It’s quite frustrating when your Mac abruptly powers off while you're working on a document or email. You might lose your file or damage its contents. Worse still, if your Mac keeps turning off every few days, it becomes a major issue. What causes this, and more importantly, how can you prevent your Mac from shutting down automatically?

Picture this scenario: you’re attending a meeting, writing an essay, or composing an email, only to suddenly realize your Mac has powered off without warning. This situation can be extremely annoying! A random shutdown on a Mac can sometimes result in significant losses. Even if it doesn’t, unexpected shutdowns can be quite bothersome.

Taking these issues into account, MiniTool Solution – a leading software development company – has decided to explore the primary reasons behind why your Mac keeps shutting down and how to resolve the problem effectively (whether it's a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air).

Tip: Before anything else, make sure you back up your Mac using either the built-in Time Machine app or a third-party backup tool compatible with macOS. If you’ve already lost important files, consider using Stellar Data Recovery for Mac (a product jointly developed by MiniTool and Stellar) to recover those files as soon as possible!

Why Does My Mac Keep Shutting Down?

Random shutdowns on a Mac are a common concern among users. Do you know what triggers this problem? While identifying the exact cause can be challenging, certain factors are known to contribute significantly to random shutdowns.

Software Error

If your MacBook Pro starts shutting down randomly after installing new software, it’s highly likely that a software bug or conflict between applications is causing the issue.

• Your operating system might have been affected by software bugs.
• Two or more specific applications could be conflicting with each other.

macOS Not Updated

Running an outdated version of macOS or encountering bugs during updates or settings adjustments can lead to frequent shutdowns. Updating your macOS should help resolve this issue.

Peripheral Devices Issue

If your MacBook Pro turns on briefly before shutting off again upon connecting peripheral devices, it’s possible that these devices aren’t functioning correctly. Try disconnecting each peripheral device one by one to identify the problematic one.

Virus/malware Infection

If your Mac gets attacked by viruses or malware, it might shut down frequently due to malicious activity. To stop automatic shutdowns, you’ll need to eliminate the virus/malware entirely.

How to Fix When My Mac Keeps Shutting Down?

Although random shutdowns can occur on both Windows and Mac systems, the following solutions will focus specifically on addressing the problem when a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air keeps shutting down.

Restart Mac

Restarting your computer is often the simplest and most effective way to fix common issues. When your Mac keeps shutting down, attempting a restart might help.

1. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.
2. Press Command Option Esc.
3. Force quit any unresponsive apps.
4. Click the Apple menu at the top and select Sleep, Restart, or Shut Down.

Reset SMC

SMC stands for System Management Controller, a chip responsible for managing battery, thermal regulation, and other components. The steps to reset the SMC vary depending on whether the battery is removable or non-removable.

How to reset SMC on MacBook with removable battery:

1. Shut down your MacBook normally.
2. Disconnect the MagSafe power adapter fully and safely.
3. Remove the battery carefully. Assistance from Apple Service Center or Apple Retail Store can be sought if needed.
4. Press and hold the power button for around 5 seconds.
5. Reconnect the battery and power adapter.
6. Press the power button to turn on your MacBook.

How to reset SMC on MacBook with non-removable battery:

1. Power off the MacBook.
2. Press Shift Control Option power simultaneously.
3. Hold these four keys for approximately 10 seconds, then release them.
4. Turn the MacBook on by pressing the power button.

How to reset SMC on Mac desktop computers (iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro, etc.):

1. Shut down the Mac.
2. Unplug the power cord.
3. Wait for about 15 seconds.
4. Plug the power cord back in.
5. Wait for about 5 seconds.
6. Press the power button to turn it on.

How to reset SMC on Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip:

1. Power off the Mac.
2. Press the right Shift key left Option key left Control key for roughly 7 seconds.
3. Continue holding these three keys while pressing and holding the power button for another 7 seconds.
4. Release all keys and wait momentarily.
5. Press the power button to turn on the Mac.

If this approach doesn’t work, you can also try resetting the PRAM or follow these additional methods:

• Scan your Mac for viruses/malware.
• Monitor the health of your battery.
• Reinstall macOS.
• Update macOS.

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