What is a soft reset on a Mac?
A soft reset is a way to restart your Mac without completely powering it down. It’s also sometimes called a “warm restart.”
During a soft reset, the operating system logs out of all open applications and restarts, but it doesn’t clear the computer’s memory. This makes it faster than shutting down and turning your Mac back on.
A soft reset is done through keyboard shortcuts, without shutting off the power. This reloads the operating system and troubleshoots many minor issues, without you losing any work.
It’s a good first troubleshooting step if your Mac is running slow, apps are frozen, or other small problems are occurring. A soft reset often resolves these types of issues quickly and easily.
Soft resets are preferable to hard resets on Macs, as they are faster and less disruptive. However, for more serious issues, a hard reset which fully powers down the Mac may be required.
When should you soft reset a Mac?
The most common reason to perform a soft reset on a Mac laptop is when the computer becomes unresponsive or frozen. This can manifest in several ways, including the screen freezing, applications not responding, being unable to shut down or restart, or other general lack of responsiveness.
According to Small Business Chron, a soft reset can help troubleshoot when a Mac is experiencing a temporary software glitch or other minor issue preventing normal operation. It essentially reboots the Mac without fully powering down.
A soft reset is recommended as a first step for troubleshooting an unresponsive Mac before trying more advanced solutions like a hard reset. It is a simple process that often fixes minor system hiccups. Plus, it does not affect or delete any user data.
So in summary, if your Mac is frozen on a screen, app, or function and you’ve tried basic troubleshooting to no avail, a soft reset is the next logical step before resorting to a hard reset or system restore.
How to soft reset Mac laptops with an Intel chip
To soft reset a Mac laptop with an Intel chip, first shut down your Mac. Then press and hold the power button for 10 seconds. This will turn off the power and reset the SMC (System Management Controller). Releasing the power button after 10 seconds and then pressing it again will boot up your Mac as normal [1].
This soft reset often resolves minor issues like a trackpad not responding, external displays not being detected, or other small glitches. It does not delete any data. The SMC controls low-level functions like power management, battery charging, and sensor readings. Resetting it essentially clears any stuck processes and restarts those systems.
If you continue to have issues after a soft reset, try shutting down and starting up your Mac again normally. You can also try more advanced troubleshooting like an SMC reset, NVRAM reset, safe mode, or reinstalling macOS. But a simple 10 second soft reset is a good first step for basic troubleshooting.
How to soft reset Mac laptops with an M1/M2 chip
Mac laptops with M1 or M2 chips require a slightly different process to soft reset compared to Intel-based Macs. According to Apple Support discussions (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252114787), here are the steps to soft reset an M1/M2 Mac laptop:
1. Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen and select Shut Down to turn off the Mac.
2. After the Mac is off, close the lid and leave it closed for at least 30 seconds.
3. Open the lid, turn on the Mac by pressing the power button, and let it boot up normally.
This process will reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on M1/M2 Macs, similar to how holding the power button on an Intel Mac would reset the SMC. The SMC controls functions like battery management, sleep/wake, fans, and more. Resetting it can often resolve problems like a Mac not turning on, sleep issues, battery issues, and other glitches.
How to soft reset Mac laptops pre-2018
For Mac laptops released before 2018, the steps to soft reset are slightly different. On these older Mac laptops, you need to press the Control-Command-Power button combination instead of just the power button.
Specifically, to soft reset a pre-2018 Mac laptop:
- Shut down your Mac if it is turned on.
- Press and hold the Control, Command, and Power buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds, then release.
- After a few moments, your Mac will power back on.
This Control-Command-Power button combination accomplishes the same soft reset as just pressing the power button on newer Macs. Pressing these keys together restarts your Mac and clears any minor software glitches or frozen apps.
For reference, see the Apple support article at: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295
What to do after soft resetting a Mac
After performing a soft reset on your Mac laptop, the next step is to test if the original issue you were experiencing has been resolved. Try using the laptop normally by opening apps, browsing the web, and accessing files. If the soft reset was successful, your Mac should now be functioning properly without the previous problems.
