3 Ways to Force Restart Your Mac

I'm truly sorry to hear that you're currently experiencing issues with a frozen Mac.

You might have encountered a situation where all programs become unresponsive, the cursor transforms into a steady arrow, and your system starts overheating. Additionally, your Mac might not shut down at all. Fortunately, we have solutions for you. Let's guide you through the most effective methods to force shut down your Mac and get it functioning normally again.

Before We Force Shut Down Mac

If you encounter unresponsiveness while operating your Mac, attempt a normal shutdown first. We advise using force shutdown as a last resort, as it can result in the loss of unsaved work and potentially cause unexpected data corruption. For instance, if an error occurs during a system update and you forcefully shut down the Mac, it might leave the device with only a partially installed operating system.

However, if you've attempted every possible method to turn off or restart your Mac and none have worked, a forced shutdown might be the only option. We'll guide you through different ways to force shut down your Mac. Before proceeding, it's advisable to take the following steps to minimize the risk of data loss: 1. **Save Your Work**: Ensure that all your open applications and files are saved. If possible, quickly save any unsaved changes. 2. **Close Applications**: Try closing apps manually by selecting "Force Quit" from the Apple menu () > Force Quit, or by pressing Command + Option + Esc. 3. **Disconnect External Devices**: Unplug any external hard drives, USB devices, or peripherals that are not essential, as they might cause issues during the shutdown process. Now, let's explore the methods to force shut down your Mac: 1. **Physical Button (Laptops)**: - **MacBook/ MacBook Pro**: Press and hold the power button (or Touch ID button on newer models) for about 5-10 seconds until your Mac turns off. - **MacBook Air**: Press and hold the power button located on the right side of the keyboard for about 5-10 seconds. 1. **Using Keyboard Shortcuts**: - Press and hold these keys together for about 5-10 seconds: - Control + Command + Power button (or Touch ID button on newer models) - On older Macs without a power button, use Control + Command + Option + Power button. 1. **Through Recovery Mode**: - If your Mac doesn't respond even after force shutdown attempts, restart and immediately press and hold the Command + R keys while the Mac starts up. This will boot your Mac into Recovery Mode. From there, you can choose to shut down or restart your Mac. Remember, force shutting down your Mac should be a last resort, as it can potentially lead to data corruption or other issues. Always try less intrusive methods first, and if your Mac frequently requires forced shutdowns, consider taking it to an authorized service center for a diagnostic check.

Step 1. Save all open files

Typically, a Mac may freeze when running resource-intensive applications, especially those with large file sizes in gigabytes. In these scenarios, it's crucial to avoid losing any unsaved data. Therefore, before proceeding with a forced shutdown, attempt to save your files. To do this, press Cmd + S or navigate to File > Save.

Step 2. Safely eject external drives

Once you initiate a force shutdown on your Mac, you won't have the opportunity to safely eject any external devices. In either scenario, improperly ejecting external drives can result in irreversible damage to your files.

To safely and quickly remove your external devices, open the Desktop, and then drag the external drive icon to the Trash icon in the Dock. If available, you can also use the Finder, locate your external drive, and click the Eject button next to it.

Step 3. Close Running Apps

Occasionally, a Mac freeze occurs due to malfunctioning applications that won't quit. In such cases, you might need to manually close all running apps to allow the system to shut down properly. To terminate an app, press the Command + Q keys. Alternatively, you can select the app from the menu bar and choose Quit (App). If your cursor isn't responsive, use Cmd + Tab to switch between active apps.

Additionally, if an app is still not quitting, press Option + Command + Esc, then select the app and choose Force Quit.

If you've taken all the precautions, try to shut down your Mac normally. If it still can't do anything to your system, you should proceed to the next section to force a shutdown on your Mac.

How to Force Shutdown Mac? [3 Methods]

If your Mac isn't responding to your commands and is completely frozen, you'll need to perform a forced shutdown. In this guide, we'll show you how to force shut down your Mac or restart it forcefully. There are three methods to achieve this, and let's briefly discuss each of them.

• Method 1. Hold the power button
• Method 2. Use a keyboard shortcut
• Method 3. Drain the battery

Method 1: Hold the Power Button

Regardless of which MacBook model you have, every Mac features a Power button located in the top-right corner of the keyboard. While the position of this button remains consistent across models, it may not always display the power symbol on each one.

Moreover, you'll locate the Power button on the far-right end of the touch bar and at the bottom left corner behind the iMac screen.

To forcefully shut down your Mac, press and hold the Power button for 10 to 12 seconds. When the screen turns black, release the button for at least 5 to 10 seconds to allow the processor to cool down. After that, press the power key once more for 10 seconds to restart the system.

Method 2: Use a keyboard shortcut

You can use two keyboard shortcuts to power off your Mac. The first method will prompt the system to close all running applications and shut down safely, whereas the other will force an immediate shutdown. Here are the shortcuts: 1. Safe Shutdown: Press and hold the keys `Control`, `Command`, and `Power` (or `Eject`) simultaneously. This will initiate a safe shutdown process, giving apps a chance to save any open data before turning off. 2. Forced Shutdown: If your Mac is unresponsive, you can use the `Command`, `Option`, `Control`, and `Power` (or `Eject`) keys together to force it to shut down instantly. Please note that this should be used as a last resort, as it doesn't allow for a proper closure of apps, which might result in data loss or other issues.

1) Use the following keyboard shortcut to shut down your Mac normally:

Press the Control + Option + Command + Power buttons. This will safely close all running applications and shut down your Mac without causing any data loss.

2) If it fails to close the running programs, you'll need to try another shortcut to force the system to shut down.

Press Control + Command + Power.

Method 3: Drain the Battery

There are some rare cases where none of the above methods work. If you find yourself in this situation, the following approach will surely help you force shut down your Mac.

The draining process will be significantly faster if you have an older MacBook model. Simply remove the power supply and disconnect the battery from the bottom of the device. However, newer Mac models, such as the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, have integrated batteries that cannot be detached. In this case, unplug the power supply and let the battery run down until it dies. This may take around 10 to 15 hours, depending on the battery's condition and the remaining charge.

Eventually, the system will shut down automatically when the battery is completely drained. After that, plug it in and let it charge for a few minutes. Then, press the Power button for 10 to 12 seconds to turn it back on.

For an iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, or other desktop Mac models, disconnect the power cable. Allow your Mac to rest and cool down for a few minutes, then reconnect the power supply to power it back on.

Final Words

We hope this article will assist you in resolving numerous issues. After forcefully shutting down your Mac, you must boot it up normally. Upon restarting, verify if all applications are functioning smoothly, and you can perform your desired tasks. If you encounter errors while using any program, or the system or app fails to launch again, it's advisable to update the software and applications. These issues might also stem from malfunctioning external storage devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does it take for a Mac to turn on from being completely shut down?

If your battery is completely drained, your Mac might require a few minutes to power back on. Hence, it's advisable to wait for at least 5 minutes until it charges to its minimum level.

2. How do you know if a dead Mac is charging?

Insert your USB-C power adapter into a power outlet and charge your Mac. If the MagSafe connector shows a green or orange light, it indicates that your charger and MacBook's SMC are functioning properly.

3. How do I fix a Mac that's stuck during shutdown?

If you encounter any issues while shutting down your Mac, press Ctrl + Opt + Cmd, and then hold the Power button. This will initiate the process of closing all running applications. Before the shutdown completes, the system will display a notification prompting you to save any unsaved documents.