Our recommendation for every Macbook and Macbook Pro that is older than 3 years is replace thermal paste (with nonconductive one) and cleaning internal fans. Our experience on many MacBook and MacBook Pro, their performance decreasing after approx. 3 years because of thermal issues. Those generally because of the thermal paste used in them not good after 3 years and dirt become solid on fans. We will post some updates on our post about this. After approx. 3 years, thermal issues are not only decrease your performance: We are nearly sure, thermal issues because of thermal paste and fan dirt are very effective on logic board and graphic card problems that finished with either logic board replacement or death Macbook or Macbook Pro. We are very suspicious on iMacs probably have same issues but not have any experience on them other than 5 iMacs we cleaned up and working better. We are recommend Artic Cooling Mx-2, non conductive thermal compound that last nearly 5 years.
Four Solutions that rescue you from Macbook and Macbook Pro Fan Noise and Performance Decreasing
Macbook and Macbook Pros, especially Macbook Pros, have fan noise problem even they have clean and 100% working fans. Here is so suggestion before you change the fans or any other hardware. You may have fan noise because of a print job, an application or disc permissions, they you may easily fix and rescue your Apple Macbook or Apple Macbook Pro from fan noise.
First Recommendation
1. Go into your print jobs (system preferences > printers) and there will be a pending print job.
2. Cancel the print job
Second Recommendation
1. Repair Permissions (Applications>Utilities>Disk Utility)
Third Recommendation
1. Problem maybe the DashboardClient. Just quit it from activity monitor with choosing its name
As our readers suggested, in these pictures two different fans existed. You must find your original fan’s socket color before replacement. Black or white. According to your fan’s socket color you need find replacement. We changed two MacBook Pro fan with different colors sockets, but it needs some experience.
How to fix MacBook Pro fan that makes noise without replacement
Before changing fans you may try use some liquid that makes easy rotating. After some of 3 years (if you have pet, or polluted air, or you are smoker… the time is getting shorter. Clean environment means longer working time for fans notebook work without problem), the liquid become dry. If you add some new liquid your fans maybe work. Here is a quick fix guide for you.
You going to need tools for this fix as you need replacement your fans. So first try this solution for fixing non working notebook fan or noisy fan before get replacement.
You must have
1 – T6 Torx screwdriver
2 – 00 Phillips screwdriver
3 – WD-40 Lubricant
We provided Amazon links to you for direct buying. We recommend compressed air to clean the dust from notebook fans. It maybe gives your fan a little longer and silent life.
This guide generally works on any Macbook, Macbook Pro and Pc notebook. Just fallow steps and understand the idea. Unibody models needed a little different way of order for opening them. If you have Macbook Pro produced in 2010 (April 2010 and after) you going to need Triwing screwdriver
For MacBook Pro (Before Unibody)
Here is the links for opening your MacBook Pro and MacBook for fixing fans.
MacBook Pro
Right Fan, Left Fan
MacBook Unibody
Right Fan, Left Fan
Disassemble the laptop with T6 Torx screwdriver
After you’ve extracted the fan from the Mac’s innards, the fan assembly comes apart quite easily (by two Phillips screws), into three pieces. The inside of the fan assembly is the noise culprit, it just needs to be cleaned and to apply WD-40 Lubricant
Get rid of any debris using a cloth. Then, apply some WD-40 Lubricant
After assembling the MacBook (follow the directions in reverse), use the app smcFanControl to increase speed of fans for 30 seconds or so, and when you decrease them back down to normal speed, the lubricant should have work. The Mac Book Pro fans once again operates as it should, silently.
Watch to get idea how you make your macbook cooler and faster even years after you bought it.
You may also wish to visit our newly published post MacBook Fan Noise Ultimate Solution Idea Guide in Video
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Folks,
Do you know that you have shown on yours pictures absolutely incomparable fans. Top pictures has female socket (white). And bottom pictures showed top plugin socket (black). Do not confuse people you cant you that fan on that Mac.
We know that. One of the pictures is from early Macbook Pro other is after that era. We got some problems with jacks too. But you may change them via changing wires. Infact we are using MacBook Pro replacament fans with changing white jacks to black. It is easy if you know what your are doing. Probably we need put some info and pictures about process. Your inpıt welcome.
Recommended check and update for MacBook Pro 15 and 17 inch
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL832
This SMC Firmware update adjusts the fan behavior in MacBook Pro systems (15-inch and 17-inch) when running under high workload conditions.
The updater application will be installed in the /Applications/Utilities folder and will launch automatically. Please follow the instructions in the updater application to complete the update process.
Thanks so much for the information. Your first recommendation fixed my annoying fan noise problem. Who knew it
was something so simple!
can you post some vid or pic showing how to replace de thermal paste, please?
on white macbook
okey. we try open a white book for you. which year or serial number you have
i found a vid on youtube. But thanks for your attention and for the tip. it was very helpfull
Hi, thanks for the information. Could you please indicate on video or pictures where you would replace the cooling paste? Does this also concern the fans or not?
thanks, Rufio
In my case the problem of noisy fan looks being in HP printer drivers. I have HP DeskJet 3050 wireless printers in 3 different locations. I had installed all 3 printers into my Mac Printers/Scan. When I moved with MacBookPro from one location to another, I could print and scan in every of them easily. But fan was really noisy and no any other thing helped (cleaned Mac from any unneeded files and things, etc.). When I unistalled all my printers, fan is silent as a sleeping baby. Very curious. Now I have to find the way to most easier use of my printers in different locations.
Video response for who does need a general idea guide how to open and replace thermal paste.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgEjSGmE9zk
Hey, I’d really appreciate a demonstration of fixing or cleaning the fan from a white macbook from mid 2007. Mine can be quite loud for several minutes as it starts up.