How to reset SMC on Mac

If your Mac is behaving strangely, you should consider restarting the System Management Controller reset (Reset SMC) on Mac. Many of your Mac’s functions are controlled by its internal systems, and a simple reset may be all that is required to resolve some of the most vexing issues. In this Article I will show you reset SMC on Mac.

What is SMC on Mac?

On a Mac the System Management Controller (SMC) is a chip that handles things like changing the video mode, going to sleep, waking up, coming out of hibernation, managing heat, managing batteries, and managing power. After that you know what SMC is let’s look at the signs that your Mac’s SMC needs to be restarted.

When should you reset SMC on Mac?

Here are some of the most common signs that your SMC has failed. In any of the following scenarios, it may be helpful to reset your Mac’s SMC.

• Mac is having trouble with getting too hot.
• The keyboard lighting on my Mac isn’t working right.
• When you open or close the MacBook it does not do anything.
• The light on the MacSafe charger isn’t working right.
• Mac can’t connect to USB and other outside devices.
• The way Wi-Fi works is not perfect.
• On older MacBook, the lights that show how full the battery is don’t show the right information.
• The planned way of display is having trouble.
• The fan runs at full speed even when it’s not being used.
• Light in the room has no effect on the brightness of the screen or the computer lighting.
• The power button on the Mac is not being used.
• You have trouble getting your MacBook to charge.
• Mac shuts down all of a sudden.

How to reset SMC on your Mac

By restarting the system management device on your Mac you can use it just like it did when it came out of the box. Depending on the type of your Mac, resetting SMC is easy if you follow the steps below.

Before you decide to restart SMC on your Mac, it’s a good idea to check the chipset.

Mac running Apple Silicon chip

Since the Apple Silicon chip controls system management, the SMC cannot be reset on Macs with the new M1 and M2 chips. But if you have any of the problems previously with you can turn off your Mac for 30 seconds and then turn it back on.

If restarting your Mac doesn’t help you can use the Apple Configurator to update your macOS or rebuild your Mac’s software.

Reset SMC on MacBook Pro or Air with Apple T2 chip

Follow the steps below to reset SMC on a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air with an Apple T2 chip.

• Click on the Apple sign , then choose Shut Down.
• For 7 seconds, press and hold the left Control key the left Option key and the right Shift key.
  Note: Restarting your Mac is fine.
• Please press and hold the power button (or Touch ID) for a few seconds.

• You now have a total of four keys.
• Hold the four keys down for about 7 seconds and then let go of all of them.
• After a short time, restart your Mac.

SMC Reset on older MacBook Pro or Air (before 2018)

1. Choose the Apple sign and then choose Shut Down.
2. Hold down the left Shift, left Control, and left Option keys at the same time.
3. Hold down all the keys for ten seconds. Then, let go of all the keys.
4. Pause for a few seconds, and then select “Restart” on the screen of your MacBook.

Reset SMC on iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro with T2 chip

1. Put your Mac to sleep.
2. For ten seconds, press the start button.
3. Let go of the power button. After a few seconds, restart the desktop Mac.
4. If this is the case turn off your Mac.
5. Take the power cord off.
6. 15 seconds later, play the power chord again.
7. Wait five more seconds, and then turn on your screen.

Reset SMC on older iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro (before 2018)

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Pull the power cord out.
3. Connect the power cord after 15 seconds.
4. Turn on your Mac after 5 seconds.

Questions and Answers

Q: Is it safe to restart Mac SMC?

A: Yes, rebooting your SMC on a Mac is a safe way to fix problems with the power, the battery, or other devices.

Q: Does restarting SMC help the life of the battery?

A: The SMC restart can help you fix problems with your battery life like when it shuts down unexpectedly or will not charge. But it is possible that it will not always make the battery last longer.

Q: If you restart macOS, does SMC start over?

A: No, restarting macOS won’t reset your SMC because the SMC is a separate chip that handles how the hardware works.

In the end…

Depending on the type of Mac you have, the way to reset the SMC may be different. Remember that rebooting the machine does not destroy its data. It will only recover some settings. Make a copy of critical files and data before fixing a problem.