Dec 16, 2024 • Filed to: Solve Mac Problems • Proven solutions
Let's face it, nothing can be more disturbing than having your Mac suddenly shut down, especially when you are in the middle of something very important. In most cases, it is just a one-time issue and never happens again. However, if you notice your MacBook keeps shutting down again and again without any warning, you immediately need to determine a definite cause behind it and look for some tips and tools to help fix your MacBook.
You can also download and use reliable software like Wondershare Recoverit to retrieve data after your Mac randomly shuts down.
In this guide, we are going to walk you through the steps to fix your MacBook from shutting down randomly. So, without any further delay, let us get started.
Does your MacBook keep shutting down for no particular reason? It's highly disappointing and frustrating at the same time to come back to your computer and find out that it has randomly shut down and started rebooting.
If restarting issues get worse, they can prevent you from using your Mac, so looking for the right solution should be your highest priority. Here are some common reasons why Mac shuts down randomly:
There are several other reasons which may cause your Mac to shut down. By taking proper measures, you can solve every shutdown issue and get your computer to work properly at all times.
When your MacBook shuts down randomly, the first thing you must do is reboot instantly and then restart the computer again. This step is essential because programs do not always close properly, especially when you perform a hard shut down.
To restart your Mac, all you need to do is go to the top-left corner of your computer and then from the Apple menu, select Restart.
If rebooting does not help, then it is recommended by Apple to reset your computer's SMC (System Management Controller). It is basically a subsystem of Mac that comes with an intel processor. SMC controls several features like video mode switching, battery charging, LED indicators, sleep and wake, and more.
However, before resetting the SMC, you should follow the steps below to quickly fix the random mac shutdown:
Step 1: Hold and long-press the power button to shut your computer down. After that, press the power button again to turn on your Mac again.
Step 2: Once your computer turns back on, press Command + Option + Esc to force quit any background applications that are not responding.
Step 3: The final step is to go to the Apple menu and either shut down, restart, or put your Mac to sleep.
Now, if the problem still persists, you can try resetting SMC.
Resetting the SMC involves several steps, and it entirely depends on what type of Mac you own and whether it has a removable battery or not. MacBook versions with non-removable batteries include MacBook air, MackBook Pro (2009 versions and later), 12-inch MacBook (2015 versions and later), and the late 2009 MacBook versions.
Additionally, there are different sets of steps to reset SMC on any MacBook with an Apple T2 security chip. MacBooks with T2 security chip usually include the 2018 version and later.
Now, let us have a look at different steps you can take to reset the SMC for different types of Mac computers.
Reset the SMC on a Macbook with Removable Battery:
Step 1: Shut down the Macbook.
Step 2: Carefully unplug the MagSafe power adapter.
Step 3: Remove the battery. If you do not want to do it yourself, go to the nearest Apple Retail Store or Apple Service Center and get it done.
Step 4: Hold and press the power button for up to five seconds.
Step 5: Reinstall the battery and then press the power button again to turn the Mac.
Reset the SMC on a Macbook with Non-Removable Battery:
Step 1: Shut down the Macbook.
Step 2: Press or hold Shift + Control + Option keys on the left side of the keyboard (or Touch ID) and also hold the power button at the same time.
Step 3: Now, release all keys and press the power button again to turn on your computer.
Reset the SMC on a Macbook with the T2 Security Chip:
Step 1: Select the Shut Down option from the Apple menu.
Step 2: Once the computer shuts down, hold and press the right Shift key + left Option key + left Control key for up to six-seven seconds. After that, keep holding these keys while also pressing the power button for another six to seven seconds.
Step 3: Release all three keys, plus the power button at the same time, and then again press the power button to turn on your computer.
Reset the SMC on a Mac Mini, iMac, or Mac Pro:
Step 1: Select the Shut Down Option from the Apple Menu.
Step 2: Hold or long-press the power button for up to 10-15 seconds.
Step 3: Now, release the power button and wait for a few seconds before you turn on your computer again.
If the above steps do not work, shut down your Mac again and then unplug the power cord. Wait for around fifteen seconds, plug in the power cord back, and finally press the power button to turn on your computer.
There is a high possibility that a bug in your Macintosh operating system is causing your computer to shut down randomly. So it's crucial to keep your macOS up-to-date to avoid such malfunctions.
To update your Mac, all you need to do is go to the menu bar, click on the "Apple Menu," and then choose the option "About This Mac." After that, click on the Software Update button and let your computer check for updates. If there are any updates available, they will start downloading and installing it immediately. This step might fix all your shutdown issues instantly.
