The fact that macOS Monterey is more efficient than other desktop operating systems, including Windows, cannot be denied. But that doesn’t mean the OS isn’t without any quirks or pain points. If the lack of a native feature to disable Turbo Boost seems annoying, not being able to control the CPU temperature on a Mac feels like nothing less than a classic puzzle. While Activity Monitor offers a way to see how apps and other processes are affecting CPU, GPU, energy, disk, memory, and network usage, the built-in task manager is still pretty limited and lacks a clear cutoff feature. Current CPU temperature on macOS. But don’t worry, that’s where terminal and third-party Mac apps come into play.
How to View CPU Temperature on macOS
Before we start with the steps, let’s tackle a few basic questions! If you just want to jump into the methods of checking CPU temperature on Mac, use the table of contents below to move forward.
Why You Should Monitor the CPU Temperature on Your Mac
There are many reasons why you might want to monitor CPU temperature on macOS. Maybe you’re trying to compare the machine you just bought, or maybe you want to know when the fans kick in. It can also let you know if you are killing the CPU excessively by playing some of the best free Mac games or letting resource-wasting apps run wild.
So What Is the Ideal CPU Temperature?
Since normal CPU temperature varies from model to model, it’s a little difficult to come up with an exact number that might be the best representative for everyone. However, if I were to break it down in simple terms, I would say the cooler the CPU temperature, the better for your computer’s health.
Normal room temperature 22-24 degrees Celsius is ideal for CPU temperature. But even if the computer runs 10 degrees Celsius above ambient level, it’s still pretty good. Long story short, the normal CPU temperature should be around 45-65 degrees for a healthy system. So if the number goes above this normal level, you should consider reducing the workload of the CPU. Now that the conversation is over, it’s time to take the quick steps.
Check CPU Temperature on Mac Using Terminal
While there are many third-party apps you can use to check CPU temperature on macOS, you don’t have to rely on them because Terminal can help you figure that out too. Here is how to check CPU temperature on Mac using Terminal:
- Start terminal and type the following command:
sudo powermetrics --samplers smc |grep -i "CPU die temperature"
Fly: If the command doesn’t work for you, try typing it manually instead of copying and pasting from this article. There are some reports that quotation marks are problematic if not typed manually in Terminal.
- Press enter and you should be able to see the temperature of your Mac CPU.
Note: This method only works on Intel Macs. If you are using an M1 supported Mac, try using the methods below.
Check CPU Temperature of M1 Mac (Mac with Apple Silicon)
If you’re looking for a third-party app to help you keep track of your MacBook’s CPU temperatures, look no further than the TG Pro. This is one of the only apps I’ve found works for both Intel and M1 Macs. Here’s how to use it.
- Install TG Pro (download) on your Mac (make sure to download the Intel or Apple Silicon version based on your Mac)
- When you launch the app, you will see the icon itself appear as a menu bar app with your CPU temperatures. You can also see more detailed information in the application window.
Unfortunately, TG Pro does not offer a widget. But personally, I prefer such apps to be on my menu bar rather than the widget screen on my Mac. TG Pro is a paid app and you need a license ($10) to continue using it while you get a 15-day free trial.
If you have the M1 Mac, you have no choice but to use the TG Pro. However, if you’re using an Intel Mac, you can check out some of the other apps on this list that might suit you better, and some are even free.
Check CPU Temperature on macOS Using Fanny App
Whenever I think of monitoring CPU temperature on macOS, the immediate app that comes to mind is Fanny. Probably the best part is its ability to work as a native macOS feature. After downloading and installing this application (it hardly takes a few steps), you can quickly take a look at many performance defining aspects such as CPU/GPU temperature. Moreover, it is available for free.
1. To get started, download Fanny on your Mac.
2. After downloading the application, Notification Center icon (three stacked horizontal lines) in the upper right corner of the screen.
Alternatively, you can swipe left from the right edge of the trackpad to access Notification Center on your computer.
3. Now, Today tab is selected. Next, click 1New below.
4. Next, click on “+” The button to the right of Fanny.
That is all! From now on, you can check the CPU temperature of your macOS device directly from Notification Center.
You can also click on Fanny’s menu bar icon To view the current CPU temperature of your Mac This handy application allows you to monitor the current speed, target speed, minimum speed, maximum speed, number of fans and GPU temperature on your computer, in addition to showing the CPU temperature.
Other Apps to View CPU Temperature on Mac
While Fanny remains the favorite notification center widget for monitoring Mac’s CPU temperature along with other important system information, there are few essential apps that are more proficient. If you don’t mind spending a few bucks for extra functionality, it’s worth a look.
1. Watch
Do you want to go a little further? feature-rich CPU temperature monitoring Mac appI recommend you try Monit. The app works efficiently by providing a quick way to check important performance data of Mac. For example, you can use this app to check a few key performances that identify things like: CPU, network, disk, memory and even battery. While this notification center widget comes in at $2.99, it’s worth the price considering the notable features and reliable performance.
Price: $2.99
2. iStat Menus
for those looking full menu bar system manager, iStat Menus are your best bet. What gives it an edge over many of its other competitors is show a wide range of key performance metrics It includes CPU, GPU, memory, disk usage, network usage, disk activity, battery and more. Also, this macOS app is fully customizable so you can hide unwanted information and have it show only the metrics that matter to you. But keep in mind that all these goodies will cost you much more ($10) than other apps.
Price: $9.99
Easily Track Your Mac’s Current CPU Temperature
So this is how you can monitor the CPU temperature of your Mac. Since I’m using M1 MacBook Air, I need to use third party apps like TG Pro. However, I would love to have a native macOS feature to keep track of my CPU temperature on M! Macs with macOS Monterey. Hopefully, Apple introduces it soon. Do you have any feedback? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and let us know which of these apps caught your attention.
Support our work ❤️
If you enjoyed this article, consider leaving a tip to help us keep publishing great content.
