How to fix a noisy MacBook Pro fan

02.26.09 @ 11:25PM Tags : apple, diy, fan, howto, mac, macbook, macbookpro, noise

My three year-old MacBook Pro recently started emitting a constant racket from its left fan (which sounds something like this). Most people will tell you you need a new fan for $50, but I decided to try to fix it instead, and so far (it’s been two weeks nine months), the repair has worked great. As any google or youtube search for “noisy macbook pro fan” produces thousands of results, I hope this saves someone fifty of their hard-earned bucks during this, the winter of our hardships.

You’ll need a couple of tools to perform this operation, but you would need these same tools to install a replacement fan as well, so you’re still saving fifty bucks (or more, if you were going to take it in to be repaired). They should total up to less than $15:

You also might want to get some compressed air to clean out the dusty innards of your machine (I added one to my order just to make it to the $25 free shipping mark at Amazon, and it ended up being quite handy).

As reported in the comments below, this repair works on both 15″ and 17″ versions, going back to 2006 and including the newer “unibody” models (unibody disassembly instructions are slightly different, but the repair requires the exact same set of tools). UPDATE: the new MacBook Pros introduced in April 2010 drop the Torx screws for Triwing screws; you’ll need a Triwing screwdriver to complete the repair.

The first step is to disassemble the laptop, for which you’ll need the aforementioned T6 Torx and Phillips screwdriver; it’s best to print and follow these instructions. This undertaking is categorized by iFixit as “difficult” — and while I would downgrade that rating to “easy if you’re coordinated,” you may want to go a different route if you’re not comfortable with the idea of your laptop looking like the one at left.

After you’ve extracted the fan from the Mac’s innards, the fan assembly comes apart quite easily (by undoing two Phillips screws), into three pieces. The inside of the fan assembly (illustrated in the brilliant photo below) is the noise culprit — it just needs to be cleaned and lubed.

Get rid of any debris using a lint-free cloth. Then, apply some some WD-40 to the axle (illustrated by the subtle red arrow). I applied a bit to the axle, reassembled the fan, and everything went back together, quietly.

After reassembling the laptop (follow the directions in reverse), use the app smcFanControl to ramp up your fans to full speed for 30 seconds or so, and when you drop them back down to normal RPMs, the lubricant should have set. The Mac once again operates as it should, silently. Problem solved!

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191 COMMENTS

Rein on 12.28.11 @ 3:59PM

Hey there, I just opened the macbook to clean my fans..however I seemed unable to open the fan itself to oil it..I’m able to get the fan itself to open (so I could blow out a load of dust) but then there are no screws to open the fan further (to actually oil the point on which the fan itself rotates) could anybody help? thanks!

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- syg on 02.2.12 @ 11:48AM
  
  The fan in my MBP 13.3 had a single small screw that needed to be opened.
  
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Jody on 01.3.12 @ 7:56PM

Fantastic post. Followed the steps and got my MacBook Pro’s noisy fan to pipe down. The computer even runs better now. Sweet.

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Allen on 01.8.12 @ 8:56PM

I went through the steps necessary to disassemble and reassemble my macbook pro but I did run into a few snags. I didnt end up using WD-40, instead went with Dupont’s teflon non-stick dry film lubricant (which leaves no oily film). I applied it to both fans, since both were making a noise. Once I closed everything up and put back all the screws, I couldnt get 2 of the 4 screws for the bottom of the laptop to go completely back in their holes. I might have stripped it in the process of removing it or putting it back in. Starting the computer back up, I ran that program to test out the fans, and the right fan was making a loud buzzing noise. Almost like I used too much lubricant and its spinning like crazy. It tends to make that noise when I close my laptop and pick it up to walk away with. Not sure if that problem will fix itself in the near future or if I just need to replace the fans all together.

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K3 on 01.12.12 @ 2:38PM

Thanks for very useful solution. In my case, MacBookPro early 2008 model generated terrible noise on right side fan and your cleaning method completely solved problem.

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Bob Azhar on 01.15.12 @ 1:43AM

Just open up my MBP 4.1 and fixed my fan noise problem. Disaster struck when I snapped one part of the fan (Got big and powerful fingers lol) but thank God, no noise and the MBP temperature stabilized to 50 degrees, instead of 70-80 degrees previously when re-assembled.

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- Bob Azhar on 01.15.12 @ 1:44AM
  
  lest forget to say. THANKS FOR THE TIP. Now my wife can watch her online movies again…sigh
  
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Lio on 01.15.12 @ 12:40PM

Great post, followed the steps, works great

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Wimware on 01.31.12 @ 6:30AM

Fantastic…. You would not believe the noise my 2008 MBP has been making… It’s been getting worse for months now, always there but will have bouts of silly loud… Followed these instructions and ‘WOW’ no more noise… I used 3 in 1 oil and will wait and see if it stays noise free but for now totally brilliant, Thanks. Ps. before oiling I downloaded smc fan control and the noisy fan was running at half speed of the other one.. Now both running the same speed… This really works, Thanks again…

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syg on 02.2.12 @ 11:55AM

Thanks! The clean-up worked and now I can hear myself breathing again.

The only doubt I have is that when I checked before he cleanup, SMCFanControl showed me two readings. Now it shows me just one. I hope the fan has not just stopped working.

I checked using Apple Hardware Diagnostics (the quick test) and it said All OK. My temp readings are going up to 92C and the fan spins up to 4600rpm, but it’s stable around there and the noise of the 6200rpm storm is not there.

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