Tips and tricks to keep your MacBook from overheating after the macOS Monterey update – Times of India

Several users have recently reported that their MacBooks are unusually overheating after the macOS Monterey update. They also complained that sometimes the laptop is producing so much heat that they had to urgently shut it down and it looks like a real issue with macOS 12. Here we have listed some usable tricks and tips that will check the MacBook from getting too hot. Although these are not permanent solutions, you can try them before calling Apple support.
Reasons for Overheating
Overheating issues after an update is not a new thing for old MacBooks but it might become a concern if they persist for a long time. We think the MacBook overheating issue in the macOS Monterey might be for three reasons.
If the hardware is very old it will face a lot of difficulties in running the latest software. These situations cause a number of annoying issues like — sluggishness, overheating and low battery efficiency. These situations arrive when you are using 5-6 years old hardware.
Unorganised storage is a big problem for any device. Storage hogging files and other unnecessary things like — outdated software, app backups, a heap of useless screenshots/ images, ever-lingering malware and heavy videos can take a toll on any hardware. You might try keeping the storage organised and delete every other unnecessary thing hogging storage.
In recent times, macOS and iOS have had a lot of bugs, unlike in its past days. These software bug issues can also cause overheating. Now let’s discuss some of the temporary fixes to keep your MacBook from overheating.
Always force quit inactive apps
Make sure you force quit every app that you are no longer using, else the apps will keep on running in the background and drain out the battery unnecessarily. Follow these two steps to force quit your apps:
Step `1: Go to the Apple menu at the upper left corner of your screen and select ‘Force Quit’.
Step 2: Then choose the apps you want to close and select ‘Force Quit’
Keep the apps updated
Updated apps are more secure, power-efficient and better optimised. Keep all your apps updated all the time, this might solve both the overheating issue and the battery efficiency problem (assuming they are interconnected). To update the apps you need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the Mac App Store followed by the Updates section.
Step 2: Here you can either update all the apps at once or one at a time, whichever way you prefer.
Use Safari browser
Use the Safari browser if you are facing issues like overheating and battery discharge. Browsers like Google Chrome are resource hungry and might not work well with an old MacBook. On the other hand, Safari is better optimised and more efficient for the Apple ecosystem. Don’t forget to bring along all your saved passwords and bookmarks to Safari while switching browsers following these steps:
Step 1: Open the Safari browser
Step 2: Go to File
Step 3: Click on Import from
Step 4: Select Google Chrome (or any other browser)
Damaged/Uncertified Charger
An uncertified or damaged charger can also be a reason for the MacBook overheating issue. Although most of the chargers claim to have safety for threats like short circuits and overheating, many fail to prove what they claim. Make sure you buy only certified chargers and ensure that the one you are using is unaffected.
Reset NVRAM and PRAM
Resetting the NVRAM and PRAM might also fix the overheating issue. You won’t lose any media or personal data by doing this. However, there is no way to reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC on the M1 Max and M1 Pro chipsets. Apple assures that these new processors are fully equipped to handle any such issues. Follow these steps to reset your PRAM/NVRAM:
Step 1: Shut down the Intel-based MacBook and turn it on
Step 2: Hold down Command, Option, P, and R keys together immediately after you hear the startup sound
Step 3: Keep on holding these keys until the laptop reboots and the startup sound is heard again
Apple Diagnostics
Apple Diagnostics (previously known as Apple Hardware Test) can confirm if you have a hardware issue. So, running a hardware test can help you figure out if there is a hardware issue on your MacBook. To run this test you have to follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Shut down your MacBook
Step 2: Keep it on a flat surface with proper ventilation
Step 3: Macs with Apple processors have to turn on the device and hold down the power button Release the power button when the startup options (gear icon labelled Options) window appears. After that, press the keyboard shortcut Command+D on the keyboard. For intel processor users, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the D key on the keyboard as the system starts up. Release the key when the progress bar appears or when you are asked to select a language.
Step 4: Apple Diagnostics will start looking for possible hardware issues on your Mac. You should see a progress bar on the screen. In the end, Apple Diagnostics will show the results with one or more reference codes.
If you see PPF001, PPF003, or PPF004 error codes it might mean that there is an issue with the fan. The fan plays an important role in checking your device’s temperature and a damaged fan may be the reason for the overheating issue and not the macOS Monterey update. In this case, call up Apple Support for further assistance.
If these complicated tests and checks don’t solve the issue, you can always clean your storage, regularly update all the apps and the OS or even restart your MacBook for temporary relief.