The fans inside your Mac ensure that there is enough airflow so that the components remain cool. In simple terms, your Mac’s fans prevent overheating which can further lead to physical damage.
By default, Apple doesn’t let you directly control the fan’s functions. However, some instances might arise, where you might need a third-party Mac fan control app to control the fans’ workings. But, first, what is a Mac fan control app and what does it do?
What is A Mac Fan Control App?
A Mac or a MacBook fan control is a utility that monitors the speed and temperature of a Mac. With one such fan control app you can control fan speed and set its RPM.
What is A Mac Fan Control App?
There is no denying the fact that fans cool down the inside of your Mac when it is overheating or it is in danger. That said, they do make noise and you might want to silence them or adjust the speed so that the battery is preserved.
Please Note: We urge you to control the speed of the fan or stop the fan when it is absolutely necessary because turning it off for a long time can damage your Mac’s hardware.
Now that you have an overview of what Mac fan control apps are and what these are capable of, let’s have a look at some of the best fan control apps for Mac.
Top Mac Fan Control Apps of 2024
Several applications address the problem of a Mac overheating by adjusting the fan speed. We’ve compiled a list of the four best choices to make things easier for you. Here they are!
1. Macs Fan Control
When your Mac overheats, the best course of action is to turn on the Macs Fan Control app. It employs the SMART methodology and incorporates robust monitoring sensors that check fan speed and temperature.
To automate the control of fan speeds in response to device operations, you can create and save custom settings on your device. This fan control app provides two tabular views that show a complete inventory of all active temperature sensors and fans.
Features:
- Real-time information on the temperature and fan speed of the system
- Apple Silicon and Intel processors run it exceptionally well on various macOS devices
- Set custom RPM or fan control speed according to the temperature sensor of a third-party HDD.
- Lessen the device’s tendency to overheat
- Straightforward user interface
- There are two options for controlling the fan speed
- To get what it does for the price, it’s reasonable
- Older versions of macOS are not compatible
Pricing – Free trial available. Pricing starts at $14.95
2. iStat Menus 6
Among several fan control apps for Macs, iStat Menu 6 stands out. The user experience is top-notch thanks to the sleek and straightforward design that works with recent models. The variety of available themes and colors, and the ability to personalize the dropdown menus, make it a decent choice.
You can switch the background from dark to light, depending on your preferences. Checking critical data like weather temperature fluctuations and CPU/disk/memory/system conditions and getting detailed graphs is now easier, thanks to the app.
Features:
- A wealth of data, including the current temperature and precipitation,.
- A weekly summary, an hourly prediction, and more.
- Status updates on the system’s memory, central processing unit, battery life, disc, etc.
- Ability to open and close menu dropdowns with a single key
- Complimentary 14-day trial for users
- Learn everything there is to know about the battery’s life and status
- Simple to alter elements such as menu bar clocks, an event calendar, etc.
- Intel-powered devices can auto-adjust fan speed based on events.
Pricing – Free trial available. Pricing starts at $14.15
3. SSD Fan Control
SSD Fan Control is a fan control software, exclusively for Mac, designed to control the temperature of solid-state drives (SSDs) and manage fan speeds. It lets users adjust fan speeds according to the SSD’s temperature to avoid overheating and maximize cooling efficiency.
With an intuitive interface, SSD Fan Control allows for precise adjustments to fan parameters, catering to individual preferences and system specifications.
Features:
- Personalized fan speed control for SSD temperature control
- Adapting fan speeds autonomously in reaction to changes in SSD temperature
- Efficient cooling with minimal noise
- Focuses on efficiently cooling SSDs by regulating their temperature.
- Adapts fan speed automatically in response to changes in SSD temperature
- Little effort to track and regulate the temperatures of other system parts
- Absence of sophisticated tools for managing system temperature beyond the SSD
Pricing – Free
4. Temperature Gauge (TG Pro)
You can monitor your Mac’s temperature and fan speeds with the help of (TG Pro) Temperature Gauge, an app that controls fans. Providing real-time temperature readings for components like the CPU, GPU, and hard drive enables users to monitor the health of their system. You can manually adjust the fan speeds to maximize performance or decrease temperatures.
The best part is TG Pro exposes low-level information Apple tracks and lets you set alerts in case values exceed what’s considered safe for long-term operation
Features:
- Adjusting fan speeds manually
- Real-time monitoring of CPU, GPU, and hard drive temperatures
- Personalised temperature notifications
- Precision in measuring temperatures
- Controllability of fan speeds through manual means
- Personalise notifications for temperature thresholds
- There are fewer options for personalisation than competing products
- Some users might need help to use all of the functions
5.Fanny Widget
Fanny may not control your Mac’s fan directly as in the case of some of the Mac fan control apps on the list. However, it lets you monitor the various aspects of your Mac’s fan. You can check the current speed, the target speed, and also the minimum and maximum speed of your Mac’s fans.
Features:
- Get real-time information of current speed, minimum speed and target speed of your Macs fans.
- Check CPU/GPU temperature.
- Check the maximum speed of Mac’s fans.
- Access all the information from the Notification Center.
- It gives an overview of all the fans on your Mac.
- You can’t actually control the speed of your Mac’s fans.
Which Mac Fan Control App Will You Choose For Your Mac?
On Macs, you can find several fan control apps with intuitive interfaces and reliable temperature sensor functionality. For instance, when the system temperature rises, you can easily customize the timing for the fan to activate automatically with Mac’s fan control. Before downloading apps, make sure they work with your macOS, and also consider your needs before choosing.
Overall, Macs Fan Control is a great choice for anyone who needs to monitor and control the fans and heat sensors inside their Mac. It is easy to use, feature-rich, and completely free.
If you have any other recommendations for this category, do let us know your experience in the comments section below!
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