Why MacBook Gets Overheated When Closed?

If your MacBook is experiencing overheating issues even when closed, here is a complete guide on what to do.

Read through this article to learn why a MacBook can overheat while the lid is closed and what are the solutions to prevent it.

The Reasons Why a Macbook Gets Overheated When Closed

The most common reasons why MacBook gets overheated when closed are blocked vents, high ambient temperature, and many open browser tabs.

• Energy Saver settings – If you have enabled settings like – “Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off” or “Enable Power Nap while plugged into a power adapter,” the MacBook can be awake and get heated even if you have closed the lid.
• Bluetooth settings—Enabling “Allow Bluetooth devices to wake this computer” can also prevent the MacBook from going to sleep entirely, leading to overheating.
• Resource-intensive apps running in the background—Even with the lid closed, CPU—or GPU-intensive apps can continue running and cause the MacBook to heat up.
• Blocked airflow or vents — If the MacBook’s vents are blocked, especially if kept in a cabinet or closed place, it can get overheated. 
• Malware or Virus – Malware or virus attacks can also heat up Macbooks.
• Running on the system can cause excessive CPU or GPU usage and overheating, even when the lid is closed. 
• High ambient temperature—Working in direct sunlight or when temperatures exceed 50° can cause your Mac to overheat. A scorching environment can also cause your Mac to overheat. The Macbook is designed to operate within a specific temperature range. This can also reduce the shelf life of your Macbook. You can refer to this guide to know how long MacBooks last.

How to Prevent Your MacBook from Overheating When Closed?

To keep your MacBook from getting heated up when the lid is closed, follow these tips:

1. Place The Macbook on a Hard, Flat Surface

Placing the MacBook on soft surfaces, like blankets, beds, laps, or couches, can obstruct the vents and prevent sufficient airflow.

In this situation, the fans cannot effectively expel the hot air, which can overheat the laptop. So, keeping it on a dry, hard surface like a table where adequate airflow is available to facilitate this airflow and heat dissipation is better.

2. Make Sure Vents Are Not Blocked

You should check that the MacBook vents on the laptop’s sides are not blocked.

The fans draw in air from these vents and push the hot air out in the hinge at the top or bottom, depending upon your device’s lid position.

You should ensure these vents are not blocked to allow proper airflow and enhance the cooling system.

Also Read: How to save MacBooks from water spillage?

3. Clean The Vents

As discussed previously, you should ensure that the vents are not blocked or obstructed to prevent the MacBook from overheating.

You should maintain battery health to ensure proper airflow and cooling for your MacBook.

The vents can accumulate dust and debris over time, and this can prevent adequate airflow and cause Macbooks to get heated. You can use compressed air to blow out the dust or debris and clean the vents. Here is how to clean the MacBook’s vents:

• Turn off the Macbook if it is on, and unplug the power adapter. This should prevent any damage from static electricity.
• Hold the can upright and spray it in short bursts into the vents on the sides and back of your MacBook.
• It would be best not to tilt or turn the can, as this can cause the air to freeze, damage the components, and lead to further issues.
• Avoid spraying the air directly onto the fans. Instead, spray the air at the vents to blow out dust and debris. Spinning the fans with compressed air can damage them if not done carefully.
• If the debris doesn’t come out with the air, you can use a soft brush to gently clean it before spraying again.
• After cleaning, allow your MacBook to sit for a few minutes to ensure any static electricity has dissipated before turning the device on.

It would help to frequently clean your MacBook’s vents to maintain optimal airflow and prevent overheating issues.

4. Quit Resource Hogging Programs

Quit resource-intensive apps before closing the MacBook. This should reduce heat buildup while the lid is closed.

While the lid is closed, the airflow around the device is restricted, which might be why it is getting hot. This means the laptop’s cooling system, which relies on fans to draw in fresh, cool air and expel hot air, becomes less effective.

If you have resource-intensive apps running in the background before closing the lid, those can continue to generate heat even with the lid shut. The trapped heat can cause the Macbook to overheat.

So, quit the apps and programs that heavily utilize the CPU or GPU before closing your Macbook to minimize the heat produced. The limited airflow allows the internal components to cool down more effectively, preventing overheating issues. 

You can use a laptop stand or a cooling pad that elevates your MacBook and provides extra ventilation when the lid is closed.

5. Update Your Mac 

Update your Mac to the latest macOS version to avoid issues. Here is how to do so:

• From the Apple menu, select “System Preferences”.

• In the System Settings window, select “General”.
• Click on “Software Update”.
• Click on the “Update Now” option. If any update is available, it will automatically install it.

While the Macbook installs the updates, it can restart several times & display a progress bar.

Wait till the process is complete. Once the installation is complete, your Mac will run the latest MacOS version.

Software updates often fix performance issues, security vulnerabilities, and compatibility with newer apps and hardware. This can also cause your Macbook to overheat frequently.

