Fix Mac Won't Restart or Restart Not Working: Complete Guide

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Is your Mac can't reboot? It might be annoying when your Mac won't restart correctly. This is especially true if you use it for business or personal purposes. If your Mac gets stuck, simply won't reboot, or fails to function correctly, this guide will help you fix the issue.

Potential Causes of Mac Not Restarting

Prior to delving into the fixes, it's critical to comprehend the possible causes of your Mac not restarting. Knowing the cause can help you zero in on the right fix faster.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Mac Restart Issues

When your Mac won't restart, try the following basic troubleshooting steps before resorting to more advanced solutions. These steps often resolve the issue quickly.

Step 1. Force Restart the Mac

If your Mac is unresponsive, your first step should be to try a force restart. A force restart is different from a normal restart. It completely shuts down the system and bypasses any frozen applications or processes.

• For MacBook (without a removable battery): To turn off the Mac, hold down the Power button for about ten seconds. To restart, wait a few while and then hit the Power button one again.
• For MacBook (with a removable battery): Remove the battery and wait for a minute. Then reinsert the battery and power it on.
• For iMac or Mac Mini: To restart, disconnect the power cord, wait for approximately 15 seconds, then plug it back in.

Force restarting only if your Mac freezes and won't respond to normal commands. It can help resolve temporary glitches in most cases.

Step 2. Check for External Devices

Sometimes, external devices connected to your Mac may interfere with the restart process.

• Disconnect all external devices.
• Try restarting your Mac without these devices attached.
• If your Mac restarts properly, one of your external devices is likely causing the issue. Reconnect each device one by one, restarting after each, to identify the culprit.

Step 3. Close Unresponsive Apps

An unresponsive or frozen app can prevent your Mac from restarting, as the system may not be able to close the app properly.

• In order to access the "Force Quit Applications" window, use Command + Option + Esc.

• Select any apps that appear as "Not Responding" and click "Force Quit."
• Once you have closed all unresponsive apps, try restarting your Mac again.

Advanced Troubleshooting Mac Restart Not Working

If basic troubleshooting doesn't solve the issue, you can try these more advanced steps to resolve your Mac's restart problem.

Method 1. Reset NVRAM/PRAM

Certain settings that may impact your Mac's restarting capabilities are stored in NVRAM and PRAM. Resetting them frequently fixes problems with restarts.

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. After pressing the Power button, quickly depress the Command, Option, P, and R keys.
3. Hold onto these keys for a further 20 seconds or so.
4. When you see the Apple logo or hear the startup sound, let go of the keys.

This resets the settings stored in NVRAM/PRAM, which can resolve issues with restarting or other system settings.

Method 2. Reset SMC

The SMC manages a number of low-level operations, including as battery charging, power management, and thermal control. If the SMC is malfunctioning, your Mac may experience restart problems.

For MacBooks with T2 chip:

1. Turn Off your Mac.
2. After holding down the Power button for ten seconds, let go of it.
3. To restart, wait a few while and then hit the Power button once again.

For MacBooks without T2 chip:

1. Turn Off your Mac.
2. On the keyboard, hold Shift + Control + Option along with the Power button.
3. Hold onto every key for ten seconds, then let go of them.
4. Press the Mac's Power button to start it up.

Method 3. Check macOS Updates

Sometimes, a pending macOS update or an incomplete update installation may be causing restart issues.

• Open System Settings from Software Update in General section.
• Click Upgrade Now if there is a new version available.

• After the update, try restarting your Mac to see if it works.

Method 4. Dealing with Software Issues

In some cases, deeper software problems may be the root cause of your Mac's restart issue. These steps can help identify and fix software-related problems.

Boot in Safe Mode

Safe Mode helps you diagnose software problems by disabling unnecessary startup items and loading only essential macOS components. If your Mac can restart in Safe Mode, it indicates a software conflict is causing the issue.

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press the Power button, then quickly hold the Shift key.
3. After you see the login screen, let go of the Shift key.
4. After logging in, check if your Mac is running normally.

For Apple silicon Mac: press and hold Power button when restarting to boot into macOS Recovery mode. Select the startup disk and press Shift key to enter into Safe Mode.

If the problem with restarting doesn't happen in Safe Mode, a third-party program or process may be to blame. To narrow down the issue, try removing recently installed apps and turning off startup things.

Run Disk Utility First Aid

If your Mac's storage drive has errors, this could prevent your system from restarting properly. Disk Utility's First Aid tool can identify and fix issues with your drive.

1. Open Disk Utility from Utilities via Applications.
2. Select your Mac's startup disk (usually labeled "Macintosh HD").
3. Click First Aid at the top of the window and follow the prompts to run a scan.

If First Aid finds any errors, it will attempt to repair them. Once the scan is complete, try restarting your Mac to see if the issue persists.

Reinstall macOS

If all else fails, you may need to reinstall macOS to fix the restart issue. This can help resolve deep system file corruption or bugs introduced by a failed update.

1. Restart your Mac and immediately press Power button (Command + R for Intel-based Mac) to enter Recovery Mode.
2. In Recovery Mode, select Reinstall macOS from the menu.

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall macOS.

Reinstalling macOS does not typically erase your data. However, it's always a good idea to back up your files. You can use Time Machine or another backup solution before proceeding.

Method 5. When Hardware May Be the Problem

If none of the software solutions work, the issue may lie with your Mac's hardware. Hardware issues that could prevent restarting include a malfunctioning power button, faulty RAM, or logic board problems.

Diagnose Hardware Issues

You can use Apple Diagnostics to check for any hardware malfunctions that may be causing the issue.

1. Shut off your Mac.
2. Press and hold the D key to turn on your Mac.
3. When prompted, let go of the D key to launch Apple Diagnostics.

Once the diagnostics test is complete, you'll receive a report detailing any hardware issues detected.

Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider

If Apple Diagnostics finds a hardware problem, or if other solutions have failed, it's time to get expert assistance. Your best bet is to see an authorized service provider or the Apple Store.

Conclusion

A Mac that won't restart can be a frustrating issue. However, with a systematic approach, you can usually resolve the problem without too much trouble. From unplugging an external device to reinstalling macOS, the solutions can help you fix the restart issue.

Remember to regular maintenance your macOS and update macOS. Check and ensure your peripherals are compatible with your Mac. It can help prevent restart issues in the future.