My Fan Controls

How it works

Menu bar My Fan Controls │ CPU °C · fan rpm │ Auto / Min / Max / Custom / Target temp ▼ Bundled smc_fan_helper (copied to ~/Library/Application Support/MyFanBar/) │ reads AppleSMC keys │ writes fan target RPM (with one-time privileges) ▼ Your Mac only — no cloud, no account, no network fan control

Readings stay on your Mac. Fan writes use a limited local sudoers rule after you choose Install fan privileges… once — no password prompts every time after that.

Privacy: Temperature and fan data are never uploaded. Settings stay in local preferences. Optional privilege install only writes /etc/sudoers.d/my-fanbar on this Mac.

Downloads

Mac

Download DMG

Open the DMG and run Install My Fan Controls.command (clears Gatekeeper quarantine and copies to Applications).

Also

Privacy policy Legacy download URL

Same DMG via the older /download/fan-bar alias.

Install

Download the DMG from this page.
Open the DMG and double-click Install My Fan Controls.command. If macOS blocks it: right-click → Open → Open.
The installer wipes the old app + settings + helper + privileges, then installs a brand-new copy.
Wait for the app in the menu bar (Fan · …°C · … rpm).
Click Fan → Install fan privileges… once (required after every clean install).
Auto stays quiet (max 5000 rpm). Use Max / Min / Custom / Target Temp for louder control.

Always use Install My Fan Controls.command — do not drag the app by hand. The wizard removes leftovers so you never stack old settings or helpers.

What you will see

Menu bar

Fan · 52°C · 4182 rpm

CPU / GPU / Fan / Thermal
Auto · Min · Max · Custom
Target temperature…
Show Fan Window
Install fan privileges…

Fan window

Fan dashboard

52°CPU

48°GPU

AutoMinMaxCustom

Target up to 10000 rpm · actual RPM may plateau at hardware max

PRIVILEGES

Fan modes & privileges

Mode	What it does
Auto	Quiet curve — picks RPM from CPU heat; never above 5000 rpm
macOS (menu)	Release fans to stock macOS thermal — app stops driving RPM
Min	Sets SMC fan target to `6000` rpm
Max	Sets SMC fan target to `10000` rpm
Custom	You pick a target RPM (capped at 10000)
Target temperature	Holds CPU near your setpoint by adjusting fan target

Why “Install fan privileges…”?

Writing fan speed needs root. The app installs a tiny sudoers rule for smc_fan_helper (and optional powermetrics) only — no password every time after that. The rule stays on your Mac; nothing is uploaded.

Prefer Fan → Install fan privileges… in the app. Do not paste real usernames, machine names, or home paths into public screenshots or support posts.

Apple Silicon notes

Feature	Status
Menu bar temp	AppleSMC via bundled helper; optional `powermetrics --samplers thermal`
Fan RPM read	`smc_fan_helper status` (no sudo on most Macs)
Auto / Min / Max / custom	Needs one-time privileges (`sudo -n`)
Actual Max RPM	Target may be 10000; hardware often plateaus (~4499 on M1 Mac mini) — expected

Recent macOS removed the powermetrics smc sampler. Use the bundled helper; thermal sampler alone is optional and needs the same privileges install.

Privacy

Temperature and fan readings stay on your Mac — not sent to our servers.
Settings (mode, units, target temp, open-at-login, privacy acceptance) stay local.
No third-party advertising SDKs in the app.
Privilege install only writes a limited local sudoers file.

Full privacy policy

Troubleshooting

Problem	Check
App won’t open / blocked	Use Install My Fan Controls.command; or right-click → Open once
Max / Min / Custom do nothing	Menu → Install fan privileges… once; confirm password succeeded
—°C · — rpm in menu bar	Helper not ready yet, or SMC keys sparse on this Mac — wait a few seconds / Refresh now
Max shows ~4500 rpm	Normal on many Apple Silicon fans — target can be higher than hardware ceiling
Need to reinstall privileges	Run Install fan privileges… again after moving/updating the app

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