What is NVRAM, and how do I reset it on my Mac?

NVRAM helps secure data even when the power is off. All computer hardware uses it to ensure settings remain the same between boots. That's why it's also widely used in Mac devices.

The NVRAM chip on the logic board of a Mac computer.

It keeps track of the time, allows Mac users to retain settings, and ensures fast startup. It's also one of the components that makes for a fast boot-up time. However, there are several benefits to resetting your NVRAM, one of which is a speedier computer.

So, how do you reset the NVRAM on a Mac? To understand this, we need to delve deeper into the subject and learn what it's all about. We also need to understand how it works on a Mac device. Let's get started.

What is NVRAM?

Non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) is a type of non-volatile memory that can be accessed randomly. It is used as a storage device in various electronic devices, such as computers and smartphones. NVRAM differs from other types of RAM.

That's because they are non-volatile, meaning they do not require power to maintain the data stored in them. They retain data even when the power is off. This makes NVRAM ideal for use in devices like laptops and smartphones.

That is, any device powered by a battery, or any device with limited power, where it differs from DRAM (dynamic random-access memory), which requires a constant power supply to retain its contents.

NVRAM relies on being able to retain information with or without power. Early forms of NVRAM were known as core memory, which used small magnetic cores to store data. However, advances in semiconductor manufacturing during the 1970s led to the development of solid-state memory chips.

These are the NVRAM and TLC types that we typically see in today's SSDs, such as M.2 NVMe or SATA III SSD drives. There are also commercial alternatives to NVRAM, including:

• Ferroelectric Random Access Memory, or FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM)
• Magnetic Random Access Memory, or MRAM (Magnetoresistive RAM)
• Phase-Change Random Access Memory, or PRAM (Phase-Change RAM)

What sets NVRAM apart from other kinds of memory is its boot time, which can be much faster, because it doesn't require a power supply to retain information.

But because the type of semiconductor non-volatile memory used currently has limited storage capacity and power draw, it makes sense to clear them out. That's one reason many people recommend resetting the NVRAM on a Mac: it can cause latency and performance issues.

How do you reset the NVRAM on a Mac?

Resetting the NVRAM can bring a lot of benefits. As mentioned, it can improve overall system performance, especially when the cache is full. Thus, resetting the NVRAM/PRAM is not only safe but also crucial for your device's performance.

But before we get into how to reset NVRAM on a Mac, let's explore why you'd want to, for instance:

• If your Mac won't start up
• If your device isn't detected by
• Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
• The time is incorrect unless you set it manually
• There are issues with the hard drive or display

Therefore, to reap these benefits, here's how to reset NVRAM on a Mac:

Step 1: Shut down your MacBook

Step 2: Press the Power button to turn on your Mac computer.

Step 3: Hold down the X, Option, P, and R keys and wait for your Mac to restart.

Step 4: Older Macs will chime, while newer ones will display the Apple logo and then fade to black.

This will clear your NVRAM or PRAM, depending on your device. If that doesn't work, you can also do this from the Terminal with the following command:

Step 1: Close all applications

Step 2: Launch Terminal by opening Finder > Applications > Utilities, and then clicking on Terminal.

This is an image of the macOS Terminal utility.

Step 3: Type sudo nvram -c, then press Return.

Step 4: If prompted, enter your administrator password and press Return again.

Step 5: Restart your computer

Now, keep in mind that the Mac's Terminal is similar to the Command Prompt on Windows. So, it gives you full control over your device and computer. So, you should know your way around it before trying the second method.

However, once you execute the above command, your NVRM cache will be cleared. Therefore, if you were experiencing any storage issues or anything related, they should be fixed now. Or, if you were having issues on boot, this command should fix it as well.

How do I view the current contents of NVRAM on a Mac?

Viewing the contents of NVRAM is particularly simple on a Mac. If you're familiar with how a Mac works, then you'll know how to do this. However, for new users, it can be difficult to find. So, we're going to explore a way to help you view all of your Mac's NVRAM contents.

However, you have to be comfortable with the Mac Terminal to do this. Here's how:

1. Open the Terminal through Utilities.

2. Enter nvram -xp

3. Accomplished

Notice that it's important to append the -xp option to the NVRAM command, as this ensures that the output is displayed in XML format. If you fail to include the correct flag and instead use the default -p flag, you'll likely see indecipherable text:

As such, you must ensure that you use the correct command to retrieve readable data. You can then examine the contents of the NVRAM.

CONCLUSION

In this article, we define what NVRAM is and the benefits of resetting it. We also explore two methods to reset NVRAM and learn one way to view its contents. So, follow the steps outlined in this article to address any NVRAM-related issues or simply to check what elements your Mac might be storing in it.