Is your MacBook or MacBook Air having issues? Is it frozen and unresponsive? A forced reboot can get your frozen MacBook working again in seconds. However, if you can't use your cursor to shut down your device normally, you'll need another way to do it. In this case, performing a hard reset is a good idea to make sure your Mac returns to its normal state.

If you're worried about losing data, don't! A hard reset or forced restart only reboots the device and doesn't erase any content or data. This article will discuss how to restart your MacBook Air using different methods.

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**Troubleshooting Steps** 1. **Method 1: Restart with a Click** - The easiest way to restart your device is by using the mouse to access certain functions...[**Full Steps**](#Method_1) 2. **Method 2: Restart with the Keyboard** - You can also restart your device using your keyboard. Follow these steps...[**Full Steps**](#Method_2) 3. **Method 3: Restart via Terminal** - If you have an administrator account, you can restart the system through the command line...[**Full Steps**](#Method_3) 4. **Method 4: Factory Reset** - To reset your MacBook Air to its original settings, you can use the Erase All Content and Settings feature...[**Full Steps**](#Method_4)

How do I force restart my MacBook Air?

Want to know how to restart your MacBook Air? You can force a restart using different methods. It's usually safe, and you shouldn't lose any data. However, if you're worried about losing data, back up your Mac first.

Before attempting any of these methods, make sure to back up your important files, photos, videos, and so on.

Method 1: Restarting with Just the Click of a Button

The simplest way to restart your device is by using your mouse to click on some options. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Click the Apple logo.

Step 2. Click Restart from the drop-down menu.

Restart your Mac

Step 3: If a dialog appears, select Restart one more time. After a few seconds, your Mac will turn off.

Step 4: After a moment, you should see the Apple logo appear. This means that your device is starting up.

Method 2: Restarting with Just the Keyboard

You can also restart your device using the keyboard. Follow these steps:

Step one: Hold down the "Power" button, along with the "Command" and "Control" keys.

Step 2: Hold the buttons down until the screen goes black and your device restarts. When it's finished restarting, log in.

Tip:
If a force restart doesn't work, try entering diagnostics mode to check if the issue is hardware-related. If it's not a hardware problem, you'll need to contact Apple Support.

Method 3: Restarting from the Terminal

Do you have an administrator account on the Mac? If so, you can restart the system from the command line. To do this, follow these steps to open the Terminal on your Mac:

1. Open the Terminal app. It's in the “Applications” folder, inside the “Utilities” folder.

Open Utilities on Mac

Step Two: Find the Terminal application and open it. Type shutdown -r and press Enter.

Open the Terminal app

Step 3: Press Enter. Type your password, then press Enter again. Your device will restart immediately.

Method 4: How to Factory Reset a MacBook Air

To restore your MacBook Air to its factory settings, you can use the "Erase All Content and Settings" feature. This allows you to easily clear out the data on the system, helping to bring the device back to the state it was in when you first received it.

Look at these steps –

Step 1: Click the Apple menu, choose “System Preferences,” then “General,” and then “Transfer or Reset.”

Step 2: Tap Erase All Content and Settings, enter your administrator credentials, and tap OK.

Erase All Content and Settings

Step 3: The utility will prompt you to use a Time Machine backup to back up your data; click "Continue" if you don't want to create a backup.

Erase All Content and Settings from this Mac

Step 4. Confirm that you want to delete everything, then tap “Erase Now.” Your device will restart and show a progress bar or black screen. You can tap “Reboot” to complete the process.

Note: These steps are for macOS Ventura. Keep in mind that the steps may differ for other models.

How to Retrieve Lost Data When Your Mac Is Stuck

Sometimes, a glitch in the MacBook Air can lead to the black screen issue, forcing users to restart the system. Can you imagine the sudden panic and anxiety when your MacBook freezes out of the blue? We know exactly what's going on in your head at that moment.

First and foremost, the loss of precious data is enough to send one into a panic and chaos. The only solution here would be to opt for a professional data recovery tool. For this, you can choose Tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover deleted files from Mac trash.

    • This utility is designed to help users recover data from various loss scenarios, such as filesystem corruption, accidental file deletion, crashes, virus attacks, hardware damage, and more!
    • What's unique about the data recovery software is that it's user-friendly enough for beginners to use efficiently. Its intuitive interface makes it seamless for both novices and experts.
    • It aids in the recovery of different types of data. For instance, you can retrieve photos, emails, documents, videos, and more.
    • You can also perform recovery on a wide range of Mac-based devices, including USB drives, cameras, memory cards, HDDs, SSDs, fusion drives, and so on.
    • The software allows users to send recovered data to various cloud storage options, such as OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, another hard drive, and more.

