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Macs Fan Control: What It Is and How It Works
Control your Mac's fan speed manually or use a temperature profile
By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others. Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 24, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section Monitor and Control Your Cooling Fans Why Use Macs Fan Control The User Interface In the Menu Bar Extra: Missing Feature Final Verdict Macs Fan Control is a utility app that monitors the temperature and fan speed of a Mac. The app also can control fan speed to the desired RPM. What We Like Easy-to-use interface. Select a temperature sensor to take control of a fan. Set a static fan speed, or use a sensor to control fan RPM. It's free. What We Don't Like Doesn't indicate which sensors are associated with which fans. Lacks an automated notification system. Monitor and Control Your Cooling Fans
Macs Fan Control provides something that only Apple developers possessed in the past: the ability to control how a Mac's cooling fans perform. This is not something you should take lightly. Apple used advanced thermal modeling to develop the cooling profiles used in their fan management systems. Geared toward intermediate to advanced Mac users, Macs Fan Control can replace the Apple-supplied fan profile with the one you create. Beginners can use it, too, but you must be careful: Misuse can damage a Mac. Coyote Moon, Inc. Why Use Macs Fan Control
There are two primary reasons for creating a custom fan profile: You replaced a component in your Mac (such as a drive or graphics card), and the old temperature sensors were damaged or no longer measure the temperature correctly. Use Macs Fan Control to set a fan speed limit to prevent a fan from revving up beyond what is needed.You use your Mac in a noise-sensitive environment, such as a recording studio. Use Macs Fan Control to silence your Mac for a short period by preventing the fans from spinning up beyond a preset limit. The User Interface
No matter how you use this app, the controls and layout are easy to use and navigate. The main window has two panes: The first shows the fans and their speeds. A control section lets you create custom settings for each fan.The second pane shows the temperature of each thermal sensor. This uncluttered interface displays pertinent information at a glance. To take control of a fan, click the Custom button next to the desired fan to display the Fan control panel. Then, select how to control the fan: Constant RPM: Set the RPM manually. The fan spins at the desired speed regardless of temperature or sensor values.Sensor-based value: Select the sensor to use. Then, define the low-end temperature at which the fan speed will increase and the high-end temperature at which the fan is set to maximum RPM. To return to the default settings for a specific fan, select the Auto button. In the Menu Bar
Macs Fan Control can also display in the menu bar. Here, you'll see the selected sensor temperature and fan speed at a glance. You can also choose a black-and-white or color icon for the menu bar item. System Compatibility
Macs Fan Control is available for all types of Macs, including MacBooks and iMacs. The app is also available in a Windows version for those who use Boot Camp to run a Windows environment on a Mac. Final Verdict
You don't have to use the fan speed control feature of Macs Fan Control to appreciate this utility. You can monitor temperature sensors and speeds of associated fans in RPM (revolutions per minute). All in all, if you need an extra level of control over your Mac's cooling abilities or want to see how hot your Mac gets, Macs Fan Control might be the app you need. Download Macs Fan Control Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Control the CPU Fan on Windows 10 How to Know What App Is Using the Microphone on Your Mac How to Open the Emoji Keyboard on a Mac How to Fix it When Your PS4 Is Overheating Motherboard Fan Connectors: What They Are and How They Work The 8 Best Laptop Cooling Pads of 2022 How to Control the CPU Fan on Windows 11 How to Check MacBook Temperature How to AirPlay From a Mac to a TV How to Use the F Keys on a Mac How to Change Folder Color on Mac How to Control F On a Mac How to Turn on Bluetooth on a Mac How to Test Your Computer's CPU Temperature How to Turn off Mouse Acceleration on Mac How to Turn on AirDrop on a Mac Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies