If your Mac is acting up, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) and Parameter Random Access Memory (PRAM) might be the solution. These components control many aspects of your Mac's behavior, including power management, display resolution, and startup disk selection. Follow along below as we guide you through the process of resetting these components to help resolve any issues you may be experiencing.

What is SMC and PRAM?

The SMC is a chip on your Mac's logic board that controls all power functions. It tells the computer when to turn on, turn off, sleep, wake, idle, and so forth. It also handles system resets from various commands and controls the fans. PRAM, on the other hand, is a type of memory that your Mac uses to store certain settings and access them quickly. PRAM stores information about your designated startup disk, display resolution, speaker volume, and other information. Unlike other types of RAM, PRAM does not reset when powering off your computer.

When to Reset SMC and PRAM?

Resetting the SMC can resolve some computer issues such as not starting up, not displaying video, sleep issues, fan noise issues, and so forth. If your computer still exhibits these types of issues after you've restarted the computer, try resetting the SMC. In the instance that PRAM information has become corrupted, resetting the PRAM may be a necessary solution. Unless reset, your Mac may use the incorrect settings, behave abnormally, or not even start up.

Resetting the PRAM and NVRAM on your Mac can resolve the following issues:

• A blinking question mark icon that appears when your Mac boots up
• Strange or clunky mouse scrolling and clicking behavior
• Display and resolution settings that don't work or randomly change
• Unusual keyboard responses
• Erratic audio output or no volume at all
• Incorrect date, time, or time zone information

Resetting the SMC on your Mac can resolve the following common issues:

• Unexpected or slow shutdowns
• Unresponsiveness when opening or closing
• Mac won't turn on
• Malfunctioning power button
• Computer fans running fast and loud, even under low demands
• The MagSafe power adapter doesn't indicate what it's doing
• Problems connecting to Wi-Fi
• An overheating Mac
• Malfunctioning USB ports or Bluetooth connections
• Erratic light or backlight behavior
• Unusually slow Mac performance, even with low CPU usage

How to Reset SMC and PRAM?

The process for resetting the SMC and PRAM varies depending on the model of your Mac. If you've got an M1 or M2 Mac, resetting the PRAM is as simple as restarting your computer - it happens automatically every time you restart. Simply shut down your M1 or M2 MacBook or Mac Mini completely, wait a few seconds, and then push the power button to turn it back on.

You don't need to reset the SMC on M1 and M2 Macs - in fact, there's nothing to reset. M1 and M2 chips handle all SMC functions, so these computers don't even have a system management controller.

Here are the general steps for Intel-based models (Pre-2018):

Resetting the SMC

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the Shift + Option + Control keys on the left side of the keyboard
3. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds
4. Release all keys and the power button
5. Press the power button again to turn on your Mac

Resetting the PRAM

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R
3. You can release the keys after about 20 seconds, during which your Mac might appear to restart

After zapping the PRAM or NVRAM, some of your user settings will also reset, such as keyboard layout, mouse tracking, startup disk, date and time, and volume. Check System Preferences and adjust anything that was changed. Otherwise, that's all there is to reset PRAM on Mac.

Macs with T2 Chip

Here's how to reset the SMC on any Mac notebook model with the Apple T2 Security Chip. These chips are in MacBooks, Macbook Pros, and Macbook Air laptop models from 2018 or later:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release the button.
3. Wait a few seconds and restart your Mac
4. If that doesn't help, shut down your Mac again.
5. Press the right Shift + left Option key + left Control Key and hold for 7 seconds. Then, press and hold the power button.
6. Keep holding down all four keys for another 7 seconds. If your Mac has turned on, it will turn off as you hold down these keys.
7. Release the keys and wait a few seconds. Then, restart your Macbook.

Conclusion

The process for resetting the SMC and PRAM/NVRAM can vary depending on the specific model of your Mac. For example, as we states, Macs with the Apple T2 Security Chip, including many models from 2018 or later, have a slightly different process for resetting the SMC.

Similarly, M1 and M2 Macs handle all SMC functions, so these computers don't even have a system management controller to reset. On M1 Macs, the NVRAM is tested during the startup process, and if the system detects a need to reset, it will. There isn't a key combination that you hold down while starting up the Mac. If you would like the system to inspect the NVRAM on an M1 Mac, shut it down completely, wait a few seconds, and then power up the Mac.

Resetting the SMC and PRAM/NVRAM on your Mac can help resolve a variety of issues, especially those related to power management and system settings. However, it's important to note that these steps should be taken as a last resort after other troubleshooting steps have been exhausted. Always ensure to back up your data before performing these resets to avoid any potential data loss.