Uh-oh. You're in the middle of work when your laptop suddenly shuts off. No problem, you'll just press the power button and wait for it to reboot—your document is (thankfully) saved to the cloud, anyway. But then a few seconds pass, then a few minutes. You press the power button again to no avail. What on earth happened to your MacBook?
While the best course of action is to immediately book an appointment with an Apple specialist to run some diagnostic tests on your laptop and get to the bottom of the problem, it's not unwise (or uncommon) to try a few tricks before heading in-store. Who knows? If you're lucky, maybe you don't need the experts at all—though you probably still want to get your laptop checked out if it regularly runs into issues. With all that said, here are three potentially life-saving tips that may just bring your MacBook back to whirring life.
Reset the PRAM or NVRAM
What is PRAM or NVRAM? Put simply, it's a special type of memory (RAM, or random access memory) that dates back to early Macs, where small bits of information about the system are stored so it's easier for the computer to boot up. If these values suddenly went awry, your MacBook might not start up correctly or at all. PRAM has since been replaced in newer models by NVRAM (non-volatile RAM), but it does essentially the same thing.
Before you follow any steps to reset your MacBook, make sure you know whether it's an Intel-based machine or one with an M-chip. If you have the latter, you'll need to reset the PRAM/NVRAM via Terminal commands, something you'll definitely want to follow a guide for (and should avoid if you're not an advanced user), or simply shut it down completely before powering it up again. The system will automatically test the NVRAM during startup.
If you have an Intel MacBook, here's how to reset the PRAM/NVRAM:
- Press the power button, then hold down all these keys: Command, Option (Alt), P, and R.
- Hold these keys for 20 seconds, or until you hear a second reboot chime, then release the keys.
- Check System Preferences to ensure everything is set up properly, including the Date & Time.
If your laptop doesn't respond to you resetting the PRAM/NVRAM, disconnect any accessories you have plugged into your laptop, then try again.
Reset the SMC
The SMC, or system management controller, is in charge of regulating your laptop's temperatures, fans, power, keyboard backlights, and more. If your MacBook is experiencing any problems that relate to what the SMC controls, it's a good idea to try resetting it.
If you have a M-series Mac, simply restart or shut down your laptop. SMC resets automatically on Macs with Apple silicon.
If you have a Mac with the T2 Security Chip, there are two methods. The first method is to restart your Mac by shutting it down, then pressing and holding the power button for 10 seconds, before releasing and turning it back on. The second method is as follows:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press and hold all of the following keys: Control and Option (Alt) on the left side of your keyboard, and Shift on the right side of your keyboard. Your Mac may turn on when you do this.
- Keep holding all three keys for seven seconds, then press and hold the power button as well.
- Keep holding all four keys for seven seconds, then release them.
- Wait for a few seconds, then turn on your Mac by pressing the power button
If your Mac doesn't have the T2 Security Chip, here's how to reset the SMC:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press and hold all of the following keys: Control, Option (Alt), and Shift on the left side of your keyboard. While holding down all three keys, press and hold the power button as well.
- Keep holding down all four keys for 10 seconds.
- Release all keys, then turn on your Mac by pressing the power button.
Revive or Restore Mac Firmware
Sometimes, M-series Macs (with Apple Silicon) and Macs with the T2 Security Chip may need to be revived or restored by another Mac. This is rare, but may happen under certain circumstances, such as when power is cut off to your Mac during a software update. Your Mac may start up to an exclamation mark in a circle, show a blank screen, or experience a macOS installation issue that can't be resolved.
To revive or restore your Mac, you'll need to enter DFU (device firmware update) mode. You'll need your affected MacBook, along with another Mac (of any model) running on macOS Sonoma 14 or later. You'll also need a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect the two devices together. Apple has a detailed guide on how to carry out the procedure.
If you're unfamiliar with tech, set up a Genius appointment and bring your device to an Apple Store to make sure the procedure is done correctly.
Other Tips and Tricks:
If the tricks above don't work, don't fret. There are other (while unorthodox) methods you can try as well, though their results may vary. In some cases, it might be due to your MacBook's battery or charger, so try a different outlet, cable, or port to see if that resolves the issue.
You can also try:
- Repeatedly pressing the Return button and the power button.
- Boot in Safe Mode by pressing the power button, then immediately holding down the Shift key until the login screen appears.
- Try different reset methods and tricks while your Mac is plugged in to a power source and when unplugged.
If the issue persists, you'll need to visit an Apple Store to have a specialist look at your Mac for you. Don't worry—not all hope is lost. It's important to always keep a backup of your data as well, just in case these problems arise.
