what should I be looking for?

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 13, 2015 6:23 PM in response to Bernicer

Destroy whatever is using 98% of your cpu, before it destroys you. I fear it is too late. Your laptop may have attained sentience. 😝

In all seriousness, nothing in the snapshot is anywhere close to 98% Please scroll down the list, or click on "%CPU" to order the list from high to low.

IF it is all from normal apps, consider restarting in SAFE MODE. See if it persists. IF it doesn't persist in safe mode, then you may have some driver conflict or virus. Get thee to a genius.

Example fan control app will help you force the fans on full blast. SMC FanControl

If the fans are blocked by dust... that probably won't help.

Reply

Answer 6

Bernicer Author

Level 1

62 points

Jul 13, 2015 7:09 PM in response to Long Haired Artist

Thank you all- I discovered that my printer drive was going on the blitz and running itself into a frenzy for some reason so I was able to uninstall and reinstall and it seems to have solved it and now I know how to use Activity Monitor!

Thank you !

Reply

Answer 7

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,776 points

Jul 13, 2015 7:45 PM in response to Bernicer

Next time you have a issue like this, be sure to change Activity Monitor's "View" option from its rather useless default of "My Processes" to the useful "All Processes." The printer driver issue would have been immediately apparent had Apple chosen a better default view.

However, they do mention the View change in this support article on runaway background processes, the problem you experienced:

Apps can affect Mac performance, battery runtime, temperature, and fan activity - Apple Support

It's a good one to have bookmarked.

Reply