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Mac Won’t Shut Down? 12 Quick Ways to Fix It

Get your Mac to shut down properly.

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Last updated: August 29, 2024

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TL;DR

To shut down your Mac:

  1. Use Option + Command + Esc to force quit unresponsive apps.
  2. Press Control + Option + Command + Power to shut down your Mac quickly.
  3. Disconnect external devices to resolve potential shutdown issues.
  4. Update or uninstall problematic apps to fix shutdown problems.

Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.

Your Mac won’t shut down, and it’s becoming quite frustrating. Don’t worry, let’s fix this together with a few straightforward solutions.

What to Do If Your Mac Won’t Shut Down

Why You Can Trust MacBook Journal verify badge We always conduct first-hand research and verify every method or solution we present, ensuring you receive reliable and effective advice. Learn more about our process.

I’ve outlined various methods to help fix the Mac shutdown problem:

1. Force Quit All Apps

Force-quitting apps can help shut down your Mac when unresponsive or problematic applications prevent a smooth shutdown. Here’s how to force-quit apps on Mac:

  1. Press the following keyboard shortcut: Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Esc.
macbook pro option command esc
  1. The Force Quit Applications window will appear, displaying a list of currently running applications.
apps currently open in force quit window
  1. Find the app you want to force quit from the list. Select the application by clicking it once. Click the Force Quit button in the bottom-right corner of the window.
force quit any processes that are causing problems
  1. A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to force quit the selected application. Click Force Quit to proceed.
confirm by clicking force quit
  1. The application will be forcefully terminated, closing all its associated processes.
  2. If you want to force quit multiple applications simultaneously, hold down the Command ⌘ key while clicking the desired applications and tap the Force Quit button.

Please note that force-quitting applications may result in losing unsaved work. I recommend saving your work before force-quitting apps.

2. Use a Keyboard Shortcut

If waiting didn’t resolve the issue, try using a keyboard shortcut. To shut down your Mac using a keyboard shortcut, you can follow these steps:

  1. Make sure you have no unsaved work or open applications, as shutting down your Mac will close all programs and documents.
  2. Press the following key combo: Control ^ + Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Power button.
macbook pro command option control power
  1. Your Mac will begin the shutdown process, and once it completes, the screen will turn off, and the computer will no longer be running.
  2. A dialog box will appear, asking if you want to shut down your computer. Click the Shut Down button or press the Enter key to confirm.

3. Unplug Peripherals

Unplugging external devices can help resolve shutdown problems by eliminating potential conflicts or power issues. Peripherals like USB drives, printers, or external hard drives may cause interference, especially if their drivers are outdated or incompatible.

To troubleshoot, disconnect all peripherals, then power on your Mac and try shutting it down again. If it shuts down properly, one of the disconnected devices was likely the cause. Reconnect each device individually to identify the problematic one.

4. Identify and Troubleshoot Problematic Apps

Identifying and troubleshooting problematic apps on your Mac can help fix this issue. Once identified, you can either update these apps, reinstall them, or remove them if necessary. Follow these steps to check app updates in the App Store:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select App Store.
click apple icon and select app store
  1. Click the Updates tab in the App Store window.
click updates in the left sidebar
  1. You will see a list of apps with available updates.
available app updates in app store

With MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller, you can get rid of problematic apps in just a few clicks. Follow these steps to uninstall apps on your Mac:

  1. Download and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
  2. After installation, launch MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller in the left-hand menu.
click smart uninstaller in the left sidebar
  1. Click Start Scan.
click start scan in smart uninstaller
  1. Select the applications you want to delete from the list and click Remove Selected.
select the applications you want to remove and click remove selected
  1. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up to confirm the deletion.
click remove on the pop up window in smart uninstaller
  1. MacKeeper will uninstall the apps and remove associated files and folders. You will get a Removal Completed notification. If you want to scan your Mac again, click Rescan.
click rescan in smart uninstaller

5. Try the Safe Boot

Safe Boot starts your Mac in a basic state with only the necessary software. It helps check if any startup items are causing the shutdown issue. Follow the steps below to boot your Mac into Safe Mode, depending on your model:

Apple Silicon Mac

  1. Click the Apple icon and choose Shut Down from the drop-down menu.
click the apple icon and select shut down
  1. Wait for your Mac to shut down completely, and press the Power button to turn it on.
macbook air touch id
  1. Keep holding the Power button until you see the Loading startup options screen.
loading startup options screen on mac
  1. Select a volume from the options.
select a volume
  1. Press and hold the Shift ⇧ key and click Continue in Safe Mode.
macbook air shift key
  1. Your Mac will restart automatically, and you will see Safe Boot in the menu bar when the login screen appears.
safe boot mode on mac

Intel-Based Mac

  1. Restart or turn on your Mac and press and hold the Shift ⇧ key immediately.
macbook air shift key
  1. Keep holding the Shift ⇧ key until you see the login screen.
  2. Release the Shiftkey and log in to your Mac.
  3. You’ll see Safe Boot in the menu bar on your first or second login window.
safe boot mode on mac

6. Repair Disk With Disk Utility

To fix shutdown issues, use Disk Utility to repair disk errors. Boot your Mac into Recovery Mode, open Disk Utility, and run First Aid on your startup disk. This can resolve file system problems that may be causing the issue. For a detailed guide, here’s how to repair your Mac’s startup disk with Disk Utility.

