Recently, some users reported that their MacBook was unexpectedly overheating after the macOS Monterey update. Sometimes the laptop gets so hot that you have to turn it off immediately. Having personally encountered this issue on my MacBook Air, I can confirm that this is a worrying issue in macOS 12. So, what are the solutions to fix MacBook overheating issue after installing macOS 12 Monterey update? Well, I’ve listed a few viable tips and tricks that work in keeping your MacBook from getting too hot. So make sure you try them before knocking on Apple Support’s door.
Fix MacBook Overheating After macOS Monterey Update (2021)
Considering the nature of the problem, let’s first take a quick look at the causes that can cause your MacBook to overheat! Once this is done we will look at ways to fix this common macOS Monetrey issue.
What Causes Your MacBook Running macOS Monterey to Overheat?
While it’s not unusual to have overheating issues on aging MacBooks after a software update, it can be a cause for concern if it persists for several days. Moreover, if your relatively new device tends to heat up frequently. As far as I can tell, the MacBook overheating issue on macOS Monterey can be due to three main reasons.
Less Capable Hardware
If your MacBook hardware is less capable, it will struggle to use the latest software. Whenever there is a conflict between worn-out hardware and Apple’s latest software with modern features, you will most likely face annoying issues like overheating, slowdowns and the dreaded battery drain issue in macOS.
While it’s always a pleasure to be on the cutting edge of technology, you should never overlook the downside, especially when dealing with older hardware (5-6 year olds).
Distributed Storage
Scattered storage is detrimental to the health of a MacBook (or any device for that matter). Things like app backups, storage files, outdated software, persistent malware, useless screenshots/stacks of images, and videos can wreak havoc on modern hardware, let alone a ten-year-old device. So yes, after the latest macOS Monterey update you need to keep your MacBook storage organized to prevent it from overheating.
Random Software Error
A few years ago, for most problems with my MacBook, I would think twice before placing the blame on software bugs. However, the landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years. So much so that macOS (along with iOS) is now branded as a bug nest. Seriously, I’m not kidding about this. If you encounter problems with your iPhone after the iOS 15 update, check out our dedicated iOS 15 common problems and solution guide now!
Top Tips to Fix MacBook Overheating Issue on macOS Monterey
Now that we understand the usual suspects, it’s time to look for possible solutions to fix MacBook overheating issue.
1. Make Sure You Force Quit Inactive Apps
If an app is no longer in use, be sure to force quit it. It is done to prevent an app from constantly running in the background and unnecessarily draining your battery. To do this, follow these steps:
- Click apple menu select it in the upper left corner of the screen and forced departure. After that, select and click the apps you want to close. forced departure.
2. Update All Apps
There are many reasons to keep apps up to date. For the uninitiated, the updated apps are better optimized, safer and also consume less battery. Considering the fact that MacBook battery drain and overheating issues are linked, be sure to update all apps on macOS Monterey from time to time.
- Go to: Mac App Store -> Updates Episode. Then update all the apps at once or do it one by one as per your convenience.
3. Use Safari Instead of Google Chrome
While Google Chrome has long been my favorite browser on platforms including macOS and iOS, I recommend switching to Safari when you encounter issues like overheating and battery draining. It’s no secret that Chrome is resource-hungry, which often proves too much for an aging MacBook.
On the contrary, Safari is more efficient and better optimized for the Apple ecosystem. So if overheating continues to be a concern on your MacBook running macOS Monterey, try switching from Chrome to Safari. Now you may want to bring all your bookmarks and saved passwords to Safari when switching browsers. To do this, follow these steps:
- Fortunately, importing all bookmarks and saved passwords from Chrome to Safari is easy. click File -> Import From -> Google Chrome (or any other browser).
4. Make Sure Your Charger Is Not Damaged
A damaged or unapproved charger is equally responsible for MacBook overheating issues. While most chargers claim to have safeguards in place against threats like overheating and short circuits, few can get the conversation going. So make sure you only choose certified chargers. You should also be careful not to damage your current charger.