If you have tried and exhausted all the methods and updates to restart your computer, the next step is to reinstall Macintosh Operating Software. Reinstalling macOS can remove all the issues that are stopping your computer from working properly. Before you initiate the reinstalling process, make sure to back up your data, and only then erase your startup disk.
You can check out the complete instructions on how to reinstall Macintosh software on the support page of Apple.
If your Mac turns off randomly in the middle of any data activity, it may result in loss of files from the hard drive. So, you must always have your data backed up. If, by any chance, you have not backed up your data, and you are worried about how to retrieve it, check out Recoverit. This is a reliable mac data recovery software that helps you recover lost or deleted files on Windows and Mac.
Now, let us see in detail the steps on how to use Recoverit Mac Data Recovery;
Step 1: Launch Recoverit on Mac
Before recovering data, you need to launch and install Recoverit on your Mac. To start the software, all you need to do is double click the "Recoverit" icon. If you have set a password for the software, type the password and press "Enter" or "Return" to launch Recoverit. It will only take a few seconds to initiate the Mac data recovery process.
Step 2: Select a Device
The next step is to select a drive under the "Devices" tab or the "Desktop" tab, which is below the "Select Location" tab. Now, click on the "Start" button to go forward.
You can also choose the "Select Folder" option under the "Select Location Tab" if you know the exact file path of your lost data. Then again, click on the "Start" button to proceed further.
Step 3: Scan the Location
After you have selected the device, Recoverit will start with an overall scan. With advanced searching and scanning, you can retrieve all your deleted, lost, or formatted data. Furthermore, you can pause or stop the scanning process if you have found your lost data.
If you want to recover complex or large-sized videos, you can select the "Advanced Video Recovery" option on the bottom-left corner of the screen. This will allow you to perform a deep scan to recover deleted or lost videos.
Step 4: Preview and Recover Files
Before proceeding with the final recovery step, Recoverit allows you to preview the recoverable files by clicking on the "Preview" button on the right panel. You are allowed to open a single file from the resulting menu by double-clicking it. Remember, you can only preview a file that is smaller than 15MB.
Once you have reviewed the data, now it is time to click on the "Recovery" button to restore your file.
Note: Choose a different location to save the recovered files. Do not save the files on the hard disk where you deleted or lost the data. This will prevent the overwriting of data.
Generally, Macintosh computers last for a long time, but some issues may develop in the long run. Fortunately, you can take several measures for the proper and smooth functioning of your computer. Here are some of the measures you can take to maintain your Mac:
Batteries that are rechargeable do not last for a lifetime. So, it is very crucial to keep a check on your Mac's battery. You should know that the usage of your MacBook's battery is determined through charge cycles. A charge cycle usually happens when you consume all the power of the battery.
Remember, each battery only lasts for a limited number of charge cycles. If you exhaust the total number of charge cycles, you need to replace the battery. To review your MacBook's current battery count follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to the Apple Menu.
Step 2: Select "About This Mac."
Step 3: Now, choose the "System Report" option.
Step 4: Then, navigate to the subsection "Power" under the "Hardware" option.
Step 5: You will now see the "Battery Information" option — under which you will find the current cycle count.
After following the above steps, if you see that your battery has reached the maximum cycle count, it means you will have to replace the battery. Make sure to monitor your battery regularly to maintain the proper functioning of your Mac.
Reading your Mac system logs on a regular basis will help you troubleshoot problems on your computer and will further ensure that your computer does not shut down abruptly and is in good health.
So, for instance, if you find out through the logs that you are facing low battery issues, you can go to the upper-right corner of the screen, select the battery icon in the menu bar and view the applications using Significant Energy.
Additionally, you can also make use of your Macbook's "Activity Monitor" to view services and applications that use up most of the CPU power.
To open "Activity Monitor," go to the "Applications" and then click on "Utilities." You must pay special attention to the items present under Energy tabs and CPU as they can pose a serious threat to your computer.
To avoid your computer from shutting down in the future, view your Energy Saver settings, which you will find in the "System Preferences" option. You can set your Energy Saver settings to default — this should be enough to save your computer's energy.
Random shutdowns can ruin your work and spoil your reputation. So, if you think your MacBook randomly shuts off over and over without any signs, it is recommended to fix the issue before it causes irreversible damages. Hopefully, the methods mentioned above in this post will help you fix your MacBook shutting down on your own without facing any trouble.
Do you experience random MacBook turns off? What do you do when your Mac randomly shuts down? Please do share your experience.
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Sue Wayne
staff Editor