How to Reset SMC MacBook Pro? Fix Battery, Fan, and Power Issues
Your fan sounds like a jet engine. Your battery refuses to charge. Your MacBook Pro runs hot for no reason at all. These are all signs of one common problem. And most of the time, uncovering a time-saving software egg like a quick SMC reset fixes all of them.
In this article, you will find out how to reset the SMC on your MacBook Pro. No tech skills needed. Just follow the steps that match your model, and you will be done in under five minutes.
What Is SMC on a MacBook Pro?
SMC stands for System Management Controller. It is a small chip inside your MacBook Pro that handles all the hardware tasks running silently in the background. Think of it as the quiet manager keeping your laptop alive and running smoothly.
The SMC is responsible for things like:
- Battery charging and power delivery
- Fan speed and cooling
- Sleep and wake behavior
- Keyboard backlight
- Screen brightness controls
- USB port power output
- Charger indicator lights
When the SMC gets corrupted or confused, your Mac starts acting strange. A reset clears that confusion and brings everything back to normal. It is one of the most effective troubleshooting steps Apple recommends.
Important Note: The SMC only exists in Intel-based MacBook Pros. If your MacBook Pro has an M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip, jump to the Apple Silicon section below. The process for your model is completely different.
Signs You Need to Reset SMC on Your MacBook Pro
An SMC reset will not fix every Mac problem. But it is the right fix when you notice these specific symptoms:
- The battery does not charge even when the charger is plugged in
- The battery percentage shows the wrong number
- The fans run at full speed constantly, even when the Mac is idle
- The Mac runs very hot without any heavy apps open
- The Mac will not turn on, or it shuts down without warning
- The keyboard backlight is not working
- You cannot adjust the screen brightness
- The MagSafe or USB-C charger light does not turn on when plugged in
- External displays or USB devices suddenly stop working
- The Mac will not go to sleep, or it wakes up on its own
While PC users might check the windows reliability monitor to diagnose system crashes, for Apple users, an SMC reset is the right place to start. But before you press a single key, you need to know which MacBook Pro you have. Using the wrong steps for your model will not help at all.
First: Find Out Which MacBook Pro You Have
This step is critical and most guides skip over it. Here is the fastest way to check your model:
- Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Click About This Mac.
- Look at the chip or processor listed on that screen.
Here is what each result means for you:
- Apple M1, M2, M3, or M4: You have an Apple Silicon Mac. Go to the Apple Silicon section below for your specific instructions.
- Intel Core (MacBook Pro from 2018, 2019, or 2020): You have a T2 chip Mac. Use Method 1.
- Intel Core (MacBook Pro from 2017 or earlier): You have an older Intel Mac. Use Method 2.
Method 1: Reset SMC MacBook Pro with T2 Chip (2018 to 2020 Intel Models)
The following MacBook Pro models include the Apple T2 Security Chip:
- MacBook Pro 13-inch (2018, 2019, 2020 with four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
- MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018, 2019)
- MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019)
Follow these steps in order:
- Click the Apple menu and select Shut Down. Wait until your Mac is fully off. The screen should be completely dark and no sounds should be coming from it.
- Press and hold the right Shift key, the left Option key, and the left Control key all at the same time. Hold them for 7 seconds. Do not press the Power button yet.
- While still holding those three keys, also press and hold the Power button. Keep holding all four keys together for another 7 seconds.
- Release all four keys at the same time.
- Wait about 10 seconds.
- Press the Power button once to turn your Mac back on.
Your Mac may take a little longer to boot up than usual. That is completely normal. It is simply loading fresh hardware settings after the reset.
Quick Tip: On the 2020 MacBook Pro (13-inch), the Touch ID button is also the Power button. Just press it the same way you would press any regular Power button during this process.
Method 2: Reset SMC on Older MacBook Pro Models (2017 and Earlier Intel)
If your MacBook Pro is from 2017 or earlier and has a battery that you cannot remove yourself, use these steps:
- Click the Apple menu and select Shut Down. Let the Mac fully power off before moving on.
- On your Mac’s own keyboard, press and hold all four of these keys at the same time: Left Shift, Left Control, Left Option (Alt), and the Power button.
- Hold all four keys together for 10 seconds.
- Release all keys at once.
- Wait a few seconds.
- Press the Power button to turn your Mac back on.
One thing many people get wrong: you must use the keys on the left side of the keyboard. Using the right-side keys will not reset the SMC. It will just turn your Mac on like normal.
Have a MacBook Pro with M1, M2, M3, or M4? Read This First
Here is something that surprises a lot of people: Apple Silicon MacBook Pros do not have an SMC chip at all.