So, don't wait! Rescue your data now with the 3 easy steps of iTools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac!

Step 1: Select the drive to scan

In the main window of the tool Data Recovery Wizard, you will see the list of drives connected to your Mac. Select the drive from which you need to recover lost/deleted files and click on the “Search for lost files” button.

Note: It is recommended to click “Disk Backup” from the left sidebar and create a backup of your Mac before data recovery, to prevent further data loss. After the backup, the software can recover data from the Mac backup, and your computer can write new data again.

Select a location and scan for lost Mac data

Step 2: Choose the data/files you lost

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will immediately scan the disk volume you select and display the scan results in the left pane. If you're looking for specific files, you can sort the results to locate the file you need.

Select the data/files you lost

Step 3: Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once you find the files you want, preview them and then click “Recover” to start restoring your deleted or lost Mac files.

Recover Lost Mac Data

Why does my MacBook freeze frequently?

Are you wondering why your MacBook is running slow? Well, there can be many reasons behind this issue. If the NVRAM or PRAM is problematic, your device might freeze. Besides, insufficient space on the startup disk can also lead to this problem.

A MacBook freezing frequently could be due to running multiple apps simultaneously. Other causes include malware, poorly coded software, outdated drivers, and compatibility issues with your applications and system. It's essential to ensure your apps are compatible with your macOS version.

Last Words

If your MacBook is being slow or unresponsive, it's time to restart your device. You can do this in a few different ways. While it shouldn't cause you to lose any data, it's still important to proceed with caution and back up important information.

Despite all data security precautions, data loss can still occur. It's crucial to have a professional and user-friendly data recovery tool at hand. Give Tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac a try. Reliable and efficient, it can help you recover various types of data within minutes. Start using Tools Data Recovery Wizard for Mac right now!

FAQ: How to Restart a MacBook Air

Rebooting a MacBook or MacBook Air is relatively straightforward. For more information, check out the questions and answers below:

**1. How do I restart a MacBook Air using the keyboard?** To restart your MacBook Air using the keyboard, follow these steps: 1. Make sure your MacBook Air is turned on. 2. Press and hold the `Command` and `Option` keys (located at the bottom left of the keyboard) while also pressing the `Power` key (in the top right corner). 3. Hold these three keys for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo appear, indicating that your Mac is restarting. If your MacBook Air is unresponsive, you can attempt a force restart: press and hold the `Power` button for about 10 seconds until your Mac turns off. Then, press the `Power` button again to turn it back on.

You should use a keyboard shortcut to restart your MacBook Air. Press Control, Command, and the Power button at the same time.

**2. How do I restart my Mac completely?**

To completely restart your Mac, you can use the Erase Assistant to remove all of your data. After that, you can restart or reinstall a new copy of macOS.

**3. How do I restart my unresponsive MacBook Air?** If your MacBook Air is unresponsive, try the following steps to restart it: 1. Press and hold the power button (located in the top-right corner of the keyboard) for about 5 seconds until your MacBook Air turns off. 2. Wait a few seconds, and then press the power button again to turn it on. 3. If the issue persists, attempt a safe boot: While pressing the power button, also hold down the Shift key until you see the Apple logo or a spinning wheel. This will start your MacBook Air in Safe Mode, which can help identify software issues. 4. If the safe boot doesn't work, you might need to perform a forced reset of the SMC (System Management Controller) and NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory): - SMC Reset: For MacBook Air models with an Unibody design, disconnect the power adapter, then press and hold the left Shift, Control, and Option keys along with the power button for a few seconds. Release all keys, and then press the power button to turn on your device. - NVRAM/PRAM Reset: Press and hold the Command, Option, P, and R keys together, then turn on your MacBook Air. Continue holding these keys until you hear the startup sound a second time, and then release. If none of these methods resolve the issue, consider contacting Apple Support or visiting your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider for assistance.

When your MacBook Air becomes unresponsive, it's best to restart it by pressing the power button. Now, hold down the button until the system turns off. After a few seconds, press the power button again to turn on the system.

**4. How can I prevent my MacBook from slowing down in the future?**

There are several solutions you can try to prevent your MacBook from lagging in the future. First, make sure your system is up to date. Next, update your apps, repair your startup disk, try a different web browser, or scan your system for malware. You can also uninstall apps you no longer use.