How to SMC Reset a Mac

How to SMC Reset a Mac

Resetting your Mac System Management Controller (SMC) can be a solution to restore normal lower level system functionality to your Mac, particularly for power and hardware related troubles.

* Issues with your Mac cooling fans and fan management: the fans run constantly at high speed, fans run high despite low CPU usage and adequate ventilation, fans not working at all, etc

* Power management and battery problems: Mac isn’t turning on, sleep isn’t working, random shutdowns and reboots, battery isn’t charging, Mac won’t wake from sleep, etc

* Light problems and improper lighting management: battery indicator lights aren’t working, display backlighting isn’t adjusting to ambient light changes, keyboard backlights not working, etc 

* Video and external displays not working: display brightness functionality not working properly, target video mode isn’t working properly, external display isn’t working, etc

* General performance and functionality problems: abnormally sluggish behavior despite no CPU or disk usage, external ports not working, airport & bluetooth aren’t showing up, external devices are not being found, etc


Reset SMC of a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro Retina, or MacBook Pro’s with an internal non-removable battery


This is how to reset SMC on most modern Mac laptops, none of which have a removable battery:

  1. Shutdown your MacBook
  2. Connect the power adapter to the Macbook
  3. On the MacBook keyboard, hold down the Shift+Control+Option keys and the Power button at the same time
  4. Release all keys and the power button at the same time – the little light on the MagSafe adapter may change colours briefly to indicate the SMC has reset
  5. Boot your Mac as usual

Here is how you do it :

SMC Reset

Reset SMC of an iMac, Mac Pro, Mac Mini


  1. Shut down your iMac
  2. Disconnect the power cord
  3. Press and hold the Mac’s power button for 5 seconds
  4. Release the button
  5. Reattach the power cables and boot the Mac as usual

Reset the SMC of a MacBook or MacBook Pro’s with detachable batteries


Older MacBook laptops, indicated by having a removable battery, can reset SMC with the following approach:

  1. Shutdown the MacBook/Pro and remove the battery
  2. Disconnect the power adapter, hold the Power Key for 10 seconds
  3. Release the power key and reconnect your battery and power adapter
  4. Turn your Mac on
  5. Let boot as usual

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