How and why to reset your Mac's SMC and NVRAM — by Howard Oakley (Eclectic Light Company)

intermediatepageLink only (©)

Explains the different procedures for Intel notebooks with and without a T2 chip and why Intel key combinations do nothing on Apple silicon. On Apple silicon, shut down, disconnect peripherals, wait at least 30 seconds and restart. A full NVRAM reset needs a DFU restore, which wipes the SSD.

Quick steps

Intel NVRAM: hold Command-Option-P-R at startup
Apple silicon: shut down, unplug, wait 30 seconds, restart

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full article on eclecticlight.co

Source: How and why to reset your Mac's SMC and NVRAM by Howard Oakley (Eclectic Light Company). Licence: Link only (©).

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: 2026-11-02
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

smcnvramapple siliconintel

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