How to Take Care of Your Mac in Hot Weather
Whether you use a Mac or a MacBook, your computer is more than capable of working in any weather, but it does have its limits.
If you’re using your Mac during summer or when it is too hot outside, you might want to take the necessary precautions to avoid damaging it. Use these tips to help you keep your Mac cool during the hot weather.
Only Use Your Mac at the Right Temperature
Your Mac can withstand moderately high temperatures, but you should seek to avoid using it if it is too hot.
Apple suggests that you only use your Mac in temperatures between 50° and 95° F (10° and 35° C). If the temperature is higher than that, you should not use your Mac to avoid causing some permanent damage to its hardware.
If you absolutely need to use your Mac for work or school, we suggest you try to do it near a fan or in a room with an air conditioner so your Mac can stay cool while you use it.
Don’t Use Your MacBook Over a Pillow or on Your Bed
One of the best perks of owning a MacBook is that you can use it pretty much anywhere. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. You’ve probably noticed that your MacBook has ventilation openings at the bottom which helps it stay cool even if the work is too demanding.
If you put your MacBook on a pillow, under bedding, or on your bed, you might cover its ventilation openings and prevent your MacBook from colling.
And if your MacBook gets too hot, it might start to malfunction, and, even worse, you might even damage its components.
Even if it’s comfortable, seek to avoid using your MacBook in any place that might cover its ventilation openings. Instead, use your MacBook on a flat surface like a table or a desk.
Don’t Leave Your MacBook Inside Your Car
If you use your MacBook for work, you probably take it everywhere. But that doesn’t mean you should leave it everywhere, too.
If it’s a really hot day, avoid leaving your MacBook inside your car, especially if the sunlight hits it directly. The heat might damage your MacBook, even if you’re not using it.
Instead, try to carry it with you. If you absolutely must leave it inside, try parking in a place where the sun doesn’t hit your car—and your MacBook—directly.
Use Your Mac in the Right Room
Using your Mac in the right room can prevent many issues, especially during hot weather. As a general rule, you should try using your Mac where there’s enough ventilation.
Likewise, you should place your Mac in a place where the sun doesn’t hit it directly at any time.
Of course, not everyone has a dedicated room for a computer, so if you use your Mac in a room with insufficient ventilation, you should consider using your Mac next to a window or a fan. The goal is to help your Mac stay cool and ventilated.
Take Breaks to Let Your Mac Cool Down
If you have an older computer or you’re a power user, it’s possible that your Mac gets hot too quickly. Even if cold weather, it’s never good to overwork your Mac.
To help your Mac and even yourself, you should schedule small breaks every now and then during your day. Not only will that help your Mac cool down, but taking aneffective and restorative break might help you boost your productivityas well.
Before you feel your Mac is getting a bit too hot or you hear your MacBook’s fans are starting to work double time, you should take a small break and put your Mac to sleep so it can cool down for a few moments.
Use the Right Power Adapter When Charging Your MacBook
Using the right power adapter is the easiest way to take care of your MacBook. You should always use the power adapter that comes with your MacBook to avoid any issues with the battery or with heat.
Many people wonder ifthird-party MacBook chargers are safe, but the truth is that if you buy from a reputable company, you should be okay, as long as the charger can give your MacBook enough power.
If you don’t know much about which companies are reliable and don’t want to go through all the hassle to figure it out, you should consider buying a power adapter directly from Apple.
Using the wrong power adapter might cause your MacBook to start heating up out of nowhere and even cause internal damage. Additionally, your battery might also get damaged. If you want toimprove your MacBook’s battery life, using the right charger is necessary.
What You Need to Do if Your Mac Gets Too Hot
So, your Mac got too hot while you were using it. Don’t worry; it’s not the end of the world.
You can start helping your Mac by quitting all the currently open apps. The less work, the faster your Mac can start to cool down.
If your Mac’s still hot after closing all the apps, you should try powering it down. After you turn it off, unplug any additional cables it has. If you’re using a MacBook, unplug the charger too. Then, give it some time to recover, and then try turning it on again once it cools down completely.
Afterward, you should keep an eye on what made your Mac get too hot. Was it an app you were using? Did you cover the ventilation openings? Or is it just too hot outside? it’s possible to try using yourMac’s Activity Monitorto see your CPU activity and determine which apps are a bit too demanding for your Mac.
Keep Your Mac Cool
These tips will help you keep your Mac cool even during the hottest time of the year. As a general rule, if you want your Mac to last as long as possible, remember to always give your Mac enough ventilation and avoid using it under the sun. After all, if the hot weather is too much for you to handle, it’s probably too much for your Mac.
Want to ensure your MacBook last as long as possible? Follow these tips.
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