smcFanControl

Category

Description of App

smcFanControl controls the fans of every Intel Mac to make it run cooler. smcFanControl lets the user set the minimum speed of the build in fans. So you can increase your minimum fan speed to make your Intel Mac run cooler. However in order not to damage your machines smcFanControl doesn't let you set a minimum speed to a value below Apple's defaults.

Version

2.4

Free or Paid

Free

Version Of macOS App Was Tested On

10.9.1

Accessibility Comments

The preferences screen has a few unlabelled buttons which always seem to be dimmed. Apart from this, everything is read correctly.

Usability

The app is fully accessible with VoiceOver and is easy to navigate and use.

Other Comments

After you launch the app, it will appear in your menu bar. The default settings for its icon will show you the current temperature and fan speed, but you can change this. When you press VO-space on the icon, you will get more detailed fan information, as well as the ability to switch your "active setting". You also get the option to open preferences, the about screen, the developer's webpage, check for updates and quit. In the preferences, you can add more presets (the "+" and "-" buttons are used to add and remove), as well as set the app to change the active setting based on when the mac is on AC power/charging/on battery. To change the settings on a preset, after adding one, you select it using the pop-up button and interact with the table to get access to the various fans. You won't actually notice any change until you press save however.

Recommendations

2 people have recommended this app

Most recently recommended by Piotr Machacz 9 years 1 month ago

Options

Comments

By KE7ZUM on Monday, February 24, 2014 - 06:41

How did you get this app to even run? I entered in my password as requested and nothing. I run the app now, or try to and the app does not appear in the menu bar. I'm using 10.9.1 on a mid 2009 mac book pro 13 inch. there are no preference screen or what not. to even run the app and adjust what can be adjusted. Am I doing something wrong? I read faq and all of that good stuff and I know how to use my computer very well. lol!

Take care all.

I deleted it since it was doing the same thing as Marrie posted. I have a preference pain on my mac called fan control, or something like that. It works fine for me.

By Unregistered User (not verified) on Thursday, July 24, 2014 - 06:41

Every time I try to launch the app nothing happens. Nothing in the application chooser and nothing in the extras menu bar or the Apple menu.

By Niall Gallagher on Friday, April 24, 2015 - 06:41

Hi All,

I can relate to the issues mentioned previously, and I'm afraid the only resolution I've found requires sighted assistance.
After entering your password, an inaccessible alert pops up, informing you the software hasn't been tested on this machine but it should be ok.
This alert is not recognized by VO at all, but once you click continue, SMC appears in the menu bar and everything works as it should.

I am using a Mid 2009 MBP running Yosemite.

Kind regards,

Niall

By Justin on Friday, April 24, 2015 - 06:41

Hi,
I have a mid MBP with latest os, and SMC sometimes won't even pop up when I open the app up, I reboot the machine and it's fine! 100% accessible for me. The only thing is when you open the app, it says application, then you go into the menu bar and select the options you want, simple as that!

By Sean Terry on Friday, April 24, 2015 - 06:41

Hi, will this app also work for the Mac mini as well? Thanks.

By jack on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 06:41

Hi Sean, yes, smc fan control will definitely work with your mac mini. It works with any intel mac.