birdirobin
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: The fan runs constantly. What is wrong? How do I stop the photo app heating up the laptop?

I open the photo app and my fans begins running fast. I don't even have to do anything, just open it.

 

This does not seem right. Do you have the same experience?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2012), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Nov 20, 2015 1:38 PM

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birdirobin

Q: The fan runs constantly. What is wrong? How do I stop the photo app heating up the laptop?

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  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Nov 20, 2015 1:42 PM in response to birdirobin
    Level 4 (1,679 points)
    Nov 20, 2015 1:42 PM in response to birdirobin

    Does it only happen in Photos? If it does, then there is probably a process that has been constantly trying to complete within Photos.

     

    Open Activity Monitor and then open Photos. See if Photos is showing a high CPU use/time and also check how much memory it is using. If you see anything else with a high CPU, take a screen shot and post it here. Option-Command-3 to take a screenshot

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 20, 2015 1:50 PM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2015 1:50 PM in response to Pmintz25

    Thank you. I opened Activity Monitor, then Photos. It took about a minute for the fan to speed up. I don't know the meaning of the numbers. What do you think?

     

    CPU.png

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 20, 2015 1:53 PM in response to birdirobin
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 20, 2015 1:53 PM in response to birdirobin

    Quit Photos and as a test launch Photos with the Option key held down and create a new, test library. Do the fan start?  If not import some photos and check to see if the same problem persists. Does it?

    OTsig.png

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 20, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2015 1:57 PM in response to Old Toad

    you lost me there... new test library?

     

    I don't need to do anything to make the fan start except open Photos.... it just goes constantly, sometimes faster, sometimes slower.

     

    I can't work like this. It's not right. I had a new hard drive installed 2 days ago.

  • by Pmintz25,

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Nov 20, 2015 2:10 PM in response to birdirobin
    Level 4 (1,679 points)
    Nov 20, 2015 2:10 PM in response to birdirobin

    Yeah Activity Monitor is showing that Photos is using WAY to much CPU/Memory.

     

    Old Toad is correct. Completely quit Photos. If it's open, click Photos in the top left, then select "Quit Photos."

     

    Now hold down the Option key and open Photos. A window will open that says "Choose Library." Click "Create New..."

    Don't worry, this will not delete your original library or any of your photos. It will open a new, blank library. With the new library open, open Activity Monitor again and see if Photos is still using a large CPU number. (Anything over about 20% is a lot). We are trying to see if your original library is causing the issue or if it is the Photos app itself. Creating a new library should tell us that.

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 20, 2015 2:15 PM in response to birdirobin
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 20, 2015 2:15 PM in response to birdirobin

    It's a test to see if the library is causing Photos to use so much CPU cycles and start the fan.  You can also log into another user account on your Mac, launch iPhoto, open a library in that account or start a new library to see if the problem is system wide of limited to your account.

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 20, 2015 10:44 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 20, 2015 10:44 PM in response to Old Toad

    Hi guys, I forgot to come back here sooner.

     

    I reloaded iPhoto into my laptop. Now there seem to be no photos in 'Photos'. It shows only the welcome page.

     

    I want to know the cause of the fan problem too. I have a new appointment next Wed at the store.

     

    I'm happy to have iPhoto again but does this mean we can't do the test about the fan? I was thinking I had two photo programs now, but apparently not.

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 21, 2015 6:25 AM in response to birdirobin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 21, 2015 6:25 AM in response to birdirobin

    Oh gee, I just reread your instructions. The second library supposed to be empty on purpose. I didn't realize. I'm slow to comprehend this, but now I see, you want me to test it with an empty library.

     

    The result with the empty library: Photos being open does not cause the overheating and fan whirring.

     

    It's been open for an hour or so and no problems. Well, not actually open to the program, but with the Welcome page showing. I can't get past this point.

     

    What do you think?

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 21, 2015 6:40 AM in response to birdirobin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 21, 2015 6:40 AM in response to birdirobin

    I got it open by dragging in a couple of jpegs. Here is the Activity Monitor screen shot. 'Photos' icon drops down the list quickly, nothing like the first screen shot.

     

    Screen Shot Activity.png

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 21, 2015 8:45 AM in response to birdirobin
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 21, 2015 8:45 AM in response to birdirobin

    Import some photos into the test library and see if that will trigger the fans.  If it doesn't then the problem lies in your current library. 

     

    If it doesn't the launch Photos with the Command+Option keys held down and repair the library according to this Apple document: Repair Your Library.


    Note: If you are using iCloud Photo Library with Photos, this action will trigger Photos to upload all your pictures again (from Fix missing or incorrect thumbnails in Photos - Apple Support)

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 22, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 22, 2015 1:03 PM in response to Old Toad

    Hi, I haven't performed the test yet.

     

    Sorry to ask, but how do I import, from where, and how many should I move? Into the empty test library for Photos.

     

    Anyone? thanks

  • by Old Toad,

    Old Toad Old Toad Nov 22, 2015 1:08 PM in response to birdirobin
    Level 10 (141,223 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 22, 2015 1:08 PM in response to birdirobin

    Select a about 20-30 photos in your current working library and export them as originals to a folder on the Desktop. Create a new library and import the folder and run to see if the fans start running.

     

    Do you have the iCloud Photo Library enabled?

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 22, 2015 2:36 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 22, 2015 2:36 PM in response to Old Toad

    I don't use iCloud.

     

    The 20-30 photos go from iPhoto into Photos?

     

    If you want me to get them from Photos, I don't know how. Currently when I open Photos the empty library is what I see.

  • by birdirobin,

    birdirobin birdirobin Nov 23, 2015 3:34 AM in response to birdirobin
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2015 3:34 AM in response to birdirobin

    I put approx 200 photos into Photos.

     

    During and after the download the fan came on and never stopped.

     

    Activity monitor numbers are 140 - 195 in the first column and don't drop below even while just sitting with no functions happening.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 3.24.37 AM.png

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