There is no doubting that macOS Monterey is more effective than Windows and other desktop operating systems. However, this does not imply that the OS is without its flaws or problems. If the absence of a native feature to disable Turbo Boost is bothersome, Mac users will find the inability to check the CPU temperature to be no less than a classic conundrum. While the built-in task manager on macOS is still rather limited and lacks a clear function to show the current temperature of the CPU, Activity Monitor does provide a means to examine how apps and other processes are affecting the CPU, GPU, energy, disc, memory, and network utilisation. Not to worry, the terminal and other Mac apps come into play at this point.
How to View CPU Temperature on macOS
Let’s settle a few fundamental issues first before moving on to the steps. Use the table of contents below to quickly get to the techniques for testing CPU temperature on a Mac.
Why Do You Need to Track the CPU Temperature on Your Mac?
You may want to monitor the CPU temperature on macOS for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re trying to benchmark a brand-new computer, or maybe you want to know when the fans actually start up. Furthermore, it can help you determine whether playing some of the greatest free Mac games or letting resource-hungry programmes run wild is overtaxing the CPU.
So, What s the Ideal CPU Temperature?
It can be challenging to identify a certain value that can serve as the best generalisation for all because the typical CPU temperature differs from model to model. However, if I had to sum it up in a single sentence, I’d say that the health of your machine is better served by a CPU temperature that is lower.
The optimal CPU temperature is between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius in a typical room. But it’s still mostly fine even if the computer runs 10 degrees Celsius hotter than the surrounding temperature. In short, a healthy system requires a regular CPU temperature of 45 to 65 degrees. Therefore, if the number rises above this typical level, you should consider reducing the CPU’s burden. It’s time to go through the short steps now that the conversation has ended.
Check CPU Temperature in Mac Using Terminal
Even though there are many third-party apps available, the Terminal can also be used to determine the CPU temperature in macOS, so you don’t have to rely solely on them. Here’s how to use the Terminal on a Mac to check the CPU temperature:
- Launch the Terminal and type in the following command:
sudo powermetrics --samplers smc |grep -i "CPU die temperature"
Tip: Try manually entering the command if it doesn’t work for you after copying it from this article. There have been some concerns that using quote marks in the Terminal without manually entering them can cause issues.
- Press enter and you should be able to see the temperature of your Mac CPU.
Note that only Intel Macs can be used with this technique. Consider employing the following techniques if your Mac is powered by an M1 processor.
Check CPU Temperature of M1 Mac (Mac with Apple Silicon)
Look no further than TG Pro if you’re seeking for a third-party tool to help you monitor the CPU temps of your MacBook. One of the few applications I’ve found that runs on both Intel and M1 Macs is this one. Use it as follows.
- Install TG Pro (download) on your Mac (make sure you download the version for Intel or Apple Silicon based on your Mac)
- Launch the app and you will see it show up as a menu bar app, complete with your CPU temperatures on the icon itself. You can also see more detailed information within the app window.
Sadly, TG Pro doesn’t provide a widget. But for me, having these programmes on my Mac’s menu bar rather than the widget screen is preferable. Although there is a 15-day free trial for the paid app TG Pro, in order to continue using it, you must purchase a licence for $10.
If you own an M1 Mac, your only option is to use TG Pro. The other apps on our list, some of which are even free, may suit you better if you’re using an Intel Mac, so check them out.
Check CPU Temperature on macOS Using Fanny App
Fanny is the only software that comes to me when I consider monitoring CPU temperature on macOS. Its ability to function as a native macOS feature is arguably its strongest feature. Once this programme has been installed and configured (which only requires a few minutes), you can quickly view several performance-defining factors like CPU/GPU temperature. Additionally, it is free to use.
1. Download Fanny on your Mac to get started.
2. After installing the programme, click the Notification Center icon (three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other) in the top right corner of the screen.
To open Notification Center on your PC instead, swipe to the left from the right side of the trackpad.
3. Currently, make sure the Todaytab is chosen. Click 1New at the bottom to continue.
4. After that, click the button next to Fanny.
That’s basically it! You may now check your macOS device’s CPU temperature directly from the Notification Center.
Additionally, you may click on Fanny’s menu bar icon to check the current CPU temperature on your Mac. Along with the CPU temperature, this useful tool also displays the GPU temperature as well as the current speed, goal speed, minimum speed, and maximum speed of your computer’s fans.
Other Apps for Viewing CPU Temperature on Mac
While Fanny continues to be the most popular notification centre widget for monitoring the CPU temperature and other critical system data on Macs, there are a few renowned apps that are more effective. They would be worth looking at if you don’t mind investing a few dollars for added functionality.
1. Monit
I suggest giving Monit a try if you want a somewhat more feature-rich CPU temperature tracking Mac programme. The programme does a good job of providing a simple method to view the important Mac performance data. For example, you may use this software to examine a number of crucial performance-defining factors, including CPU, network, disc, memory, and even battery. Even though this notification centre widget costs $2.99, its noteworthy features and dependable performance make it worth the money.
Price:$2.99
2. iStat Menus
The greatest option for those searching for a full menubar system manager is without a doubt iStat Menus. Its ability to display a variety of important performance data, including CPU, GPU, memory, disc utilisation, network usage, disc activity, battery, and more, provides it an advantage over many of its competitors. Additionally, you can completely customise this macOS software to conceal irrelevant data and just display the metrics you care about. The fee of all these extras ($10), however, is far higher than that of competing apps.
Price:$9.99
Keep a Track of the Current CPU Temperature of Your Mac with Ease
So that’s how you can monitor your Mac’s CPU temperature. I have to rely on using third party applications like TG Pro because I’m using an M1 MacBook Air. On M! Macs running macOS Monterey, I would dearly love to have a native macOS option for monitoring my CPU temperature. I hope Apple releases it soon. Have any suggestions? Please feel free to comment with your ideas and let us know which of these apps managed to grab your attention.