How to restart MacBooks in different ways (2024)

If you notice any annoying performance issues with your MacBook (such as lag, freezing, app crashes, or overheating), try restarting it before taking it to a specialist.

Read our handy guide to learn how to restart your MacBook with the super fast and easy hotkey method, with the Forced Restart MacBook Tactic for Stubborn Devices and other methods.

What to do before restarting

Before you restart your MacBook, there's something you need to clear up.

Save and backup important files

The last thing anyone wants is to lose important content. While double-checking saved work is a good practice, backing up important files is essential to prevent data loss. Time Machine is a built-in app you might consider. Although reliable, Time Machine backs up entire Mac systems by default and uses significant storage space.

If you want to backup some important files,Back-up Pro downloadenis a more manageable option. The app uses incremental and compressed backup methods to create archives that take up to 60% less space for optimal storage.

Disconnect external gadgets

If you have an Apple Watch, iPhone, or other external gadget connected to your MacBook, disconnect it. This helps avoid interruptions during the restart process.

check for updates

Check for and download any software updates before restarting your MacBook to reduce performance issues. This will promote regular operation after the reboot is complete.

Close all apps

Anything running in the background will disrupt the reboot and cause unwanted issues. For example, if you leave apps open, your MacBook may automatically reopen them after the restart is complete. It can put a strain on your computer's system and drain its battery.

If you have a ton of apps open and need a quick and easy solution to close them all with a single click (including the ones running in the background), tryClose everything. The app checks in advance whether you want to save work, so you don't have to worry about losing important things. QuitAll also allows you to force quit stubborn frozen apps by simply switching from Quit to the Force Quit option.

Restart a MacBook Pro from the Apple menu

Now you will discover a few reset methods. Let's learn how to reset a MacBook Pro from the Apple menu.

1. Quit all your apps withCommand + Qor QuitAll, disconnect extensions, such as hard drives, and save open work.
2. Find the Apple menu icon next to the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the desktop and select Restart.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.

A pop-up will appear on the screen asking you if you are sure you want to restart your MacBook Pro. If any apps are left open, you'll be prompted to reopen windows when you sign in again. You can deselect this option by checking the box if you want to re-enter the system with a new screen. Click the Restart button to start the operation.

When the reboot is complete, you will be asked to log back into your desktop (if you have a password).

How to Restart a MacBook Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Want to know how to restart a Mac if it's frozen? The MacBook keyboard shortcut method is a perfect hack for fast restarting.

1. Press and holdControl + on/off ⏻ button(or the Touch ID button if your Mac has one) together on your keyboard.
2. Wait for a pop-up window to appear. Enable or disable the Reopen window when you log in again, depending on your preferences. To avoid putting a strain on your computer's system and to ensure a faster restart, we recommend that you disable this option.
3. Select restart when you're done.

Wait for a few seconds or minutes for your MacBook to completely reboot the system. Once this is done, you can log back into your desktop depending on your security settings.

How to force restart your MacBook

If your Mac becomes completely unresponsive, you can try a force restart, also known as a hard restart of your Mac.

1. Press and holdCommand + Control + power button(or eject or Touch ID button) for approximately 10 seconds.
2. Wait until the screen goes blank and release the keys.
3. Press the power button to start your Mac backup.

After a force restart, you may lose unsaved data. But it's the fastest (and sometimes the only) way to bring your Mac to life.

How to restart Mac using Terminal

If you're more computer savvy (or if your MacBook's power button is broken), restart your computer using Terminal.

1. Open terminal. You can find it on your Launchpad.
2. Enter the command to restart the Mac:sudo shutdown -r nu. You can schedule the restart for later by typing + followed by the number of minutes, e.g.sudo shutdown -r +10, or type now (as in our example above) if you want to restart immediately.
3. Press Enter.
4. Type your administrator password (you won't see any letters on the screen as you type it) and press Enter.

After you enter your password, your Mac will shut down. After a short time you can log in again.

Tip:You can make terminal operations much easier by usingCore shell. This SSH client offers a more user-friendly interface and improves your remote connections with one-click login and automatic reconnection.