When Apple switched from Intel to its own chips starting in late 2020, it moved all those power and hardware management functions directly into the processor itself. There is no separate chip to reset, and there is no keyboard shortcut that does what an SMC reset used to do.
However, you can still fix most of the same problems by doing a full, complete shutdown:
- Click the Apple menu and select Shut Down.
- Wait a full 30 seconds after the screen goes completely dark. This part matters. Do not rush it.
- Press the Power button to turn your Mac back on.
This gives the processor time to fully clear its power management state, which produces a similar effect to an SMC reset on older Macs. Many Apple Silicon MacBook Pro users report this solves battery, fan noise, and performance issues.
If that does not help, the next step is to run Apple Diagnostics or contact Apple Support. On M-chip Macs, software-level fixes or hardware inspections are the correct path forward.
Will an SMC Reset Delete My Files or Settings?
No. An SMC reset is completely safe for everything stored on your Mac.
It only resets the hardware controller. Your files, photos, apps, passwords, and personal settings are stored in a completely separate place. None of that is affected during an SMC reset.
You do not need to back up your data before doing this. That said, keeping regular backups using Time Machine is always a smart habit.
How to Tell If the SMC Reset Worked
Once your Mac restarts, check the specific problem you were dealing with:
- Battery not charging: Plug in your charger. The charging symbol should appear within a minute or two.
- Fan running too loud: Let your Mac sit idle for a few minutes. The fan should calm down significantly.
- Overheating: The bottom of your Mac should feel cooler after a short period of normal use.
- Charger light not working: Check if the MagSafe or USB-C charger indicator turns on when plugged in.
- Display or backlight issues: Try adjusting brightness with the keyboard. The controls should respond normally.
If the problem is gone, you are all set. If it comes back after a few days, there may be a more serious hardware issue worth getting professionally inspected by Apple.
SMC Reset Did Not Work? Try These Next Steps
If resetting the SMC did not solve your problem, here are the next things to try in order:
- Reset NVRAM (Intel Macs only): This stores settings like screen resolution, time zone, and startup disk. Restart your Mac and immediately hold Option + Command + P + R for about 20 seconds, then let go.
- Boot into Safe Mode: This checks whether a third-party app or driver is causing the issue. On Intel Macs, restart and hold Shift. On Apple Silicon Macs, hold the Power button at startup, choose your startup disk, then hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.
- Run Apple Diagnostics: This scans your hardware for faults. On Intel Macs, restart and hold D. On Apple Silicon Macs, hold the Power button and select Diagnostics when the startup options appear.
- Update macOS: Many power and hardware bugs get fixed through software updates. Go to System Settings, then General, then Software Update.
- Contact Apple Support: If nothing else works, your Mac may need a physical repair. You can reach Apple Support online or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to reset the SMC on a MacBook Pro?
Yes, completely safe. An SMC reset only affects the hardware controller chip. Your files, apps, photos, and personal settings are stored separately and are not touched in any way.
How often should I reset the SMC?
Only when you are experiencing specific hardware problems like battery issues, overheating, or unusual fan behavior. It should not be done as a routine maintenance task. Most MacBook Pro users only ever need to do it once or twice over the entire life of their laptop.
What is the difference between an SMC reset and an NVRAM reset?
An SMC reset fixes hardware-level issues such as battery, fans, and power delivery. An NVRAM reset fixes settings-related issues like screen resolution, speaker volume, and startup disk selection. They are two separate fixes for two different types of problems.
Can an SMC reset fix a slow MacBook Pro?
Sometimes, yes. If your Mac is slow because the processor is being throttled due to incorrect temperature readings, an SMC reset can help. But if the slowness comes from too many apps running, low storage space, or outdated software, you will need different fixes for those.
My MacBook Pro will not turn on at all. Can an SMC reset still help?
It is worth trying. Start by holding the Power button for 10 seconds to force a hardware restart. If that does not work, follow the full SMC reset steps for your model. If the Mac still will not start after that, the problem is likely a hardware issue that needs Apple Support.
Can a bad battery cause SMC problems?
Yes, it can. A degraded or failing battery sometimes causes the SMC to behave incorrectly. If your battery health is below 80 percent, an SMC reset may only give you a temporary fix. A battery replacement may be the permanent solution you need.
Do I need to plug in my charger before resetting the SMC?
For T2 chip MacBook Pros (2018 to 2020), you do not need to have the charger plugged in. For older Intel models (2017 and earlier), Apple recommends keeping the charger plugged in during the process. Just make sure the Mac is fully shut down before starting either way.
