MacBook Overheating After macOS Monterey Update? Here’s the Fix!

Recently, a number of users have reported that their MacBook overheats unexpectedly after themacOS Monterey update. At times, the laptop becomes so hot that you need to shut it down immediately. Having faced this issue myself on my MacBook Air, I can confirm that it has been a worrisome problem in macOS 12. So, what are the solutions to fix the MacBook overheating issue after installing the macOS 12 Monterey update? Well, I have listed a few viable tips and tricks that work in preventing your MacBook from getting too hot. So, make sure to give them a try before knocking on the door of Apple Support.

Fix Overheating Issue on MacBook After macOS Monterey Update (2021)

Considering the nature of the issue, let’s first take a quick look at the reasons that could be causing your MacBook to overheat! Once that’s done, we will look at the ways to fix thiscommon macOS Monetrey problem.

What Causes Overheating on Your MacBook Running macOS Monterey?

Though it’s not unusual to have overheating issues on aging MacBooks after a software update, it can become a concern if they persist for several days. More so when your relatively new device tends to get hot frequently. From what I can tell, the MacBook overheating problem in macOS Monterey could be due to three major reasons.

If your MacBook hardware is less capable, it will have a hard time handling the latest software. Whenever there is a confrontation between worn-out hardware and Apple’s newest software with modern features, you will most likely end up facing annoying issues like overheating, sluggishness, and theterrible battery drain issue on macOS.

While it’s always a pleasure to be on the bleeding edge of technology, you should never lose sight out of the downside, especially when you are dealing with old hardware (5-6 years old).

Cluttered storage is detrimental to the health of a MacBook (or any device, for that matter). Things like app backups, storage-hogging files, outdated software, ever-lingering malware, piles of useless screenshots/ images, and videos can take a toll even on modern hardware – let alone a decade-old device. So yeah, you need to keep your MacBook storage uncluttered to keep it from overheating after the latest macOS Monterey update.

A few years back, I would think twice before putting the blame on software bugs for most issues on my MacBook. However, the landscape has changed dramatically in the last few years. So much so that macOS (along with iOS) is now branded as a hotbed of bugs. Seriously, I’m not kidding on this one. If you facing issues with your iPhone after the iOS 15 update, go through our dedicatediOS 15 common problems and solutionsguide right away!

Best Tips to Fix MacBook Overheating Issue in macOS Monterey

Now that we have recognized the usual suspects, it’s time to look for possible solutions to troubleshoot the MacBook overheating issue.

If an app is no longer in use, be sure to force quit it. It is done to prevent an app from continuously running in the background and eating up your battery unnecessarily. To do that, follow the steps below:

There are multiple reasons why you should keep apps updated. For those uninitiated, updated apps are better optimized, more secure, and also drain less battery. Considering the fact that MacBook battery drain and overheating issues are interconnected, make sure to update all apps on macOS Monterey from time to time.

Even though Google Chrome has long been myfavorite browseracross platforms, including macOS and iOS, I suggest switching to Safari whenever you run into issues like overheating and battery drain. It’s no secret that Chrome is resource-hungry and 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 to Safari from Chrome. Now, while switching browsers, you might want to bring along all of your bookmarks and saved passwords to Safari. To do that, follow the steps below:

A damaged or uncertified charger is equally responsible for MacBook overheating issues. Though most chargers claim to have safeguards in place against threats such as overheating and short-circuits, very few of them are able to walk the talk. Therefore, make sure to choose only certified chargers. Besides, you should also ensure that your existing charger is not damaged.

No solution has worked for you until now? Bother not, as we still have a handful of reliable solutions to fix the overheating MacBook issue after installing the macOS Monterey update. This time around, we are going to restart the MacBook. Yes, at times, all you need to prevent the notebook from getting hot is to give it a quick reboot.

If the overheating issue persists on your MacBook, try resetting the PRAM and NVRAM. Since it doesn’t harm any media or personal data, you shouldn’t worry about losing anything.

Note:Do note that there is no way to reset NVRAM/ PRAM or SMC on the M1/M1 Pro/M1 MaxMacBook Pro. Even though the Apple M1 MacBooks feature parameter memory, Apple hasn’t included any command to reset NVRAM. The Cupertino giant states that the M1 chip is fully equipped to handle the PRAM-related issues.

Apple Diagnostics (formerly Apple Hardware Test) can help you check your MacBook for hardware issues. So, try running a hardware test to figure out if there is any issue related to hardware on your Mac.

Cluttered storage is the mother of several issues, including overheating, on MacBooks. So, if you haven’t cleaned up your MacBook storage for a while, there is a good chance that the clogged-up storage is making life difficult for your notebook.

macOS Monterey offers a better way to keep track of the storage consumption and also easily track down the storage-hogging files. Hence, reducing the clutter is never a big deal.

Software updates come bundled with plenty of bug fixes and performance improvements. That’s the reason why I always recommend you to keep the software updated to the latest version. If none of the tricks above help fix the overheating issue, the problem could be due to a software bug. Hence, updating the software could resolve the issue.

Pro Tips to Prevent MacBook from Getting Hot

That’s it! Hopefully, your macOS Monterey-backed MacBook has started to behave normally and is no longer overheating like crazy. In most cases, you can prevent your laptop from getting hot by clearing the storage clutter and keeping all your apps updated. If these basic tips don’t work out, you should never fail to run a hardware test to get to the root of the problem. By the way, do you have any questions regarding this issue? If yes, make sure to let us know in the comments section below, and we will help you out.

Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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