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Studio Display Fans Running When Mac Asleep and Screen is Off

Thanks for your observations. However I use a Mac mini M2 and the fans still turn on hourly when the Mac mini is doing sleep maintenance work. Also I have no other devices on the Mac mini ports. It‘s only the power cable and thunderbolt for Studio Display.

My solution is to pull the thunderbolt cable whenever I put my Mac into sleep mode.
 
kattam said:
Thanks for your observations. However I use a Mac mini M2 and the fans still turn on hourly when the Mac mini is doing sleep maintenance work. Also I have no other devices on the Mac mini ports. It‘s only the power cable and thunderbolt for Studio Display.

My solution is to pull the thunderbolt cable whenever I put my Mac into sleep mode.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Just to be clear, do you hear the fans/are they spinning audibly while the Mini is in normal use?
 
I have a Mac Studio connected to a Studio Display.
Nothing else is connected, other than my Magic Keyboard / Magic Mouse / Magic Trackpad.
No other peripherals connected to the Studio and nothing at all to the display.
Yet I notice the fan on my screen stays on sometimes.......
 
Ifti said:
I have a Mac Studio connected to a Studio Display.
Nothing else is connected, other than my Magic Keyboard / Magic Mouse / Magic Trackpad.
No other peripherals connected to the Studio and nothing at all to the display.
Yet I notice the fan on my screen stays on sometimes.......
Click to expand...
Yup, it also leaves your entire peripheral chain powered even when no computer is connected. It's ridiculous behavior.

I have mine on a plug switch and just turn it all off when I leave with my laptop.
 
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zorinlynx said:
Yup, it also leaves your entire peripheral chain powered even when no computer is connected. It's ridiculous behavior.

I have mine on a plug switch and just turn it all off when I leave with my laptop.
Click to expand...

I may have to start doing the same - even though mine is connected to my Studio so doesn't move, it bugs me knowing the fan is spinning for long periods of time for no reason!
It does seem random though because at times the screen does 'turn off' completely. I can then use the computer - attach no peripherals at all - and put it to sleep manually and the fan will just stay on. No reason for it at all! lol
 
IMG_7672.JPG


Update: NO resolution

Issue: Both of my Apple Studio Display fans run 24/7 when connected to my sleeping Mac mini M4 (on all night long.)

Important: The fans are not audible. To see airflow, I have a thin piece of tissue paper attached at the vent about 5” from the edge. See uploaded image.

Resolution: The only solution I’ve found to stop the fans running is to unplug the thunderbolt cord, or to shut down the computer.

I’ve tried:
  • disabling “Ask Siri” and “Apple Intelligence”
  • unplugging all external peripherals
  • unplugging my Logitech G305 mouse
  • turning off bluetooth
Comments: In my opinion, constant fan operation when asleep is not intended – there is a bug in Apple’s software. I don’t see this as a serious issue – nominal energy use of say $10 USD per year plus added wear on display fans, which should last around 60,000 hrs. At night or when I'm away, I am curious what the best solution is... should I be unplugging the thunderbolt cord repeatedly, shutting down, or just letting those fans run all night long. I have vreported this to Apple from their feedback page but it appears others have tried that too.

Suggestion: Try the tissue paper trick before you decide if your fans are actually running.

My specs:
Apple Mac mini M4 Pro 2024 - Tahoe 26.3
Apple Studio Display - Version 17.0 (Build 21A329)
 
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jack_black said:
View attachment 2608805

Update: NO resolution

Issue: Both of my Apple Studio Display fans run 24/7 when connected to my sleeping Mac mini M4 (on all night long.)

Important: The fans are not audible. To see airflow, I have a thin piece of tissue paper attached at the vent about 5” from the edge. See uploaded image.

Resolution: The only solution I’ve found to stop the fans running is to unplug the thunderbolt cord, or to shut down the computer.

