How to do SMC reset
This article applies only to Mac computers with an Intel processor.
If you have a Mac with Apple silicon, make sure your computer is plugged into external power, then just restart your computer.
You can skip the rest of the steps in the article.
These factors might mean that an SMC reset is necessary:
- Your computer's fans run at high speed, even though it isn't under heavy usage and is properly ventilated.
- The keyboard backlight behaves incorrectly.
- Your Mac doesn't respond when you press the power button.
- Your Mac sleeps or shuts down unexpectedly and you can't turn it back on.
- The battery doesn't charge properly.
For a MacBook Pro with a T2 security chip:
If you have Mac that is older than 2018, follow the steps For a MacBook Pro without the T2 security chip below.
1. Choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to shut down.
2. Plug in your charger
3. Press and hold the right Shift key, the left Option key, and the left Control key for 7 seconds.
Your Mac might turn on and show the Apple logo on its display. Keep holding those keys while you also press and hold the power button for another 7 seconds.
If your Mac turned on when you first pressed the keys, it turns off at this point.
Please note that on the laptops with a touch bar touch id is the power button.
4. Release all three keys and the power button, then wait a few seconds.
5. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
For a MacBook Pro without the T2 security chip:
If your Mac is newer than 2017, please follow the steps For a Mac with a T2 security chip
1. Choose Apple menu > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to shut down.
2. Plug in your charger
3. Press Shift-Control-Option on the left side of the built-in keyboard, then press the power button at the same time.
4. Release all keys.
5. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.
If you are using MagSafe 1 or MagSafe 2 charger with Led indicator, the Led indicator should change the light from Orange to Green and back to Orange during the reset.
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Last updated on Jan 30, 2023, by Andrei Zorin