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

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Is your Mac refusing to restart? It might be annoying when your Mac won't restart correctly, especially if you use it for business or personal purposes. Whether your Mac is stuck on a black screen, simply won't reboot, or fails to function correctly after attempting to restart, this guide will walk you through various fixes to solve 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.

1. Software-related Problems

Many Mac restart issues are linked to software bugs. This could be due to unresponsive or misbehaving apps, background processes that won't close, or a corrupted macOS installation.

• Unresponsive Apps or Processes: Some apps or system processes may freeze, making it difficult for your Mac to shut down or restart properly.
• Corrupted macOS Files: Sometimes, an incomplete macOS update or corruption in system files can cause restart failures.
• Third-party Software Conflicts: Programs such as antivirus software, VPNs, or system utilities may conflict with macOS's restart functions.

2. Peripheral and Hardware Issues

External devices or internal hardware malfunctions can also prevent your Mac from restarting.

• External Devices: A peripheral like a USB drive, printer, or external hard disk may cause restart issues if it's faulty or incompatible with macOS.
• Faulty Power Button or Other Hardware: In rare cases, hardware problems such as a malfunctioning power button or internal component can stop your Mac from restarting.
• Battery or Power Supply Problems: If your Mac's power supply is unstable, it may fail to restart properly.

3. Configuration or Settings Issues

Certain system settings, such as NVRAM or PRAM, control aspects of your Mac's restart behavior. If these settings are corrupted, they can cause restart failures.

• NVRAM/PRAM: These settings store things like volume, screen resolution, and startup disk information. Corruption in these settings can affect the restart process.
• Corrupted System Preferences: Specific system preferences, like energy-saving settings or startup disk configurations, may cause restart issues if they become corrupted.

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.

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 as it completely shuts down the system and bypasses any frozen applications or processes.

Steps for Force Restarting:

• For MacBook (without a removable battery): To switch off the Mac, hold down the Power button for a minimum of 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, 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 should only be used if your Mac is frozen and won't respond to normal commands. It can help resolve temporary glitches in most cases.

2. Check for External Devices

Sometimes, external devices connected to your Mac may interfere with the restart process. This is especially true for USB devices, external hard drives, printers, or other peripherals that might be incompatible with macOS or malfunctioning.

Steps to Diagnose External Device Issues:

• 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.

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.

Steps to Close Unresponsive Apps:

• 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 all unresponsive apps have been closed, try restarting your Mac again from the Apple Menu > Restart.

This can resolve the issue if a specific app or process is causing the problem.

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.

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.

Steps to Reset NVRAM/PRAM:

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.

2. Reset SMC

On your Mac, 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.

Steps to Reset SMC:

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.

Resetting the SMC can resolve hardware-related issues affecting restart functionality.

3. Check macOS Updates

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

Steps to Check for Updates:

• 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 the issue is resolved.

Updates often contain bug fixes that address system instability, including restart problems.

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.

1. 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.

Steps to Boot in Safe Mode:

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, then boot into macOS Recovery mode, select the startup disk and press Option 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.

2. 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.

Steps to Run First Aid:

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.

3. 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.

Steps to Reinstall macOS:

1. Restart your Mac and immediately press Power button (for Apple silicon Mac) 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, but it's always a good idea to back up your files using Time Machine or another backup solution before proceeding.

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.

1. Diagnose Hardware Issues

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

Steps to Run Apple Diagnostics:

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.

2. Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider

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

When visiting a technician, be sure to provide as much detail as possible, such as when the restart issue started, any recent software updates, or changes to the system. This can help the technician diagnose and fix the issue more efficiently.

Conclusion

A Mac that won't restart can be a frustrating issue, but with a systematic approach, you can usually resolve the problem without too much trouble. Whether it's as simple as unplugging an external device or as involved as reinstalling macOS, the solutions covered in this article should help you fix the restart issue and get your Mac back to functioning smoothly.

Remember, regular system maintenance, updating macOS, and ensuring that your peripherals are compatible with your Mac can help prevent restart issues in the future. If your Mac continues to experience problems even after trying these troubleshooting steps, don't hesitate to reach out to Apple Support or visit a service provider for further assistance.