Turbo Boost is a feature built into many Macs that use Intel processors. You may not even know it exists, but behind the scenes, macOS runs and disables Turbo Boost. When you need more performance, macOS enables Turbo Boost. When the computer is idle or doing something with similar low effort, macOS turns off Turbo Boost. It’s perfect most of the time, but it’s not always. If your computer is aging and you want to extend your battery, you can manually control Turbo Boost to use less energy.
Find out if your Mac has the Turbo Boost feature
Before proceeding, you must verify that your Mac does support the Turbo Boost feature:
- Select the Apple logo in the Mac menu bar and click “About This Mac”.
- In the “Overview” tab, you will find the full model name of your Mac. Copy this information to your clipboard by selecting and clicking command + third.
- Open the search engine of your choice (Google or DuckDuckGo, for example) and paste this information into your search bar. Add the phrase “Technical Specifications” to the end and click to enter.
- In the search results, click on the result that leads you to support.apple.com Website. This is almost always the top result.
- On the Apple Support website, check out the “Processor” section. If your Mac supports Turbo Boost, please note it here.
If the specs do not mention Turbo Boost, your Mac probably does not support this feature. If you have a newer Mac with an M1 based chip, it does not support Turbo Boost.
Turbo Boost on or off
You can manually enable and disable Turbo Boost using Turbo Boost Replacement Implementation. Turbo Switcher is available as a free or paid app, but this tutorial uses the free version.
After installing Turbo Boost Switcher, launch the app. Click the icon that Turbo Boost automatically added to the Mac’s menu bar.
If Turbo Boost is already enabled, you will see a “Disable Turbo Boost” message. However, if Turbo Boost is disabled, you will see a “Enable Turbo Boost” message. You can use these settings to manually turn Turbo Boost on and off.
The first time you try to manually replace Turbo Boost, macOS will ask for your administrator username and password.
macOS may also block Turbo Boost Switcher. If you encounter a “Security & Privacy” message, follow the on-screen instructions to allow the Turbo Boost Switcher to run normally.
Alternatively, you can manually unblock Turbo Boost Switcher by navigating to “Apple -> System Preferences … -> Security & Privacy.” Here you should see a message asking you to unblock the Turbo Boost Switcher.
What else can I do with a Turbo Boost Changer?
When manually manipulating Turbo Boost, you may want to monitor the effect these changes have on your Mac’s CPU and battery temperature.
You can view these metrics in the Turbo Boost Switcher drop-down menu and analyze how those values change over time by selecting “Charts …”
These charts show how your Mac’s CPU temperature and fan speeds change, depending on whether Turbo Boost is turned on or off.
By reviewing these charts, you can identify the Turbo Boost behavior that provides the best results for your specific Mac model and how you use your laptop.
If you upgrade to the Pro version of Turbo Boost Switcher, you will get access to some additional features, such as disabling Turbo Boost automatically depending on the fan speed, remaining battery time and whether your Mac is connected to a power source.
Also read:How to Activate Root User on Mac
Common questions
1. Can I trust Turbo Boost Switcher?
People have been using this app for years with no complaints. It is worth mentioning that the site does not support HTTPS, which may cause some security issues.
2. Will Disabling Turbo Boost Damage My Computer?
No. By running at a slower speed, you may actually extend the life of your computer slightly.
3. Will the Turbo Boost Switcher affect the performance of my Mac?
If you turn off Turbo Boost when it is turned on automatically otherwise, yes. While disabling Turbo Boost saves battery power, you will notice reduced performance in some situations.
4. Does it work with Apple Silicon Macs?
No. Turbo Boost is a feature of Intel chips. Apple may use a similar process in its chips, but you can not control them with Turbo Boost Switcher.
Take control of Turbo Boost
While you can now manually control Turbo Boost, keep in mind that this is not something you have to do all the time. More often, this feature works well without any manual intervention.
If you’re mostly looking to disable Turbo Boost because your battery drains too fast, remember this is not the only culprit. For example, try forcibly stopping apps you are not using to see if it improves your battery life, and then disable Turbo Boost if quitting apps has not changed.
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Chris Wock is a writer, musician, and whatever you call it when someone makes videos for the internet.