How to reset PRAM on a Mac

If you’ve got an M1 Mac, resetting the NVRAM is as simple as restarting your computer — it happens automatically every time you restart. Simply shut down your M1 MacBook or Mac Mini completely, wait a few seconds, and then push the power button to turn it back on. 

For older Macs, it doesn't matter whether your computer uses PRAM or NVRAM, because the reset process is exactly the same — and it’s quick and easy. 

Here’s how to reset PRAM on your Mac:

  1. Shut down your computer and disconnect all USB devices (except wired keyboards).

  2. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.

  3. Immediately press and hold the Option, Command, P, and R keys on your keyboard. You need to press this key combination before the gray screen appears or it won’t work.

    To reset the PRAM or NVRAM on Mac, press the Option, Command, P, and R keys on your keyboard.

  4. Hold down these keys for 20 seconds, during which time your Mac will appear to restart.

    • On older Macs that chime on startup, hold down the keys until you hear a second chime.

    • For Macs with the Apple T2 Security Chip, hold the keys until the Apple logo appears and disappears a second time. Here’s a list of Mac models with the T2 chip.

  5. Release the keys and let your Mac finish rebooting.

After resetting the PRAM or NVRAM, some of your user settings will also reset, such as keyboard layout, mouse tracking, startup disk, date and time, and volume. Check System Preferences and adjust anything that was changed. Otherwise, that's all there is to a Mac reset of the PRAM or NVRAM.

What is SMC?

The SMC (system management controller) is a chip on Intel-based Macs that manages important physical components of your computer. The SMC controls various hardware functions like cooling fans, status lights, system performance, and power supply — unlike the PRAM, which deals more with operating system software. 

If you’re experiencing power-related issues or your Mac won’t turn on, a SMC reset might help.

Common SMC issues

The SMC regulates temperature, power management, and battery performance, so problems associated with the SMC are some of the most frustrating. 

Here’s a list of some of the main symptoms you may experience if your SMC malfunctions:

  • Unexpected or slow shutdowns.

  • Unresponsiveness when opening or closing your Mac.

  • The power button doesn’t work normally.

  • Computer fans running fast and loud, even under low load.

  • The MagSafe power adapter doesn’t indicate what it’s doing.

  • Problems connecting to Wi-Fi.

  • An overheating Mac.

  • Malfunctioning USB ports or Bluetooth connections.

  • Erratic light or backlight behavior.

  • Usually slow Mac performance, even with low CPU usage.

While simply restarting your Mac often fixes performance glitches, maintaining good computer hygiene optimizes performance. A dedicated Mac cleanup utility, like Avast Cleanup for Mac, will optimize performance and clear out any junk you don’t need, like temporary files, logs, and cache data. 

If you’ve tried cleaning up your Mac and haven’t noticed any improvement, it’s time to reset your SMC.

How to reset SMC on a Mac

The process for resetting the SMC on a Mac may differ depending on the Mac model you have. Resetting the SMC on Macs that have non-removable batteries is different from those with removable batteries. 

Here’s how to do an SMC reset on any Mac mac model:

M1 Macs

You don’t need to reset the SMC on any M1 Macs — in fact, there’s nothing to reset. The M1 chip handles all SMC functions, so these computers don’t even have a system management controller. 

Some Apple forums have noted that shutting off your Mac and waiting for 30 seconds seems to work like an SMC reset. So if you experience any of the SMC issues mentioned above, you can give this trick a try.

MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air

Before resetting the SMC on any MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, check whether your Mac model has the Apple T2 Security Chip. These chips are in MacBooks, Macbook Pros, and Macbook Air models from 2018 or later.

Here’s how to reset the SMC on any Mac notebook model with the Apple T2 Security Chip:

  1. Shut down your Mac. 

  2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release the button. 

  3. Wait a few seconds and restart your Mac.

  4. If that doesn’t help, shut down your Mac again.

  5. Press the right Shift, the left Option key, and the left Control key and hold for 7 seconds. Then, press and hold the power button.

    To reset the SMC on Mac, press the right Shift key, the left Option key, and the left Control key and hold for 7 seconds. Then, press and hold the power button.

  6. Keep holding down all four keys for another 7 seconds. If your Mac has turned on, it will turn off as you hold down these keys. 

  7. Release the keys and wait a few seconds. Then, restart your Macbook.

iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro

Similar to Mac notebooks, resetting the SMC varies depending on the model of your desktop Mac. Check to see if your iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro model has the Apple T2 Security Chip. This typically applies to models from 2018 or later. 

Here’s how to reset the SMC on a desktop Mac with a T2 Chip:

  1. Shut down your Mac. 

  2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release the button. 

  3. Wait a few seconds and restart your Mac. 

  4. If that doesn’t help, shut down your Mac again. 

  5. Unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds. 

  6. Reconnect the power cord and wait 5 seconds. 

Press the power button to turn your Mac back on.

Older Mac devices (Pre-2018)

If you have an older Mac without the Apple T2 Security Chip, you need to follow a different procedure to reset the SMC. 

For example, to reset the SMC on a MacBook Pro 2017, you won’t use a key combination. Instead, these computers reset the SMC by performing a power cycle. Power cycling cuts the power to a Mac and forces it to restart. 

Resetting the SMC on MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Macbook Air models depends on whether the battery is removable or not. Your Mac most likely has a non-removable battery if it is from mid-2009 through 2017 (pre-2018 models).

Here’s how to reset the SMC on notebooks with non-removable batteries:

  1. Shut down your Mac.

  2. Press and hold Shift, Control, and Option on the left side of the keyboard. At the same time, press the power button.

    To reset the SMC on older Macs (pre 2018), press and hold Shift, Control, and Option on the left side of the keyboard. At the same time, press the power button.

  3. Hold for 10 seconds. 

  4. Release the keys and then turn on your Mac.

Here’s how to reset the SMC on notebooks with removable batteries:

  1. Shut down your Mac. 

  2. Remove the battery. 

  3. Press and hold the power button for five seconds. 

  4. Put the battery back in and turn your MacBook back on.

Here’s how to reset the SMC on an older desktop Macs: 

  1. Shut down your Mac. 

  2. Unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds. 

  3. Reconnect the power cord and wait 5 seconds.

  4. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.