Reset the Power Manager Chip in your Mac

    Macs have a chip on the main circuit board that controls the distribution of power to all internal components. Apple calls that chip the SMC, or System Management Controller. That chip can sometimes become confused because of power blips or software crashes. When that happens, the SMC may not send the right power (or any power) to essential components that make your Mac work.

    When that happens, your battery may not charge, your Mac may simply not turn on at all, your fans may run at high speed (you’ll hear them), the Mac may run warm, or the built-in camera may not work.

    The fix is to reset the SMC. The procedure is different, depending on which model Mac you have.

    Macs with Apple Silicon

    Recent Macs have Apple Silicon processors…the M1, M2, M3, and later M series processors.

    To reset the SMC on these Macs, just restart them, or shut them down and turn them back on.

    Laptop Macs with the Apple T2 Security Chip

    Macs with the Apple T2 Security Chip are:

    • MacBook Pro introduced in 2018 through 2020, excluding MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)

    • MacBook Air introduced in 2018 through 2020, excluding MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

    • iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) and iMac Pro

    • Mac mini (2018)

    • Mac Pro introduced in 2019

    To reset the SMC in these models, to the following steps:

    1. Shut down your Mac.

    2. On your built-in keyboard, press and hold all of the following keys. Your Mac might turn on.

      • Control and Option keys on the left side of your keyboard.

      • Shift key on the right side of your keyboard.

    3. Keep holding all three keys for 10 full seconds or more, then press and hold the Power button (the one you normally use to turn it on) as well. If your Mac is on, it will turn off as you hold the keys.

    4. Keep holding all four keys for another 10 seconds or more, then release them.

    5. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

    Desktop Macs with the Apple T2 Security Chip

    For iMacs, Mac Minis, and Mac Pros, to these steps:

    1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord.

    2. Wait 15 seconds or more, then plug the power cord back in.

    3. Wait an additional 10 seconds or more, then press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

    Older Mac Laptops (with Intel processors)

    1. Shut down your Mac.

    2. On your built-in keyboard, press and hold all of these keys for a full 10 seconds or more:

      • Shift, Option, and Control keys on the left side of your keyboard

      • The Power button (the one you normally use to turn it on) as well.

    3. Release all the keys, then press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

    Older Desktop Macs (with Intel processors)

    1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord. You can either unplug the power cord from the Mac itself, or from the electrical socket.

    2. Wait 15 seconds or more, then plug the power cord back in.

    3. Wait an additional 10 seconds or more, then press the Power button to turn on your Mac.

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