I’ve tried:
  • disabling “Ask Siri” and “Apple Intelligence”
  • unplugging all external peripherals
  • unplugging my Logitech G305 mouse
  • turning off bluetooth
Comments: In my opinion, constant fan operation when asleep is not intended – there is a bug in Apple’s software. I don’t see this as a serious issue – nominal energy use of say $10 USD per year plus added wear on display fans, which should last around 60,000 hrs. At night or when I'm away, I am curious what the best solution is... should I be unplugging the thunderbolt cord repeatedly, shutting down, or just letting those fans run all night long. I have vreported this to Apple from their feedback page but it appears others have tried that too.

Suggestion: Try the tissue paper trick before you decide if your fans are actually running.

My specs:
Apple Mac mini M4 Pro 2024 - Tahoe 26.3
Apple Studio Display - Version 17.0 (Build 21A329)
Click to expand...
Yes, yes and yes. Still an issue. Still no resolution. Apple support does not care and does not see this as an issue.
 
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Be interesting to see if the new models (released this week?) have any changes to fix this.

Of note, mine has been plugged in 24x7 since the day they came out, and haven’t noticed anything issues at all - other than me spending ££ on electricity 😢
 
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Yeh I just leave mine plugged in and connected to my Studio all the time as well. I've given up caring. If I have any issues then I'll be using the AppleCare and Apple can sort it!
 
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Forgot to unplug the ASD from the mac mini last night and had an annoyed look at the measuring device just to check. 20W instead of the usual 3W while everything's supposedly asleep. FYI both mac mini and ASD are being measured.
 
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kattam said:
Forgot to unplug the ASD
Click to expand...
I know exactly what you are talking about, happens to me also. It’s a shame we need to take care of this instead of just let ASD (2022) go to sleep with 0,5W like apple is publishing the power draw for the device in sleep mode.
 
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m4 base Mac mini
27 Studio Display xdr

connected to mini via tb cable from apple

latest os



last few days I've been testing this with the same method used above. thin piece of napkin taped to the top of the display.



every time I place the computer into sleep mode: fans go off
when I allow the display to time out itself to turn off: fans do not always go off. maybe 50% of the time.



one specific instance was I had a YouTube video playing in the background. display turned itself off after 5m. screen is off. audio is playing and the fans are on.
 
Last edited:
kepler20b said:
every time I place the computer into sleep mode: fans go off
when I allow the display to time out itself to turn off: fans do not always go off. maybe 50% of the time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your testing. If you want to test if the new ASD XDR 2026 is free of the bug happening to the old ASD 2022 you can read how the fans have been acting before macOS 15.4 (my) the first post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...s-are-in-sleep-mode-since-macos-15-4.2457769/

They will run once in a while anyways, but should not run all night long in sleep mode.

We can’t compare this two devices anyway, but just for the records it would be nice to get some feedback if the new devices are working better regarding the fans. Thanks.
 
macOScurious said:
Thanks for your testing. If you want to test if the new ASD XDR 2026 is free of the bug happening to the old ASD 2022 you can read how the fans have been acting before macOS 15.4 (my) the first post here: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...s-are-in-sleep-mode-since-macos-15-4.2457769/

They will run once in a while anyways, but should not run all night long in sleep mode.

We can’t compare this two devices anyway, but just for the records it would be nice to get some feedback if the new devices are working better regarding the fans. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I think you have a background application that's running
 
I have the 2026 version for two days now and from what I can tell, the fans spin all the time while the display is on, and while my M5 MBP is sleeping the fans are usually/mostly off, but obviously this isn't so simple and they do spin up at times.

What I noticed last morning and this morning as well, after having been asleep for at least 7 hours, the display has fans running on low, but on both sides. Whereas during the day, if I put it to sleep (either by clicking on the menubar or using a keyboard shortcut), the fans will stop and when I check it throughout the day while not using the display, the fans are almost always off.