Restart Your Mac Using the 'Drain the Battery' Method

The Drain the Battery method can help you fix your MacBook's bad battery, especially if it drains too quickly. This trick involves draining your Mac's battery to 0% and then charging it back up to 100%. This essentially calibrates the battery, leading to better future performance. How to use this method:

1. Unplug your Mac if it is connected to a charger.
2. Clear your Mac completely. You have two options here. The first and quickest is to continue normal use until the battery runs out. The other is to leave it quiet until the current drains naturally.
3. Check your Mac's battery percentage by hovering over or directly clicking the battery icon in the top right corner. When it reaches 0%, your Mac will shut down completely.
4. Let your MacBook sit for a few minutes to ensure it is completely drained.
5. Reconnect your charger and press the power button on your keyboard.

It may take a while for your computer to generate enough power before the backup starts, especially if you use extensions like a second monitor or Bluetooth keyboard.

4 steps to improve your Mac's performance after restarting

You can easily improve your MacBook's performance, prevent future problems, and avoid having to restart your MacBook by taking good care of your computer's system. Check out these helpful maintenance tips that will keep pesky bugs at bay.

#1 Close unnecessary apps

Having too many apps running in the background consumes unnecessary power, leading to slow performance and annoying bugs like freezing and lag.

If you find yourself not using any open apps, make sure you close them. You can easily do this by simply clicking and holding the app's icon until a drop-down menu appears. Then select Exit to close the app properly. Try it if you want to close multiple apps at onceClose everything.

#2 Check for updates regularly

System and app updates can drastically improve the speed and overall performance of your MacBook. They often include improvements to outdated software and bug fixes that keep your Mac running smoothly. Open the App Store and click the Updates tab to identify upcoming updates.

Also check for macOS updates by visitingSystem settings > General > Software update. If there are, you can click Update Now. You can also opt for automatic system updates by checking Keep my Mac up to date automatically.

#3 Clean up and clear caches

Cleaning up your MacBook and clearing cached data will free up storage space on your computer, improve your system's speed, and prevent unexpected crashes.

Clearing cached data is relatively quick and easy. Go to your primary web browser settings and click Clear cache. But a full cleanup can be more time-consuming, as you have to manually sort through what you do and don't do, such as folders, downloads, apps, files, and so on.

Specialized cleaners are better and more efficient for this job. We adviseCleanMyMac X, one of the best Mac cleaning tools. It finds junk files in every corner of the laptop and clears the cache of all browsers at once. In fact, it's the only tool you need to keep your Mac clean and organized. Here's how much mess CleanMyMac X found after just a few days of using the Mac.

#4 Check CPU usage

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) of your MacBook is like the brain of your computer as it handles all the main functions. When the tasks it has to perform become too complex or too many, the computer may experience problems: it freezes, becomes slower, etc.

To avoid these problems, you should check the CPU. Your Mac has an Activity Monitor: a built-in tool to monitor the CPU. However, it only shows and stops running processes, but does not provide in-depth information about system overloads or their causes.

If you want to better manage your Mac's CPU, consider thisApp tamer. This tool monitors your CPU 24 hours a day and lets you slow down or stop specific background apps. To keep you informed, it provides notifications that identify apps that are taxing your CPU.

Statusmenu'sis another tool for monitoring your Mac. It helps you monitor the processes you need, such as CPU, memory, network and disk usage statistics, etc. You can set "standards" for the usage of different resources and get notified when your Mac reaches them ( see screenshot below). This way you can adjust the load on your computer in time.

Now you know how to restart your Macbook like a pro

Restarting your MacBook should resolve common performance issues such as freezes or lag. However, it's important to take preventative measures such as cleaning up and installing updates to keep your computer running smoothly.

Use useful apps, such asCleanMyMac X,App tamer, InStatusmenu's, makes it much easier to keep track of any issues that may be causing your MacBook to malfunction.

Check out more useful apps like this oneSet up app. This is an all-in-one platform with dozens of powerful apps designed to help you get the most out of your Mac. Get your 7-day free trial today!

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