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MacBook Fan: The Right Model for Your Mac
A fan that whistles, scrapes or runs at full speed all the time is easy to replace, as long as you pick the right one. Depending on the model, a MacBook Pro has one or two fans, left and right, which are not interchangeable.
When to replace the fan
- It makes a rubbing, whistling or rattling noise, even when the Mac is hardly doing anything.
- It no longer spins at all and the Mac gets hot, slows down or shuts down on its own.
- It runs at full speed all the time even though the Mac is idle: clean out the dust first, it is often enough.
Before ordering, turn the Mac over and note the model number engraved near the hinges (“Model A1708”, for example). On models with two fans, check which one is making the noise: the left and right fans are two different parts.
MacBook Pro
| Mac | Fan |
|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 13" (A1278, Late 2008-Mid 2012) | fan |
| MacBook Pro 15" (A1286, Late 2008-Mid 2012) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 17" (A1297, Early 2009-Late 2011) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina (A1425, Late 2012-Early 2013) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 15" Retina (A1398, Mid 2012-Early 2013) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina (A1502, Late 2013-Early 2015) | fan |
| MacBook Pro 15" Retina (A1398, Late 2013-Mid 2015) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" (A1706, 2016-2017) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" (A1708, 2016-2017) | fan |
| MacBook Pro 15" (A1707/A1990, 2016-2019) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina Touch Bar (A1989, 2018-2019) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina Touch Bar (two ports) (A2159, 2019) | fan |
| MacBook Pro 16" (A2141, 2019) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina Touch Bar (A2338, M1 2020 / M2 2022) | fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina Touch Bar (two ports) (A2289, 2020) | fan |
| MacBook Pro 13" Retina Touch Bar (four ports) (A2251, 2020) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 14" (A2442/A2779/A2918/A2992/A3112/A3401/A3185/A3434, 2021-2025) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 16" (A2485/A2780/A2991/A3403/A3186, 2021-2024) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 14" (A3426/A3427, M5 Pro or M5 Max, 2026) | left fan, right fan |
| MacBook Pro 16" (A3428/A3429, M5 Pro or M5 Max, 2026) | left fan, right fan |
MacBook Air
| Mac | Fan |
|---|---|
| MacBook Air 11" (A1370, 2010-2011) | fan |
| MacBook Air 11" (A1370/A1465, 2010-2015) | fan |
| MacBook Air 13" (A1369/A1466, Late 2010-2017) | fan |
| MacBook Air 13" (A1932, 2018-2019) | fan |
MacBook Air models with an Apple chip (M1 and later) have no fan: they cool passively. An M1 or newer Air that runs hot therefore has a different problem, most often software-related.
Mac mini
One fan for several Macs
- 14-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 to 2025 (A2442, A2779, A2918, A2992, A3112, A3185, A3401, A3434): same left and right fans, according to our listings.
- 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 to 2024 (A2485, A2780, A2991, A3186, A3403): same.
- 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 to 2019 (A1707, A1990).
- Mac running hot, noisy fan, slow Mac: what to do?
- Which MacBook is it? Model numbers A2337 to A3449
- How to find your Mac's model number (A####)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to replace both fans?
No: only replace the one that is noisy or stuck. While you are at it, clean the dust out of the other one.
Can a cleaning be enough?
Often, yes: built-up dust slows the fan down and blocks the air vents. If the noise remains after cleaning, the bearing is worn and the fan needs to be replaced.
Does the left fan fit on the right?
No. On MacBook Pro models with two fans, the left and right fans have different shapes: order the one for the correct side.