5. Restart Your MacBook
Haven’t any solutions worked for you so far? Do not fret as we still have several reliable solutions to fix MacBook overheating issue after installing macOS Monterey update. This time we will reboot the MacBook. Yes, sometimes all you have to do to keep the laptop from getting hot is to restart it quickly.
- To do this apple menu select the icon in the upper left corner and Restart. Once your laptop restarts, use it for a while to check if it’s still overheating. You should have understood the subject better by now.
6. Reset PRAM and NVRAM
If your MacBook continues to overheat, try resetting the PRAM and NVRAM. You should not worry about losing anything as it does not harm any media or personal data.
- First, Shut down your Intel-based MacBook and open it.
- Then, hold Command, Option, P and R keys immediately after hearing the startup sound.
- Make sure to hold these keys until your laptop restarts and the startup sound is heard again.
Note: Note that there is no way to reset NVRAM/PRAM or SMC on the M1/M1 Pro/M1 Max MacBook Pro. While Apple M1 MacBooks have parameter memory, Apple has not added any commands to reset NVRAM. The Cupertino giant states that the M1 chip is fully equipped to solve problems with PRAM.
7. Run the Hardware Test
Apple Diagnostics (formerly Apple Hardware Test) can help you check your MacBook for hardware problems. So, try running a hardware test to see if there are any hardware-related issues on your Mac.
- First of all, turn off your MacBook. Next, make sure your macOS device is on a flat surface with proper ventilation.
- On Macs with Apple silicon: Turn on your Mac and hold the power button When your Mac starts. Release the power button when the startup options (gear icon labeled Options) window appears. After that press the keyboard shortcut Command (⌘)-D on your keyboard.
- On Macs with Intel processors: Turn on your Mac and immediately hold D key on the keyboard during system startup. Make sure to release the key when the progress bar appears or when asked to choose a language.
- Apple Diagnostics will now start checking your Mac for possible hardware problems. You should see a progress bar on the screen. When the test is finished, Apple Diagnostics show results with one or more reference codes.
- if you see PPF001, PPF003 or PPF004, there may be a problem with the fan. Considering how the fan plays an important role in keeping your device’s temperatures under control, there’s a good chance your MacBook overheating is caused by the poorly working fan, not the macOS Monterey update. In this case, contact Apple Support for assistance.
- Now, if you want to repeat the test, click “Rerun test” or press Command-R. You need to click it to restart your Mac. Restart or press R.
8. Clean Up Your MacBook Storage
Scattered storage is the root of many problems with MacBooks, including overheating. So, if you haven’t cleared your MacBook storage for a while, there’s a good chance that clogged storage is making life difficult for your laptop.
macOS Monterey provides a better way to track storage consumption and also easily keeps track of files used in storage. Therefore, it is never important to reduce clutter.
- Click apple menu select it in the upper left corner of the screen and About This Mac. After that, choose to store tab and click overcome.
- Next, macOS Monterey will provide a neat breakdown of how storage is consumed by different categories such as Photos, Apps, Messages, Documents, and more. There is also the option to review the files taking up storage and remove them with ease.
9. Update Your Mac
Software updates come with many bug fixes and performance improvements. This is why I recommend always keeping the software updated to the latest version. If none of the tricks above helped fix the overheating issue, then the problem could be caused by a software bug. Therefore, updating the software may fix the problem.
- start System Preferences Go to the app on your Mac and Software update Episode. Now download and install the latest macOS Monterey update.
Pro Tips for Preventing MacBook from Overheating
This much! Hopefully your macOS Monterey powered MacBook has started behaving normally and is no longer overheating like crazy. In most cases, you can prevent your laptop from getting hot by cleaning up storage clutter and keeping all your apps up to date. If these basic tips don’t work, you should never neglect to run a hardware test to get to the root of the problem. By the way, do you have any questions on this topic? If your answer is yes, be sure to let us know in the comments section below and we’ll help you out.
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