How to fix random MacBook shutdowns

Apple devices are well known for their reliability, the stability of Mac computers and the ability to last iPhones to connect. However, it is not entirely correct to think that Apple devices are indestructible. If you have ever had a random shutdown of your Mac computer, you will understand that Apple devices are not perfect.

Worse, shutdowns can occur when you work on important tasks, resulting in data loss and work delays. This article will provide a comprehensive solution to the random shutdown of Mac computers and includes a repair guide for the 13-inch MacBook Pro problem.

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First try restarting your Mac. Sometimes, this does work. Even if the Mac has been shut down, try to restart correctly again, terminate the background process, and ensure that the Mac can start normally.

After restarting the Mac, press and hold Command Alt Esc Force exit from the background application and hibernate, restart, or shut down the Mac from the Apple menu.

If the problem persists, consider resetting SMC and PRAM.

Reset SMC

The System Management Controller (SMC) is responsible for battery and thermal management, as well as any process associated with closing and opening the MacBook lid and pressing the power button. It may be part of the shutdown problem.

The method of resetting the SMC varies by computer type. Please select the following method according to your device type:

MacBook with removable or non-removable battery

Reset the SMC for Mac laptops with removable battery:

1. Turn off the Mac.
2. Remove the battery (if you don't want to do it yourself, head to the nearby Apple Authorized Service Center or Apple Retail Store).
3. Press and hold the power button for a few seconds.
4. Reinstall the battery and turn on the computer.

Reset the SMC for Mac laptops equipped with non-removable batteries:

1. Turn off your Mac from the Apple menu.
2. Press and hold the Shift Control Option power button (or the Touch ID button) for about 10 seconds.
3. Release the button and turn on the computer.

Mac desktop computer

For iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro or Xserve users, the following method is available for resetting SMC. Note that this method is only applicable to desktop computers without the Apple T2 security chip.

1. Turn off your Mac from the Apple menu.
2. Disconnect the power cord and wait for about 15 seconds.
3. Re-plug the power cord and wait for about 5 seconds.
4. Turn on the computer.

Computers equipped with Apple T2 security chip

Here is a complete list of Mac computers equipped with Apple T2 security chips:

• iMac Pro
• Mac Pro (2019)
• Mac mini (2018 models and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 models and later)
• MacBook Pro (2018 models and later)

You can also check whether your computer is equipped with a T2 security chip by holding down Option > Apple Menu > System Information. Then, navigate to the controller or iBridge in the sidebar. You will find the answer under Model Name.

If your computer is equipped with a T2 chip, the method to reset the SMC is as follows:

1. Turn off your Mac from the Apple menu.
2. Press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds.
3. Release the power button and wait a few seconds before turning on your Mac.

If it doesn't work, try turning off the Mac and unplug the power cord. Wait for about 15 seconds, plug in the power cord again, and turn on the computer.

If your computer does not have a T2 chip, the way to reset the SMC is as follows:

For Mac computers without T2 chips, the traditional reset method is the same as the above method. However, if the problem persists, you may want to try the following:

1. Turn off your Mac from the Apple menu.
2. Press and hold the Shift key on the left Option key on the left Control key on the left for about 7 seconds.
3. When the Apple logo appears on the screen, continue to hold the Shift, Option, and Control power buttons for another 7 seconds.
4. Wait for the Mac to close and release the button.
5. Turn on the computer again.

Reset PRAM

Parameter RAM (PRAM) is another component of the computer that can cause failure. It stores many minor preferences, including those related to boot disk. Resetting PRAM can be an effective way to prevent shutdown:

1. Turn off your Mac from the Apple menu.
2. Press the power button and hold the Command Shift PR.
3. When you see the Apple logo for the second time, hear the second startup sound, or after 20 seconds, release the button.

After resetting the PRAM, you may need to go to System Preferences and adjust some settings, including volume and display resolution.

Update macOS

Keeping macOS updated can reduce the possibility of a Mac computer shutdown. Unless you use 32-bit applications that are not supported on macOS Catalina and macOS Big Sur, we recommend you upgrade your Mac. You can Apple Menu > About this machine > Software Updates Check for pending updates.

Sometimes, Mac update files are too large to install on an existing system without erasing data on the Mac. Remember to back up all important information before erasing your Mac or reinstalling your macOS.

Get Backup Pro is an excellent tool that helps you back up important files and prevent data loss. You can use this application to back up selected files and folders, creating incremental or versioned backups. You can even perform compressed backups to save space.

If your MacBook Pro is shut down randomly, you may find yourself needing to recover unsaved data.

