TL;DR
To fix your Mac shutting down randomly:
- Shut down properly to avoid random shutdowns.
- Ensure proper power or check battery health.
- Use Activity Monitor to quit resource-heavy apps.
- Update macOS to fix potential glitches.
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.
Unexpected shutdowns can be frustrating, but there are simple steps you can take to keep your Mac running smoothly. In this post, I’ll guide you through easy fixes like checking your power source, updating macOS, and more.
8 Quick Fixes for Your Mac Shutting Down Randomly
Why You Can Trust MacBook Journal 
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.
Below, I have shared some of my tried and tested methods that you can use to fix your Mac shutting down randomly.
1. Complete a Proper Shut Down
Performing a proper shutdown ensures all background processes and apps close safely, which can help with random shutdowns. Follow these steps:
- Turn on your Mac by pressing the Power button.
- Use Command ⌘ + Option ⌥ + Esc to force close any unresponsive applications.
- Navigate to the Apple menu and select Restart.
While this may not completely resolve the issue, it serves as an initial step in troubleshooting.
2. Check the Power Source
Verify your Mac’s power source or battery health to ensure it’s receiving adequate power and not causing random shutdowns. Here are the steps to check the power source on a Mac:
- Look for the battery icon on the menu bar in the screen’s upper-right corner. Click Battery Settings to open the battery status menu.
- You’ll see your Mac’s current power source status in the battery status menu. If it’s plugged into an AC power source, it will show Power Adapter. If your Mac runs on battery power, it will show Battery Level.
- If the battery level is zero or battery health is not normal, you may need to replace the battery or contact Apple Support to fix your Mac’s randomly shutting down.
3. Check for Software Issues
Here’s how to check for software issues using Activity Monitor to fix your Mac shutting down randomly:
- To open Activity Monitor, go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- Click the CPU, Memory, or Disk tab in Activity Monitor to see which processes or applications use the most CPU resources.
- If you notice any process using a high percentage of system resources, it could be causing unexpected shutdowns. Force quit the process by selecting it and clicking the x button in the top toolbar.
4. Update Your macOS
Keeping your macOS updated can fix software glitches that might lead to random shutdowns. Here are the steps to update your macOS:
Before installing updates, it’s always a good idea to back up your Mac data to avoid losing important files.
- Make sure you have a reliable internet connection and enough storage space on your Mac. Check how much space you need to install a particular macOS version.
- Click the Apple icon and select System Settings.
- Click General and select Software Update.
- If an update is available, click Update Now.
- Enter your Mac’s password and click OK.
- Wait for the download to complete.
- After the installation, your computer will be prompted to restart. Click the Restart button to complete the process.
5. Reset the SMC (System Management Controller)
Resetting the SMC can resolve hardware-related issues like power or thermal management that may be causing your Mac to shut down. Here are the steps to reset the SMC on macOS:
- Click the Apple menu and select Shut Down to turn off your Mac.
- Unplug the power cable from your Mac computer.
- Press and hold the Power button on your Mac for at least 10 seconds.
- After holding it for 10 seconds, release it.
- Reconnect the power cable to your Mac computer.
- Press the Power button on your Mac to turn it back on.
6. Reset NVRAM or PRAM
Resetting NVRAM or PRAM can fix corrupted settings that cause erratic behavior and random shutdowns on your Mac. Here are the steps to reset the NVRAM/PRAM on Mac:
- Click the Apple menu and select Shut Down to turn off your Mac.
- Press the Power button on your Mac to turn it back on.
- Immediately after pressing the power button, press and hold the Option ⌥ + Command ⌘ + P + R keys on your keyboard.
- Continue holding the keys for at least 20 seconds until you hear the startup sound twice (if your Mac plays a startup sound) or until the Apple logo appears and disappears twice.
- After hearing the startup sound or seeing the Apple logo appear and disappear twice, release the keys.
7. Run Apple Diagnostics
Use Apple Diagnostics to check for hardware issues such as faulty RAM, hard drive, or logic board that may cause your Mac to shut down randomly. It provides specific recommendations for hardware repairs.
Learn how to run Apple Diagnostics on your Mac in this detailed guide.
8. Boot Your Mac Into Safe Mode
Booting in Safe Mode prevents third-party apps from running at startup and helps diagnose whether they are the cause of shutdowns. Safe Mode also runs basic system checks to resolve minor issues.
Find out how to boot your Mac into Safe Mode in my detailed guide.
Run a Virus Scan (Optional)
Although rare, malware could potentially cause unexpected shutdowns. Running a virus scan, such as using MacKeeper’s Antivirus, ensures your system is free from harmful software that could affect performance.
How to Prevent Random Shutdowns
Follow these tips to prevent random shutdowns on your Mac:
- ⚙️ Keep macOS Updated: Regularly update your macOS to fix bugs that may cause shutdowns.
- 🔌 Check Power Source: Ensure your Mac is properly plugged in, and check the battery health if running on battery.
- 🛑 Close Unnecessary Apps: Use Activity Monitor to close apps using too much CPU or memory.
- 🔄 Reset SMC and NVRAM: Reset the SMC and NVRAM to fix hardware-related power or overheating issues.
- 🌬️ Prevent Overheating: Clean your Mac’s vents and keep it cool to avoid shutdowns from overheating.
Stop Your Mac From Shutting Down Randomly
For fixing Mac shutting down randomly, start with the simplest solution and move on to more complex ones if necessary. Here are some more troubleshooting tips for you:
- Stop a Mac from sleeping and shutting down automatically during periods of inactivity.
- If you’re experiencing a black screen issue on a Mac, ensure it is properly connected to power.
- If your Mac won’t shut down, press and hold the Power button to force shutdown it.
