Which Macs work with FanBar? Here is what we can prove.
FanBar supports macOS 11 and later on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs that expose readable fan data through AppleSMC. This page separates confirmed observations from missing data, so an untested model is never presented as certified.
Community compatibility reports
These rows prove only the behavior described in their source. They are not full device certifications.
| Mac | System | What the source shows | Evidence limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac miniM6 | macOS 27FanBar Not recorded | The reporter observed fan speed rising after switching from Automatic to Performance, Extreme, and Fixed modes. | Community report The report discusses a timed return to Automatic; it is not a full sensor-by-sensor test. | GitHub issue |
| MacBook Pro 16-inchM2 Max | macOS 27FanBar 0.5.0 | The issue confirms the app launches and runs long enough for CPU and memory use to be observed. | Community report Manual RPM and temperature-curve control were not recorded; the performance report remains open. | GitHub issue |
| Apple Silicon Mac (Mac15,8)Exact chip not recorded | macOS 26.5FanBar 0.4.3 | The report exercised the privileged helper and manual-control restore path. | Retest needed This older version reported a shutdown restore crash. The issue is closed, but the current release still needs a standardized retest on this model. | GitHub issue |
| Mac mini (2014)Intel | Not recordedFanBar Not recorded | The report confirms the app and its background/menu-bar integration were running on the device. | Community report Temperature reading, fan RPM, fixed control, and curve control were not recorded. | GitHub issue |
Not listed does not mean unsupported. It means we do not yet have a source-linked report with enough detail to publish.
What counts as verified
A launch screenshot alone is not enough. Maintainer verification requires an exact device, OS, FanBar build, test date, and a pass or fail result for every relevant behavior.
- 01App launches and remains stable
- 02CPU and GPU temperatures are readable
- 03SSD and battery temperatures are readable when the hardware exposes them
- 04Current, minimum, and maximum RPM are shown for every fan
- 05Fixed RPM changes fan output and stays inside the reported hardware range
- 06A temperature-based curve changes fan output as expected
- 07Automatic control is restored on quit, disconnect, timeout, and helper failure
- 08Sleep, wake, restart, and login-item behavior are stable
Compatibility, permissions, and safety
Does FanBar work on Apple Silicon?
Yes, on Apple Silicon Macs that expose readable fan data through AppleSMC. Hardware sensors and fan behavior vary by model, so check the evidence table for the exact Mac you use. A model not listed is unverified, not necessarily unsupported.
Is FanBar free and open source?
Yes. FanBar is free under GPL-3.0, requires no account or subscription, and publishes the complete source code, including its privileged helper.
Why does fan control need administrator permission?
Reading temperatures does not need manual fan control. Changing fan targets talks to AppleSMC through a signed privileged helper, so macOS asks for approval before that helper can run with the required access.
What happens when FanBar quits?
FanBar attempts to restore macOS automatic fan control when the app quits, its helper connection is lost, a timed preset ends, or the helper reports a failure. Requested targets are also clamped to each fan's reported hardware range.
Try FanBar
Use Automatic first. Enable manual control only when you need it.
Free, open source, notarized, and available as a DMG or through Homebrew.