Disk Drill is a very popular tool that users like to use when they need to dig out deleted or unsaved information on their Mac. The app can help you recover deleted files, mine lost or damaged files, and help back up your data. While the app isn't all-in-one, it can effectively scan your hard drive to find unindexed files and recover as many files as possible.

How to fix shutdown issues with 13-inch MacBook Pro

If you have a Mac Pro with a touch bar instead of a function key, your device has a dedicated troubleshooting method. Although Apple has not launched a hardware replacement plan for this device, it is important to note the following:

1. Discharge the battery of your MacBook Pro to below 90%.
2. Close all open applications.
3. Connect the charger and switch to sleep mode.
4. Close the lid and let the Mac Pro charge for about 8 hours.
5. Turn on your computer and update it to the latest macOS version.

If MacBook keeps restarting

Another problem is that your Mac computer is stuck in a continuous restart cycle. The reasons for such restarts may not be traced, so make sure you understand all fixes. But before taking any further steps, use Get Backup Pro to create a bootable disk backup to protect everything you store on your Mac.

Disconnect peripherals

Make sure no external devices, such as hard drives or printers, are connected to your Mac. If it is a desktop computer, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, but do not connect any other devices. Turn on your Mac and continue to work properly.

Update software

Outdated software often causes a restart. Here are some solutions:

• If any software updates are pending, update the application.
• If a specific application causes problems, contact the developer for help or delete the application from your Mac.
• Reinstall the third-party application.

Reinstall macOS

If you have tried all the options to resolve random shutdown issues, or if your MacBook Air or Pro continues to shut down upon startup, the next step should be to reinstall macOS from recovery mode.

You need to erase the boot disk first, but since the data is backed up, you can do so with confidence because your important information is safely saved outside of your Mac. You can view detailed instructions on how to reinstall macOS on the official Apple support page.

Keep your Mac healthy and avoid malfunctions

In many cases, random chances have their symptoms: your computer starts to slow down, the fan runs at full speed and makes a lot of noise, and the application is unresponsive. Other times, there is no sign. Therefore, it is best to control the performance of your Mac so that you can get a warning if something goes wrong.

Organize your Mac with CleanMyMac X

CleanMyMac X is a Mac cleaning utility that makes your machine cleaner, making it faster and more powerful. It can eliminate all cluttered files in the hard drive and operating system with one scan.

Cluttered Macs usually run slower. If there are many unupdated applications on your Mac, it may also shut down unexpectedly. This is where CMMX comes into play. From old cache to duplicates, CleanMyMac X clears everything that might get in the way of your progress. The app will tell you about the malware threat and let you know if there are any particularly large files you haven't processed yet.

Prevent Mac computers from shutting down in the future

Keep abreast of your Mac's health with iStat Menus to avoid shutdown issues.

Free trial### Monitor your Mac's health

If you have iStat Menus, your Mac will prompt you when it's not running well. The app adds a lot of Mac health metrics to your menu bar. You will be able to control the available disk space, immediately see which applications are consuming the battery level of your Mac, and view the active process. This is the best way to make sure your computer never fails.

You can also reduce the burden on your Mac by slowing down or stopping the background apps.

App Tamer is the tool that helps you do this. The app allows you to select the app you want to "taught" and set CPU limits. This can free up the Mac to use for tasks you actually need to perform and help prevent the Mac from running out of CPU on processes you don't need.

Professional tips:

You can also leverage App Tamer to limit background CPU usage for use when you know your Mac will struggle to handle CPU-intensive tasks such as editing large video files or playing video games.

What to do if your computer keeps shutting down

Take it to the nearest Apple Authorized Service Center. If you have tried force shutting down your Mac, resetting SMC/PRAM, and updating your macOS, but your Mac still fails, you need to do a repair for your Mac. It is likely that it will be erased, so prepare a backup in advance. In any case, we wish your Mac a long life and high efficiency!

in conclusion

Why does my Mac computer keep shutting down? This is a problem some of us have to face, with solutions ranging from simple resets to sending the device for repair. Start with a simple workaround and try it one by one.

After you have resolved the issue, feel free to try the tools mentioned in this article to help keep your Mac in the best condition: CleanMyMac X is used to delete junk files and remove malware, iStat Menus is used to monitor the health of your Mac, App Tamer is used to limit CPU usage for background applications, Get Backup Pro is used to back up your valuable information, and Disk Drill is used to recover any lost files.

All of these applications are part of the Setapp collection to increase productivity and handle daily tasks on your Mac. You can try it for 7 days for free and try dozens of other tools to improve productivity and handle daily tasks faster and more efficiently.

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