How to Reset SMC and NVRAM on Mac (Intel and Apple Silicon)

Q: How do I reset the SMC on an M1, M2 or newer Mac?

There is no key combination on Apple silicon Macs. Choose Apple menu › Shut Down , wait until the screen is fully dark, wait about 30 seconds more, then press the power button. The functions the SMC handled on Intel Macs are reset as part of that cold start. On a desktop Mac you can also unplug the power cord for 15 seconds.

Q: How do I know if my Mac has a T2 chip?

Choose Apple menu › About This Mac . If it lists a Chip such as M1 or M3, it is Apple silicon and has no T2. If it lists a Processor, it is Intel. Then open System Information by holding Option and choosing Apple menu › System Information , and select Controller in the sidebar. A T2 Mac shows Apple T2 Security Chip there. Most Touch ID MacBooks from 2018 to 2020 have one.

Quick answer

On an Apple silicon Mac, reset the SMC by shutting down, waiting 30 seconds and turning it back on; there is no NVRAM key combination. On an Intel Mac, reset NVRAM by holding Command-Option-P-R for about 20 seconds at startup. The SMC method depends on whether the Mac is a T2 laptop, an older laptop or a desktop.

Which Mac do you have?

The reset method depends on the chip, so check that first.

Choose Apple menu › About This Mac.
If the window shows Chip (for example Apple M1 or M4), you have an Apple silicon Mac.
If it shows Processor (for example Intel Core i5), you have an Intel Mac.
On an Intel Mac, hold Option, choose Apple menu › System Information and select Controller. If it lists the Apple T2 Security Chip, use the T2 method below.

If your Mac runs macOS 27 or the macOS 27 beta, it is Apple silicon: the macOS 27 restore image covers only M-series Macs and MacBook Neo, with no Intel models. Our macOS 27 supported Macs list shows every covered model.

Mac	SMC reset	NVRAM reset
Apple silicon (M-series)	Shut down, wait 30 seconds, turn on	Automatic at startup if needed
Intel MacBook with T2	Left Control + Left Option + Right Shift, then power	Command-Option-P-R at startup
Older Intel MacBook (no T2)	Left Shift + Left Control + Left Option + power	Command-Option-P-R at startup
Intel iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro	Unplug for 15 seconds	Command-Option-P-R at startup

What the SMC does

The System Management Controller handles low-level hardware on Intel Macs. When it gets into a bad state, hardware starts behaving in ways that make no sense, and a reset puts it back to a clean start.

Battery charging and power management
Fan speed and temperature control
Keyboard backlight
Sleep and wake behaviour
Charging indicator lights

When to reset the SMC

Battery: the Mac will not charge, charges slowly, or the percentage jumps around.
Fans: they run at high speed under light work, such as browsing.
Display: brightness will not change or an external display is not detected.
Ports: USB or Thunderbolt ports stop recognising devices.
Sleep: the Mac will not sleep, or wakes on its own.

What NVRAM does

NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) is a small store of settings that survive shut down: speaker volume, display resolution, the selected startup disk and the time zone, among others. It can become corrupted after a bad shut down or a failed update.

When to reset NVRAM

The volume resets every time you restart.
The screen resolution changes on its own.
The time zone or clock keeps going wrong.
The Mac shows a folder with a question mark at startup, or tries to start from the wrong disk.

How to reset the SMC on an Apple silicon Mac

Apple silicon Macs have no SMC key combination. A full shut down does the job.

Choose Apple menu › Shut Down.
Wait until the screen is completely dark.
Wait about 30 seconds.
Press the power button to turn the Mac back on.

On a Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio or Mac Pro with Apple silicon, you can also unplug the power cord for 15 seconds after shutting down. The Intel key combinations below do nothing on these Macs.

How to reset the SMC on an Intel MacBook with a T2 chip

Most Touch ID MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models from 2018 to 2020 have a T2 chip.

Shut down the Mac.
Press and hold left Control, left Option and right Shift for 7 seconds.
Keep holding them and also press and hold the power button.
Hold all four for another 7 seconds.
Release everything and wait a few seconds.
Press the power button to turn the Mac on.

How to reset the SMC on an older Intel MacBook

This applies to Intel MacBooks without a T2 chip that have a built-in, non-removable battery, which covers most models made before 2018.

