Apple is known for creating highly reliable electronics, with Macbooks often running smoothly for several years. However, even the best gadgets can encounter issues, such as a frozen Mac displaying a spinning wheel. This can be a frustrating problem that halts all your computing tasks.
Fortunately, there are various methods to resolve this issue that work across the entire Mac family, including Macbooks and desktop Macs. So, there’s a good chance one of these solutions will work for your specific problem.
1. Force quit unresponsive apps
If your Mac is frozen or unresponsive, the first step is to check if a specific app is causing the issue. If quitting the app normally doesn’t work, you can force quit it by Ctrl+clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting Force Quit. Alternatively, you can press Opt+Cmd+Esc to open the Force Quit window and choose the app to force quit.
If these steps don’t work and your Mac is completely locked up, you can perform a hard reboot by pressing Ctrl+Opt+Cmd and the power button simultaneously.
2. Reset the System Management Controller
The System Management Controller (SMC) is responsible for various functions in your Mac. To reset the SMC, follow specific steps depending on whether your Mac has a T2 Security Chip or not.
If your Mac doesn’t have a T2 chip (2016 or older MacBook Pro), shut it down and press Shift+Ctrl+Opt and the power button simultaneously. For Mac desktops without a T2 chip, unplug the power cord and wait before restarting the device.
For Macs with a T2 chip, the reset process is slightly different. Turn off the device, hold the power button, release, and then press it again to turn on the Mac.