7. Reset the SMC

If your Mac won’t shut down, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) can often resolve the issue. The SMC controls many low-level functions, and the reset process varies depending on your Mac model. For detailed steps on how to reset the SMC, refer to my full guide.

8. Boot Your Mac Into Recovery Mode

Booting your Mac into Recovery Mode can potentially fix the “Mac won’t shut down” issue by allowing you to perform various troubleshooting and repair actions. Here’s how to boot your Mac into Recovery Mode:

  1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select Shut Down.
click the apple icon and select shut down
  1. Press the power button to turn on your Mac. Wait for the startup chime, then immediately press and hold the Command ⌘ + R keys on your keyboard until the Apple logo appears on the screen. It indicates your Mac is booting into Recovery Mode.
macbook air command r keys

The window provides a range of utilities to troubleshoot and repair your Mac. You can select the utility you want to use from the macOS Utilities window to troubleshoot and repair your Mac.

9. Reset the PRAM/NVRAM

Follow these steps to reset the NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac.

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Press the power button to turn on your Mac.
macbook air touch id
  1. Press and hold the Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + P + R keys simultaneously on your Mac’s keyboard before the gray screen appears.
macbook air option command p r keys
  1. Hold the keys until your Mac restarts, and you hear the startup chime twice or see the Apple logo appear and disappear twice.
  2. Release the keys and let your Mac start up normally.

If you have an M1 or M2 Mac, you don’t need a keyboard combo to reset the NVRAM. It happens automatically during the restart.

10. Run Apple Diagnostics

If your Mac won’t shut down, running Apple Diagnostics can help identify hardware issues that might be causing the problem. This built-in tool tests your Mac’s hardware and provides a report on any detected issues. For step-by-step instructions on running Apple Diagnostics, check out this complete guide.

11. Press and Hold the Power Button

If your Mac won’t shut down, you can force it by pressing and holding the power button for 5-10 seconds until it turns off. This method should be used as a last resort because it may cause data loss if applications are still running. Ensure you save any important work before doing this.

macbook pro touch id

      12. Use a Terminal Command to Force Shut Down

      Here’s how you can use a terminal command to force shut down your Mac:

      Using the command line shuts down your Mac immediately. There are no confirmations, warning dialogs, pauses to save documents, or prompts to close apps and save work. So, save everything you need before shutting down your Mac.

      1. Launch the Terminal application. You can find it in the Utilities folder within the Applications folder. Alternatively, you can use Spotlight (press Command ⌘ + Spacebar) and search for Terminal.
      type terminal in spotlight search
      1. In the Terminal window, type the following command and press Enter:
      sudo shutdown -h now
      type the shut down command in terminal
      1. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Type your password (you won’t see the characters as you type) and press Enter.
      2. The command will initiate the shutdown process immediately without confirmation.
      3. Wait for a few moments, and your Mac should force shut down.

      If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, it’s recommended to contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance.

      Power Off Your Mac In No Time

      Now that you know what to do if your Mac won’t shut down, you may want to know more about Mac startup and shutdown issues. Here are a few tips to get you started:

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Why is my Mac not shutting down properly?

      Your Mac may not shut down properly due to several reasons. Some common causes include software issues, unresponsive apps, background processes, updates in progress, hardware peripherals, file or system corruption, and conflicts with kernel extensions or third-party software.

      How can I force quit unresponsive apps to help shut down my Mac?

      You can force quit unresponsive apps to help shut down your Mac using the keyboard shortcut: Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Esc. It will open the Force Quit Applications window. From there, select the problematic app and click Force Quit to terminate it forcefully.

      How do I force my Mac to shut down without the power button?

      To force your Mac to shut down without using the power button, you can use a keyboard shortcut. Press Control ⌃ + Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + Power button simultaneously. This will prompt a dialog box asking if you want to shut down your computer. Click Shut Down or press Enter to confirm.

      Ojash

      Author

      Hi there! I'm Ojash, a tech journalist with over a decade of experience in the industry. I've had the privilege of contributing to some of the world's largest tech publications, making my mark as a respected Mac expert. My passion lies in exploring, using, and writing about MacBooks, and I enjoy sharing my expertise to help others make informed decisions and get the most out of their MacBook experience. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of MacBooks together!

      Hashir Ibrahim

      Reviewer

      Hello! I'm Hashir, a seasoned tech journalist with a unique blend of academic expertise and hands-on experience. With a bachelor's in IT, a master's in cybersecurity, and over a decade in the industry, I've built a reputation for demystifying complex Apple hardware. My work has been featured in top tech outlets like MakeUseOf and MakeTechEasier. As the senior writer at MacBook Journal, I write guides that help you solve any issues you have with your mac.

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