The Silicon Keyboard Protector for the Macbook Intel Causes It to Overheat

Apple Macbook keyboard

Apple's Intel-based Macbooks have an air vent on the screen hinge above the keyboard. If a keyboard cover obstructs the vent, it can prevent cooling and result in overheating the computer. Check the keyboard cover's specifications to ensure that it is designed for your specific Macbook model.

Proper Cooling

While some heat may escape through the keyboard, most of the heat dissipation occurs through the vents. To make sure the vents can do their work, Apple recommends using the Macbook only on flat, hard surfaces. Apple further suggests removing covers and all other keyboard obstructions when running in closed-lid mode.

CPU Usage

When using multiple applications or large applications, open Apple's Activity Monitor and select "CPU" to display its usage. The higher its usage, the hotter the computer will run. Thus, when performing CPU-intensive tasks, removing the keyboard cover may help cooling.

Software

There are programs designed specifically to monitor the Macbook's temperature. Installing and running this type of software can help you troubleshoot overheating issues. Programs also exist that allow you to increase the speed of the Macbook's cooling fan, causing it to dissipate more heat.

References

• Apple: Safety Instructions for Setting Up and Using Your MacBook Pro
• Apple: Activity Monitor Shows One CPU Usage Graph on Systems with More than Four Cores
• My Digital Life: Modify, Adjust and Control Fan Speed (and Temperature) of Apple MacBook, MacBook Pro and Mac mini