If you find the soft reset did not resolve the issues, the next steps would be to backup your important data, and then contact Apple support. Before resetting your Mac, ensuring your files, photos, and other data are backed up elsewhere is highly recommended. That way if further troubleshooting steps do not work, you have a backup available.
Apple’s support team can help troubleshoot further and identify if your Mac requires service or repairs. It’s a good idea to contact them if you are still experiencing technical issues or crashes after trying a soft reset. Be ready to provide details on when the problem started, what steps you’ve tried, and what error messages or symptoms you are seeing.
Though soft resets often fix minor software glitches, some problems may require more involved repairs. Apple support can run diagnostics, suggest advanced troubleshooting tips, or set up a repair so you can get your Mac working properly again.
Differences between soft reset and hard reset
The main difference between a soft reset and a hard reset on a Mac laptop is what happens to your data and settings.
A soft reset simply reboots your Mac laptop without erasing any data or changing settings. It’s like pressing the restart button on your computer. A soft reset will restart your Mac and reload the operating system, which can help resolve minor system errors or freezes. Your files, apps, and settings remain intact after a soft reset [1].
A hard reset, on the other hand, erases all data, settings, and apps from your Mac laptop and restores it to factory default settings. It essentially wipes your MacBook clean and resets it to the state it was in when you first took it out of the box. All of your files, software, preferences, and customizations will be deleted. You should only perform a hard reset if you plan to sell, recycle or give away your MacBook. Otherwise, you risk permanently losing all of your data [2].
In summary, a soft reset restarts your Mac while preserving your data, while a hard reset erases everything and restores factory settings. Unless you want to fully wipe your MacBook, a soft reset is usually the safer option when troubleshooting system issues.
Risks and downsides of soft resetting
While soft resetting a Mac is generally considered safe, there are some potential risks and downsides to be aware of:
Data loss is possible if the reset is performed during a system update. Resetting during an update can corrupt system files and result in data loss. It’s critical to avoid resetting when updates are in progress (Source).
Soft resetting provides only a temporary fix for issues. It can resolve problems caused by corrupted settings and caches, but does not fix underlying hardware or software problems. The issues may return after some time. Soft resetting is not a permanent solution (Source).
Frequent soft resetting can potentially reduce the lifespan of the storage drive due to unnecessary wear. Resetting too often is not recommended, only when troubleshooting specific issues (Source).
There is a slight risk of data loss or a non-functioning computer if the reset is interrupted. However, this risk is extremely low in most cases (Source).
Overall, soft resetting is considered safe if done properly and not excessively. But it’s wise to be cautious and have backups before resetting.
When to avoid soft resetting a Mac
There are certain situations when you should avoid performing a soft reset on your Mac laptop.
The most important time to avoid a soft reset is during a software update or installation. If you reset your Mac mid-update, it could corrupt the OS files and leave your computer unable to boot properly. It’s best to let the update complete before resetting.
You should also avoid resetting if your Mac is performing Time Machine backups or syncing important data to iCloud or other services. A reset could interrupt the process and cause data loss.
Finally, avoid resetting if you have unsaved work open. Make sure to save and close any open documents beforehand so you don’t lose your changes.
In general, unless your Mac is completely frozen, it’s best to properly shut down or restart your computer normally. Reserve soft resets for when those options aren’t available.
Other basic troubleshooting tips
Some other basic steps to try when troubleshooting general issues on a Mac laptop include:
- Update software – Make sure your Mac is running the latest version of macOS and that all apps are updated. Older versions can have bugs that lead to problems.
- Check connections – If you’re having issues with things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or external displays, try unplugging and reconnecting those cables/adapters.
- Restart router – For network issues, restart your router and modem to refresh the connections.
- Close apps – Quit out of any apps that are acting sluggish or frozen. Force quit them if needed.
Following general troubleshooting best practices like updating software, verifying connections, freeing up memory, and turning devices off and on again can resolve many minor Mac issues. Always start with the basics before moving on to more advanced troubleshooting steps.