Confused about how to reset SMC on your Mac? Which steps to follow and which not? In this article, we have given ways to SMC reset all the different types of Mac.
What is SMC?
A System Management Controller SMC is an Intel-based chip on a Mac that manages the crucial physical settings of a Mac. The SMC deals with various hardware functions like fan control, status lights, power management, system performance, battery management, keyboard backlighting, temperature monitoring, and a few other components.
How To Reset SMC On Different Macs
There are different ways to reset SMC on a Mac. These ways can differ depending on the Mac model you have. The detailed steps for all those are given below.
M-Series Mac
If you have a Mac with the newer Apple Silicon (M1, M2, or M3 chip), then your Mac doesn’t have an SMC. But if you are facing trouble then you can try this method.
Make sure your Mac is plugged into power, then do one of these.
- Restart your Mac by clicking on the Apple logo.
- Or, Shut Down by clicking the Apple icon and power on after a minute.
These are the only steps you need to do to reset SMC on your Apple Silicon Mac.
Intel Mac
Mac with the T2 Chip
MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and all the MacBooks, which are released after 2018, have the T2 security chip. Follow these steps if you have any one of these.
For MacBook
- Shut Down your MacBook first.
- Now, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds.
- After waiting for a few seconds, Restart your Mac.
Once you are done, the problems should not exist any longer, but if they do, follow the next steps to reset SMC on your Mac with the T2 Chip.
- First, shut down your Mac.
- Now, hold down this key combination: Control + Option + Shift.
- Keep holding down the keys for 7 seconds.
- After seven seconds press the power button as well, while holding the previous keys.
- Keep pressing the four keys altogether for another 7 seconds.
- Now, after waiting for a few seconds, start your Mac.
For Mac Desktop
If you have a Mac Desktop having T2 chip, then follow these steps:
- Shut down your Mac computer.
- Then, unplug the power adapter.
- Wait for at least 15 seconds, and then plug the power adapter back in.
- Now, wait for 5 seconds more and then power on your Mac.
Mac without T2 security chip
If you have a pre-2018 Mac, then you don’t have a T2 security chip. Follow these steps if you have a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and all the MacBooks with non-removable batteries.
- Shut down your Mac.
- Now, at the same time, press this four-key combination: Shift + Control + Option (on the left side) + Power Button (on the right side).
- Continue holding down the keys for 10 seconds.
- After releasing the keys, press the power button to turn on your Mac.
For Older Versions Of Mac
The older versions of Macs which have a removable battery, you can reset SMC in the following way.
- Shut Down your Mac
- Now, remove the battery from your MacBook
- Keep holding down the power button for 5 seconds.
- Finally, reinstall the battery, and it’s done.
The older versions of Mac with non-removable batteries can be reset this way.
- Shut down your Mac first.
- Now, unplug the power cord.
- After waiting for 15 seconds, plug the power cord back.
- Turn on your Mac after a wait of 5 seconds.
When To Reset The SMC?
SMC deals with hardware and power-related issues. It regulates power management, battery performance, and temperature. If you are facing trouble with these things, you should consider SMC resetting your Mac to factory default.
Common SMC Issues
You can face these common issues if your SMC malfunctions:
- Your Mac won’t turn on.
- Shutting down unexpectedly or slowly.
- The battery isn’t charging, or the battery life decreased.
- The Mac is overheating.
- Having trouble with the keyboard backlight.
- Fans are unusually louder, even at low commands.
- The trackpad is malfunctioning.
- USB portals are not working correctly.
- Your Mac is having other power-related issues.
Some of the performance issues might not be solved by SMC reset. If that’s the case, then you can try to reset NVRAM or PRAM on Mac.
FAQs
Q: Is it safe to reset SMC?
Yes, it is completely safe to reset SMC on your Mac. But, you should once check battery preferences to restore any customization after your Mac is reset.
Q: How many times can you reset SMC?
You can SMC reset your Mac as many times as you want, as it is completely safe and doesn’t have any side effects.
Q: Does SMC resetting your Mac delete anything?
No, resetting the SMC will not delete any of your data.
Q: Can you SMC reset your Mac with an external Keyboard?
Unfortunately, the SMC reset only works with the internal keyboard. No type of external keyboard will work, even if it’s USB.
Conclusion
It’s not understood yet why these issues occur, but we hope that now you know how to SMC reset your Mac, despite of whichever model you have, as problems can happen often. Fortunately, resetting your Mac is a very easy and quick process, and you can fix it yourself.
