How To Easily Reset The SMC On Your Mac
SMC is known as the system management controller is a chip in Intel-based Macs. In this article, we explain how to reset the SMC on your Mac.
Author:Daniel BarrettMay 29, 2022311 Shares310.9K Views
Are you experiencing some problems with your Mac? For example, issues such as lights won’t work correctly, volume settings are messed up, the display resolution will change, or Mac won’t boot at all?
You can end this issue by closing all your apps and restarting the computer. Most times, all it requires might be to reset the SMC and PRAM or NVRAM. So how do we do this? Check below.
What Is The SMC In A Mac?
SMC (System Management Controller) is a chip in Intel-based Macs. Although it plays a significant role on the peripherals of a device, the SMC also monitors the behavior of your hard drive, how your Mac behaves in sleep mode, and the power supply.
When Should You Reset The SMC?
You should reset SMC when Your computer starts to behave strangely.
How To Reset The SMC On A Mac
Closing all open apps and restarting your computer can fix many things. However, there are different ways to reset the SMC, and it depends on the kind of Mac you’ve got. For example, how you reset SMC on M1 Mac is different from other MAC, and vice versa.
Luckily, this article will discuss how to reset SMC in all Mac models you may be using.
How To Reset The SMC on an M1 Mac
This is not complex, as you can just switch off your Mac for a few seconds to solve the issue and restart your computer. Then check if the issue has been resolved.
How To Reset The SMC On An Intel MacBook
Shut down your Mac.
- Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then restart.
- If that doesn’t fix the problem, turn the Mac off again.
- Hold down the right Shift key, the left Option key, and the left Control key for seven seconds.
- While still holding down the keys above, press and hold the Power button for seven seconds.
- Let go of all the keys, wait a few seconds and restart your MacBook.
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On A MacBook With an Inbuilt Battery. (mostly pre-2018):
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press & Hold down Shift, Control, and Option on the left side of your keyboard.
- Hold down the Power button with the keys you were holding down.
- Keep holding all the keys down for 10 seconds.
- Let go of all the keys and turn on your MacBook.
On an older MacBook with a removable battery (mostly pre-2015):
- Shut down your Mac.
- Extract the battery.
- Press and hold the power button for five seconds.
- Reconnect the battery and turn on your MacBook.
How To Reset The SMC On An iMac, Mac Mini, Or Mac Pro
- Shut down your Mac.
- Hold down the power button for 10 seconds.
- Release the power button, wait for some seconds, and restart the computer.
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To reset the SMC on older desktop Macs (mostly pre-2018):
- Power off your Mac.
- Unplug the power cord.
- Wait for a few seconds.
- Now Reconnect the power cord and wait five seconds.
- Power on your Mac.
What Are The PRAM And NVRAM In A Mac?
The PRAM holds information about the configuration of a Mac. Information such as the date and time, volume, mouse, and other control settings. These memory areas are powered by a small battery so that the settings will not be interrupted every time you shut down your computer.
When Should You Reset the PRAM or NVRAM?
You can try a PRAM reset when you experience any of the following:
- Volume not responding appropriately
- Unusual mouse scrolling and clicking speeds
- The keyboard is not responding in a supposed way.
- Incorrect time zone or clock
- Display resolution changes issue
- AirPort problems
- Your computer shuts down slowly
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How To Reset The PRAM Or NVRAM On A Mac
The process happens automatically on M1 Mac whenever you restart your computer, so if you use an M1 Mac, all you have to do is shut down your computer and turn it On again.
For older Macs, Follow these steps:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press the power button.
- Press the Cmd, Option, P and R keys simultaneously before the grey screen appears.
- Hold the keys until your computer restarts and the startup sound beep for the second time.
- Release the keys.
After you reset the NVRAM or PRAM, it’s possible that some of your settings have been interrupted, don’t panic! It will be restored to normal in just a couple of minutes.
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Image Credit: Apple
Jump to
What Is The SMC In A Mac?
When Should You Reset The SMC?
How To Reset The SMC On A Mac
How To Reset The SMC on an M1 Mac
How To Reset The SMC On An Intel MacBook
How To Reset The SMC On An iMac, Mac Mini, Or Mac Pro
What Are The PRAM And NVRAM In A Mac?
When Should You Reset the PRAM or NVRAM?
How To Reset The PRAM Or NVRAM On A Mac
Daniel Barrett
Author
Daniel Barrett is a tech writer focusing on IoT, gadgets, software, and cryptocurrencies. With a keen interest in emerging technologies, Daniel offers expert analysis and commentary on industry trends. Follow him for authoritative insights into the latest tech innovations.
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