How to Reset NVRAM and the SMC on a Mac (Apple Silicon vs Intel)
You’re chasing an odd hardware glitch — wrong sound volume or display resolution at boot, the wrong startup disk, time-zone or fan/power weirdness — and a guide told you to “reset the NVRAM” or “reset the SMC.”
Why: NVRAM (called PRAM on very old Macs) stores quick-access settings like sound volume, display resolution, startup-disk choice and time zone. The SMC (System Management Controller) handles power, battery, fans and sleep. On Apple silicon Macs there’s no manual NVRAM or SMC reset — there is no need to use the Intel reset key combinations. Apple recommends a restart or shutdown/startup for SMC troubleshooting on Apple silicon. The manual combos below are for Intel Macs only.
Fix 1: Apple silicon (M-series) — just restart
If you have an Apple silicon Mac (Apple menu > About This Mac shows a Chip, e.g. “Apple M2”), you don’t reset NVRAM or the SMC. Restart the Mac:
- Apple menu > Restart.
- If it’s unresponsive, press and hold the power button until it turns off, then turn it back on.
No Intel reset-key procedure is needed. Restarting is Apple’s SMC troubleshooting step for Apple silicon; it is not a manual NVRAM reset.
Fix 2: Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs)
On an Intel Mac (About This Mac shows a Processor, e.g. “Intel Core i5”):
- Shut down your Mac.
- Turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, R.
- Keep holding for about 20 seconds, then release. The Mac may appear to restart during this time.
Afterward you may need to re-set things like sound volume, display resolution, startup disk and time zone in System Settings.
Fix 3: Reset the SMC (Intel Macs)
Use an SMC reset for persistent power, battery, thermal or hardware-behavior problems after ordinary troubleshooting. It does not reset NVRAM. First check whether the Intel Mac has an Apple T2 Security Chip; a non-removable battery alone does not identify the right procedure.
Intel notebook with T2:
- Shut down. First hold power/Touch ID for 10 seconds, release, wait a few seconds, and turn it on again. If the issue persists, shut down once more.
- Hold left Control, left Option, and right Shift on the built-in keyboard for 7 seconds.
- Keep those keys held and add power/Touch ID for 7 more seconds.
- Release everything, wait a few seconds, then start the Mac.
Intel notebook without T2:
- Shut down.
- Hold left Shift, left Control, left Option, and power together on the built-in keyboard for 10 seconds.
- Release the keys and press power to start the Mac. For an older model whose hardware differs, follow Apple’s linked model-specific instructions instead of substituting the T2 combination.
Intel desktops (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro):
- Shut down and unplug the power cord.
- Wait 15 seconds, plug it back in.
- Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on the Mac.
FAQ
Which do I try first? Choose by the symptom: NVRAM for Intel startup-disk, display or sound settings; SMC for persistent Intel power, battery or thermal issues. Neither is a mandatory first step for every hardware problem.
Will this erase my data? No. NVRAM reset may require you to reselect startup-disk, display or sound preferences. SMC reset addresses power-management behavior; it does not erase files or reset NVRAM.
My Mac is Apple silicon and a combo doesn’t work. Apple silicon Macs ignore the old Intel key combos — use the restart/shutdown step in Fix 1 for SMC troubleshooting rather than the Intel combinations.
Sources: Apple Support — Mac startup key combinations · Apple Support — Reset the SMC of your Mac