That is why you should keep your Macbook up-to-date to ensure optimal performance.

To avoid data loss, you should always create a backup before installing an update. This should protect your files in case of unexpected issues during the update process.

Suppose you have an older macOS version, like High Sierra or earlier. In that case, you may need to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions or seek assistance from Apple Support to update the device.

6. Manage Your Mac’s Graphics Settings (GPU)

Follow the steps to turn on the automatic graphics switching setting.

• Click on the Apple menu and go to “System Preferences.“
• In the System Preferences window, click on “Battery“.
• Under the “Options” section, look for the “Automatic graphics switching” setting.

If this option is available, turn it on to help prevent your Mac laptop from overheating.

This will allow your Mac to automatically switch between the integrated & dedicated graphics cards to optimize performance and battery life.

If your Mac only has a single graphics card, the “Automatic graphics switching” option will not be available.

In that case, there is no need to adjust the graphics settings to prevent overheating, but it is recommended that you keep an eye on the Activity Monitor to ensure your MacBook Air stays cool.

The key to preventing your MacBook from overheating is monitoring the system’s performance and adjusting as needed.

This may include closing resource-intensive applications, ensuring the vents are not blocked, and keeping the room’s ambient temperature comfortable to keep your Mac from getting heated up. By managing the graphics settings and overall system usage, you can help maintain your Mac’s optimal performance and prevent further issues.

7. Reset The System Management Controller 

Here’s how you can reset the System Management Controller or SMC on a Macbook:

For Macs with a Non-Removable Battery

• Shut down your Mac. This will help improve battery health and prevent it from getting hot.
• Press & hold the Shift + Control + Option keys, then press and hold the power button simultaneously.
• Hold all four keys down for around 10 seconds.
• Release the keys, and next, press the power button to turn on your Mac. Check the Activity Monitor to see if any applications consume too much RAM.

For Desktop Macs

• Shut down your Mac.
• Unplug the Mac from the wall outlet or the back of your Mac. High temperatures can affect battery health.
• Wait for 15-20 seconds.
• Plug the power cord back in.
• Wait for 5-10 seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

You cannot reset the SMC on Macs with Apple Silicon processors, as the SMC functions are integrated into the processor itself.

Resetting the SMC can fix problems related to your Mac’s fans, keyboard backlighting, power button responsiveness, and other minor issues.

If the issue persists after resetting the SMC, you can contact Apple Support via the Apple Community for further assistance.

8. Manage Your Login Items and Login Agents

Here’s how you can manage your login items and launch agents on your Mac:

Login Items

• From the Apple menu, choose “System Preferences”.
• From the next window, select the Users & Groups option.

• Under current user, click on your account name. Here, you should find the Login Items option beside the password. Click on that.

• Here, you’ll see a list of apps that launch automatically when you use your Mac, which can help you control which applications start and prevent issues with your Mac.
• Select an app from the login items and click the “-” button to remove it.

Launch Agents

• Open Finder and click on “Go” in the top menu bar.
• Next, select the Activity Monitor to check for processes that may contribute to overheating. Click on the “Go to Folder…” option.
• In the text field, paste the following path: /Library/LaunchAgents.
• Click on “Go,” and you’ll see the folder containing the list of launch agents.

9. Adjust The Energy Saver Settings 

If your MacBook is still overheating, you can adjust the Energy Saver settings to put the hard disk to sleep when possible and reduce processor performance when on battery power. This is crucial to keeping your Mac functioning smoothly.

Suppose your MacBook is still overheating after following the previous recommendations.

In that case, you can further adjust the Energy Saver settings to put the hard disk to sleep and reduce processor performance when your Mac is on battery power to prevent overheating.

Here are the steps:

• Go to the Apple menu.
• Next, select “System Preferences”.
• Click on the “Battery” or “Energy Saver” icon, depending on your macOS version.
• In the Battery/Energy Saver preferences, look for the option to “Put hard disks to sleep when possible.” Check this box to have your MacBook’s hard disk go to sleep when not in use, reducing heat generation.
• Next, look for an option to “Reduce processor performance when on battery power.” Check this box to have your MacBook throttle the CPU when running on battery, which can help lower heat output and prevent Mac overheating.
• You may also want to enable “Optimize video streaming while on battery” to reduce power consumption and heat further when unplugged.
• Finally, click the “Schedule” button and set your MacBook to automatically sleep, wake, or shut down at specific times to manage its power usage better.

This should reduce the CPU and hard disk workload when running on battery and prevent overheating. It should also help if your MacBook gets hot frequently. You should monitor your device’s temperatures often and make changes if necessary to keep your MacBook Pro from overheating.

If the overheating persists, you may need to take the Macbook for service. There may be some underlying hardware issues that need to be fixed.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! The methods explained should help prevent the MacBook from overheating when closed and ensure it stays cool and operates at peak performance. For any related queries, feel free to contact us using the comments section below.