I guess this is intended behaviour and the fans will sometimes spin up during sleep because the display is charging the laptop. The fans are inaudible so it's not a problem. I would think this is also an indicator of intended behaviour - Apple made sure we cannot hear the fans so it's better for the system to have the fans running more often and/or for longer periods, but in complete silence, instead of spinning up and making noise when the temperature gets too high. Hearing the fans on a display would make no sense and it would be very un-Apple-like so I would conclude that there is no bug or hardware issue or anything like that, it's intended this way and it makes no difference what machine you're using.
 
Thanks for sharing your observation about the fans of the NEW 2026 ASD model connected to a M5 MBP.

Unfortunately we can’t compare the behavior of the ASD connected to an Macbook versus connected to a max mini. Reason for this is, like you mentioned in your post, the MacBook will get power from the ASD and that’s totally different to a Mac mini.

If you are interested and want to read more how the ASD 2022 with a Mac mini did behave before the macOS update 15.4 you can take a look into this thread.
ASD 2022 fans with Mac mini

You are right about Apple did a great job with the totally silent fans, but there is absolutely no reason for letting them run if Mac mini and ASD are in sleep.

Bug or not? With a Mac mini it for sure is an unexpected behavior. All users I have been in contact with, confirm the change after the 15.4 update. Also according to the Apple Product Environmental Report (last page)
https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/displays/Apple_Studio_Display_PER_March2022.pdf
there should be be a Standby (sleep) mode for the ASD 2022, power draw should be 0,3x Watt. This is not happening anymore, except for the first period of standby mode until the Mac mini is doing some background task. From there on the fans run even if Mac is going back to sleep.
 
I have an M2 Pro Mini connected to a Studio Display, and the fans don't make any noise, ever. The Mac regularly goes to sleep. Currently running Sequoia, but have used every previous OS.
 
benwiggy said:
I have an M2 Pro Mini connected to a Studio Display, and the fans don't make any noise, ever. The Mac regularly goes to sleep. Currently running Sequoia, but have used every previous OS.
Click to expand...
That’s perfect, but all this is NOT about any noise. You are very welcome to test the fans behavior. Please check out my link about it.
 
macOScurious said:
Thanks for sharing your observation about the fans of the NEW 2026 ASD model connected to a M5 MBP.

Unfortunately we can’t compare the behavior of the ASD connected to an Macbook versus connected to a max mini. Reason for this is, like you mentioned in your post, the MacBook will get power from the ASD and that’s totally different to a Mac mini.

If you are interested and want to read more how the ASD 2022 with a Mac mini did behave before the macOS update 15.4 you can take a look into this thread.
ASD 2022 fans with Mac mini

You are right about Apple did a great job with the totally silent fans, but there is absolutely no reason for letting them run if Mac mini and ASD are in sleep.

Bug or not? With a Mac mini it for sure is an unexpected behavior. All users I have been in contact with, confirm the change after the 15.4 update. Also according to the Apple Product Environmental Report (last page)
https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/products/displays/Apple_Studio_Display_PER_March2022.pdf
there should be be a Standby (sleep) mode for the ASD 2022, power draw should be 0,3x Watt. This is not happening anymore, except for the first period of standby mode until the Mac mini is doing some background task. From there on the fans run even if Mac is going back to sleep.
Click to expand...
I've owned a Studio Display since day one in 2022, and now I got the XDR model. I don't have a Mac mini, so it is entirely possible that macOS 15.4 made it even worse with your system, but in my experience the unreasonable fan spinning and power draw have always been there, when the Mac is asleep but also in other scenarios.


For example, I own a DisplayPort to USB-C cable that, even with no computer connected to the other end, causes the fans to stay permanently on and the display consumes more than 20 W indefinitely. I encountered similar behaviors connecting a powered off Thunderbolt dock.


Furthermore, even with no Mac connected, peripherals and other things plugged into USB-C ports always draw a few watts (but fans stay off), so the only way to put the display to actual sleep - that means fans off and almost 0 W of power consumption - is to disconnect the Mac and all accessories every single time.
 
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