If your Mac has the wrong volume at startup, a display resolution that keeps resetting, the wrong startup disk, a stuck time zone, or odd power and fan behavior, an NVRAM/PRAM or SMC reset is the classic first fix. Here is how to do it correctly on every Mac Apple still sells or trades, and—just as important—when a reset is a waste of time.
Apple silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3 and newer): there is no key combo
This is the part most guides get wrong. On Apple silicon Macs, you cannot reset NVRAM with a keyboard shortcut, and you do not need to. macOS tests and resets NVRAM automatically every time you restart. If you suspect an NVRAM issue:
- Shut the Mac down fully (Apple menu → Shut Down).
- Wait about 15 seconds.
- Power back on normally.
That full shutdown-and-restart is the entire procedure. There is also no separate SMC on Apple silicon—its functions are built into the chip and are handled the same way, by a full restart. If a plain restart does not clear it, the next step is Safe Mode, not a mythical key combo.
Intel Macs: reset NVRAM/PRAM with Option-Cmd-P-R
Intel Macs (2020 and earlier) do use the old shortcut. NVRAM and PRAM are the same memory on modern Macs—Apple just renamed PRAM to NVRAM years ago, so a “PRAM reset” and an “NVRAM reset” are identical.
- Shut the Mac down.
- Turn it on and immediately press and hold Option + Command + P + R.
- Keep holding for about 20 seconds. The Mac may appear to restart; on Macs with the startup chime you will hear it a second time.
- Release the keys and let it boot normally.
On a T2 Intel Mac (2018–2020) that shows no chime, hold the keys until the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time. Not sure whether your Mac chimes? See our short explainer on what the startup chime actually means.
What NVRAM actually stores
NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) holds a handful of small settings your Mac reads before macOS loads, which is why resetting it fixes a specific cluster of symptoms:
- Startup-disk selection — the wrong drive or OS booting.
- Display resolution — a resolution that will not stick.
- Sound volume — especially the loud volume at the startup chime.
- Time zone and recent kernel-panic info.
Because that list is short, an NVRAM reset only helps with those symptoms. It will not speed up a slow Mac, free up storage, or fix a swollen battery.
Resetting the SMC (Intel Macs only)
The System Management Controller handles power, battery, thermal (fans), sleep, and the keyboard backlight. Reset it when you see: fans running at full speed for no reason, a Mac that will not sleep or wake correctly, a battery that will not charge, or a MacBook that will not power on at all.
Intel laptops with a T2 chip (2018–2020): Shut down, then press and hold Control + Option (left) + Shift (right) for 7 seconds; keep holding and add the power button for another 7 seconds. Release all four, wait a few seconds, then power on.
Older Intel laptops (non-removable battery): Shut down, hold Shift + Control + Option (all left side) + power button for 10 seconds, release, then power on.
Intel desktops (iMac, Mac mini): Shut down, unplug the power cord for 15 seconds, plug it back in, wait 5 seconds, then power on. On Apple silicon, again, just do a full restart—there is no SMC to reset.
When a reset will not help (and what to do instead)
Resets are quick and harmless, so they are worth trying first. But if your real complaint is sluggishness, storage, or aging hardware, look elsewhere. A Mac that feels slow after an NVRAM reset almost always needs the real slow-Mac checklist (storage, login items, and RAM headroom), not another reset.
And if the machine is genuinely on its last legs—won’t hold charge, keyboard failing, screen dying—a reset just delays the decision. We buy working and broken Macs and put the credit toward a newer one: see how the broken-Mac trade-in works.
Thinking it is time to upgrade instead?
If you have reset everything and the Mac still fights you, a certified refurbished replacement is often cheaper than a repair. Our Apple clearance lineup starts with the M1 MacBook Air from $450 and the M2 Air from $549, and the Mac mini from $599—each fully tested and warrantied.
Frequently asked questions
How do I reset NVRAM on an M1, M2 or M3 Mac?
You do not use a key combo—Apple silicon resets NVRAM automatically on every restart. Just shut down fully, wait 15 seconds, and power back on.
Is a PRAM reset the same as an NVRAM reset?
Yes. Apple renamed PRAM to NVRAM years ago; on any Intel Mac the Option-Command-P-R shortcut resets the same memory.
Will resetting NVRAM delete my files?
No. It only clears a few low-level settings like startup disk, display resolution, sound volume and time zone. Your files, apps and macOS are untouched.
How many times should I try a reset?
Once is enough. If one clean NVRAM or SMC reset does not fix the symptom, repeating it will not help—move on to Safe Mode or a hardware check.