Knowing how to reset PRAM on a Mac helps if you are experiencing hardware or system problems, such as strange screen resolution changes or lost speaker volume preferences. It also helps troubleshoot hardware issues, such as a Mac failing to boot properly or showing a question mark on startup. PRAM, or Parameter Random Access Memory, stores key system settings and customizations, such as startup disk selection, time and date, and volume. Modern Macs replace PRAM with NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory), which performs the same functions as PRAM, but without requiring a battery to retain its data.
In addition to PRAM or NVRAM, Macs also have SMC (System Management Controller) memory to manage hardware-related functions. Resetting SMC can also fix several common issues, such as the Mac not turning on or turning off unexpectedly, the battery not charging, the Mac overheating, display flickering, a malfunctioning keyboard backlight or trackpad, an uncontrollable fan, and other hardware problems.
This article explains in detail how to reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC on a Mac, beginning with a quick overview of these memory types and when to reset them.
Parameter Random Access Memory, or PRAM, is a small area of a Mac’s RAM that stores various macOS settings and parameters. It stores the necessary system configuration information, such as screen resolution, time zone, color depth, mouse speed, speaker volume, and startup volume selection, required when the Mac starts.
Unlike RAM, PRAM does not store information temporarily; it is a non-volatile memory that retains the information permanently, even after you shut down the device, using a small battery.
Modern Intel-based Macs replace PRAM with NVRAM. NVRAM is non-volatile random access memory with the same properties and functions as PRAM but holds less information.
You should reset your PRAM or NVRAM if you experience problems such as resolution changes or connectivity issues. An NVRAM or PRAM reset can help fix issues like the keyboard behaving erratically, volume control not working properly, mouse not working as expected, incorrect time and/or date, and unexpected screen resolution changes.
However, resetting the PRAM or NVRAM should be the last option after exhausting all the other ways to solve the problem, such as restarting the device and cleaning your Mac.
Use a combination of the Option, Command, P, and R keys to reset Mac PRAM or NVRAM. Below are the detailed steps to do this; these steps apply to all Mac devices, including MacBook Air, iMac, and MacBook Pro.
If resetting PRAM or NVRAM does not fix the issue, reset SMC.
A System Management Controller, or SMC, is a chip on the motherboards of Intel-based Macs that stores essential information to control hardware components, such as the fan, built-in camera, and display backlight.
Reset SMC if you notice any hardware component-related symptoms, such as the battery not charging properly, the Mac won’t start, fans running at full speed, MacBook or MacBook Pro overheating, the built-in camera not working, issues with keyboard backlight, status lights, or display backlight, or the Mac sleeps or shuts down without warning.
The steps to reset the SMC on a Mac vary depending on the device model. The guide below explains how to reset the SMC on Intel-based Macs. Mac devices based on the Apple silicon M1 and M2 processors do not have an SMC, as the chip itself performs the SMC functions on these devices. On Macs with Apple silicon M1 and M2 processors, turning off the device and waiting for 30 seconds before restarting it gives results similar to an SMC reset. Below is the process to reset the SMC on various Mac models.
MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook models from 2018 and later have the Apple T2 Security Chip. To reset the SMC on these Mac devices, use the combination of Control, Option, Shift, and Power keys. Here is how.
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MacBook Air, MacBook, and MacBook Pro models before 2018 do not have an Apple T2 Security Chip. Moreover, whether a pre-2018 Mac has a removable or non-removable battery also impacts the SMC reset process on these devices.
On pre-2018 Macs with a non-removable battery, you can use the Shift, Control, Option, and Power button to reset the SMC. On pre-2018 Macs with a removable battery, no such key combination is required. Below is how to reset the SMC on a pre-2018 Mac with a removable battery and a non-removable battery.
Hope this resets the PRAM/NVRAM and SMC on your Mac. However, if you have any questions or confusion, you can find the answers in the frequently asked questions below.
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A PRAM reset is safe since it does not harm your Mac. However, it reverts your device to its factory settings, deleting any customization you made to your device’s system settings.
It is safe to reset the SMC. However, check the battery system preferences after the reset to ensure your customizations are in place.
Reset PRAM or NVRAM on your Mac only when a problem occurs.
No, a PRAM reset does not fix battery and fan problems; an SMC reset fixes them.
A PRAM or NVRAM reset on a Mac reverts the device’s system settings to the factory default, deleting your customizations.
Resetting the SMC on a Mac clears out temporary data associated with low-level hardware functions and reverts these settings to factory defaults.
If resetting PRAM does not solve your problem, reset the SMC and, if you are running the latest macOS and an older Mac, ensure they are compatible.
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