However, recently, there have been numerous instances of reports coming in where people reported that they were not able to shut down their Mac. This was a very common problem and mostly occurred with users who have been using their Macbooks for a while or have installed new software. In this article, we will go through all the reasons as to why this issue occurs and what the possible workarounds are to fix the problem.
What causes Mac not to Shut Down?
After doing our research and gathering responses from users, we concluded that the issue occurred due to several different reasons. Some of the reasons as to why your Mac device might not shut down properly are but not limited to: Before we start with the solutions, make sure that you are logged in as an administrator. Also, you should back up your data just in case. Establish a good connection to the internet as well because we will be performing lots of updates.
Solution 1: Power cycling your Computer
Before we start with any technical solutions, we will first try to power cycle your computer. In numerous instances, there are just corrupt configurations on your computer which are temporary but are causing problems. Power cycling is the act of completely shutting down your computer (whether it be Mac or Windows) and then restarting it. This removes any bad temporary data issues. After performing all the above actions, try doing some activity. Later on, try to shut down and see if the issue is resolved.
Solution 2: Killing the Process from Activity Monitor
This is probably the most common reason why users experience a computer getting stuck. If your Mac is stuck when shutting down for some reason, there is a chance that there is an application running in the background which is still performing operations. While it is still active, the macOS tries to delay the shutdown process so it can complete and save the work. However, if the application is stuck, this becomes a loop and causes numerous issues with the computer. Here in this solution, we will navigate to the activity monitor and try to kill the process manually. Or you can navigate to the Spotlight by pressing Command + Spacebar and search for Activity Monitor. If the application which you were think was the issue isn’t causing any issue, you can try troubleshooting again. Eventually, you will see a pattern and determine which one was the culprit.
Solution 3: Disconnecting third-party peripherals
Peripherals not only connect with your system, but they also consume its resources in some cases. We came across some third-party peripherals can cause conflicts with the Mac operating system. They keep the macOS busy in their processing and the computer gets into a loop causing the loss of primary system requirements. We came across numerous users who reported that disconnecting all peripherals before shutting down solved the problem for them. Here, we are referring to anything external plugged into your computer which also includes the mouse and keyboard. Furthermore, you should also make sure that there are no consoles or third-party screens attached to your computer.
Solution: 4: Updating macOS to the Latest Version
macOS releases frequent updates to all their machines time to time either to counter bugs or introduce new features. These updates are also responsible for keeping the system stable for use. Think of it a type of maintenance but where your device gets better. We found cases where users who haven’t updated their macOS to the latest versions experienced several issues including the computer not shutting down. In this solution, we will navigate to your Mac settings and make sure that the OS is updated to the latest build. After updating, you can try to force restart your computer. Try doing some activity. Later on, try to shut down and see if the issue is resolved.
Solution 5: Repairing your Disks
Disks are main devices responsible for reading and writing to your computer. They contain the instructions, subroutines, and other administrative commands as well. If your very disks are not working properly, you will experience numerous issues with your computer including the case where it lags when performing subroutines like the shutting down. Here, we will navigate to the terminal and repair your disks manually.
Solution 6: Clearing Temporary Preferences
If the above solutions don’t work, it probably means that there are some issues with your temporary preferences stored on your computer. Preferences in your computer store your choice for various options and may also contain other temporary data which the computer stores on its own. If these preferences are corrupt or incomplete, you will experience numerous problems. In this solution, we will reset them and see if this fixes everything.
Solution 7: Resetting NVRAM/PRAM
NVRAM is used by macOS to store settings and temporary data which it uses during its running. PRAM does the same thing and the operating system switches between the two when it is running. However, if these memories are not working properly and not performing their roles properly, you will experience issues in the system like it not shutting down properly. In this solution, we will reset both NVRAM and PRAM and check if this solves the problem. Note: This action will erase your choices (preferences) in some cases. In some Mac computers, you will hear a startup sound the second time (the first time will come when you just opened your Mac before pressing the keys). After the first one, when you hear the second time, immediately release all keys. In other Mac computers where there is Apple T2 Security Chip, you can release the keys after the Apple Logo appears and disappears the second time.
Solution 8: Resetting the SMC (for Intel-based machines)
In MacBooks which are running the Intel Processors, there is a System Management Control which controls all the important aspects of your MacBook including the thermal management and keyboard backlighting, etc. It also controls the subroutines used during the operation. If the SMC on your computer is in an error state, it will cause several problems including where your computer causes issues when shutting down. In this solution, we will iterate over cases where you can reset your SMC. These are for machines which do not have the latest T2 security chip. For solutions for those machines, visit the Apple website.
Resetting SMC on Mac Notebook (non-removable battery)
This solution is targeted towards newer machines in which you cannot remove the battery. Note: If you have a Touch ID, the Touch ID is also the power button.
Resetting SMC on Mac Notebooks (removable battery)
Earlier models of Mac machines had the option to remove the battery while the newer models do not. This is targeted towards older machines. Here, we will simply power cycling the machine.
Solution 9: Resetting Mac to Factory Settings
If none of the above solutions work and you are still unable to fix the computer getting stuck while shutting down, you can try resetting the computer to factory settings. This will erase all of your data and install the macOS again the way it came packaged. Make sure that you backup all your data to an external drive before proceeding. Note: Make sure that you do not interrupt the reset process. Let the process complete.
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