Bernicer
Level 1 (45 points)

Q: 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

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Bernicer

Q: My MacBook Pro suddenly started overheating- how to fix?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by dominic23,

    dominic23 dominic23 Jul 13, 2015 5:47 AM in response to Bernicer
    Level 8 (42,122 points)
    Mac OS X
    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

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Jul 13, 2015 6:34 AM in response to Bernicer
    Level 9 (52,793 points)
    Mac OS X
    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.

  • by Bernicer,

    Bernicer Bernicer Jul 13, 2015 6:00 PM in response to dominic23
    Level 1 (45 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:

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

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

     

    THanks!

  • by Bernicer,

    Bernicer Bernicer Jul 13, 2015 6:02 PM in response to OGELTHORPE
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Jul 13, 2015 6:02 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

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

    Screen Shot 2015-07-13 at 8.56.45 PM.png

  • by Long Haired Artist,

    Long Haired Artist Long Haired Artist Jul 13, 2015 6:23 PM in response to Bernicer
    Level 1 (0 points)
    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.

  • by Bernicer,

    Bernicer Bernicer Jul 13, 2015 7:09 PM in response to Long Haired Artist
    Level 1 (45 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 !

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Jul 13, 2015 7:45 PM in response to Bernicer
    Level 8 (35,316 points)
    iPad
    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.