Shut down the Mac.
Press and hold left Shift, left Control and left Option.
While holding them, press and hold the power button.
Hold all four for 10 seconds.
Release everything, then press the power button to turn the Mac on.

How to reset the SMC on an Intel desktop Mac

For an Intel iMac, Mac mini or Mac Pro, there are no keys to hold.

Shut down the Mac.
Unplug the power cord.
Wait 15 seconds.
Plug the cord back in.
Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button.

How to reset NVRAM on an Intel Mac

The NVRAM reset is the same on every Intel Mac, with or without a T2 chip.

Shut down the Mac.
Press the power button.
Immediately press and hold Command, Option, P and R.
Keep holding for about 20 seconds. The Mac may appear to restart.
Release when you hear the startup sound for the second time, or when the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

Timing matters. If you press the keys too late, the Mac starts normally and you need to shut down and try again. Afterwards, check volume, display resolution, startup disk and time zone, and set any that went back to default.

On Apple silicon there is no NVRAM shortcut. The Mac checks NVRAM during startup and resets it if needed, so shutting down and starting again covers it.

Common mistakes

Using the wrong Shift key. The T2 method uses the right Shift; the older-MacBook method uses the left. Mixing them up means nothing happens.
Letting go too early. Hold for the full time. Count slowly.
Using Intel steps on Apple silicon. Key combinations do nothing on an M-series Mac.

Does resetting the SMC and NVRAM actually work?

Sometimes. A reset can clear fan, charging and sleep problems caused by a confused controller, but it cannot fix a failing battery, a damaged sensor or a software bug. It is still worth trying first, because it takes a couple of minutes and does not touch your files, apps or accounts.

If a MacBook still will not charge properly afterwards, check its battery condition next. Our guide on how to check battery health on Mac shows how to read the cycle count and whether macOS recommends service.

When a reset does not fix it

Update macOS in System Settings › General › Software Update. The current public release is macOS 27.0.1 (26A434) on supported Macs.
Run Apple Diagnostics. On an Intel Mac, hold D during startup. On Apple silicon, hold the power button until startup options appear, then press Command-D.
If diagnostics report a fault, contact Apple Support or book a repair.

If the problem started after installing a beta, an SMC or NVRAM reset is unlikely to help, because the cause is software. Report it in the Feedback Assistant app instead; our macOS 27 beta installation guide covers how the beta is set up on your Mac. For wireless problems, the Bluetooth fix guide and AirDrop fix guide cover the software steps to try first.

What to do next

Identify your Mac's chip, run the matching reset once, and test the problem again. If it comes back, move on to diagnostics and, for battery complaints, the battery health check.

Frequently asked questions

How do I reset the SMC on an M1, M2 or newer Mac?

There is no key combination on Apple silicon Macs. Choose Apple menu › Shut Down, wait until the screen is fully dark, wait about 30 seconds more, then press the power button. The functions the SMC handled on Intel Macs are reset as part of that cold start. On a desktop Mac you can also unplug the power cord for 15 seconds.

How do I know if my Mac has a T2 chip?

Choose Apple menu › About This Mac. If it lists a Chip such as M1 or M3, it is Apple silicon and has no T2. If it lists a Processor, it is Intel. Then open System Information by holding Option and choosing Apple menu › System Information, and select Controller in the sidebar. A T2 Mac shows Apple T2 Security Chip there. Most Touch ID MacBooks from 2018 to 2020 have one.

Will resetting SMC or NVRAM delete my files?

No. Neither reset touches your documents, apps or user accounts. An SMC reset clears the controller's power and thermal state. An NVRAM reset returns a few stored settings to their defaults, such as speaker volume, display resolution, startup disk and time zone. After an NVRAM reset, check those settings and change any that went back to default.

Can I reset NVRAM on an Apple silicon Mac?

Not with a key combination. The Command-Option-P-R shortcut only works on Intel Macs. Apple silicon Macs check their NVRAM during startup and reset it if needed, so a normal shut down and restart covers it. Holding the four keys on an M-series Mac does nothing beyond a regular startup.

What should I try if an SMC reset does not help?

Update macOS, then run Apple Diagnostics. On an Intel Mac, hold D as it starts up. On Apple silicon, hold the power button until startup options appear, then press Command-D. If diagnostics report a fault, or the problem is a battery, fan or port that has failed, contact Apple Support or book a repair.