How to reset pram parameters. How to reset NVRAM and PRAM memory settings, as well as SMC controller parameters


Recently, more often than not, after the owner transfers the laptop to OS X Mavericks, problems begin. Including those associated with a critical decrease in battery life. There have been complaints that the laptop battery's charge is melting literally before our eyes - up to a percent per minute.

The troubleshooting tips below helped deal with really massive battery drain on the mid-2013 and late 2013 MacBook Air, although they are quite applicable to other models of the company's laptops. As a result of the manipulations performed, the operating time of the MacBook Air increased from a critically short 4 hours 30 minutes to the corresponding stated 11 hours 24 minutes. Perhaps the laptop could last longer, it all depends on the energy intensity of the tasks, the intensity of the backlight, and the activation of wireless adapters. I consider the result of eleven and a half hours for the MacBook Air on Haswell to be normal.

Let's start the ceremony. The manual consists of four points; before starting, I strongly advise you to carefully read everything to the end, then re-read it again, and only then press the keys.

1. Delete the settings com.apple.finder.plist, com.apple.sidebarlists.plist and com.apple.desktop.plist

  • Open a new Finder window
  • Go to the address ~/Library/Preferences. To do this, use the item in the menu bar Go or using a keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + G call up the folder navigation window, copy and paste the address, click Enter
  • Find the following files and rename them:

com.apple.finder.plist to com.apple.finder _backup.plist

com.apple.sidebarlists.plist to com.applesidebarlists _backup.plist

com.apple.desktop.plist to com.apple.desktop _backup.plist

  • The com.apple.desktop.plist file may not be in the folder, this is exactly what happened on the MacBook Pro Retina. If you don't have this file either, don't worry about it, just move on to the next step.

    • Open Terminal, restart the Dock, to do this, copy and paste the line with the command:

    Immediately in Terminal, restart Finder:

Important note: when deleting settings files, you will lose all saved options for the type and sorting of files - all file manager settings will be completely reset to the original ones.

2. Reset the SMC system management controller

  • Turn off your laptop
  • Connect the MagSafe power adapter to your MacBook
  • Press and hold the following keys for a second: Shift + Ctrl + Alt + Power, then release. The indicator on the power connector should blink

    • Repeat the procedure to reset the SMC controller three times to be sure.

3. Reset PRAM memory

  • Turn off your MacBook
  • Find the following keys on your keyboard: Command (⌘), Option, P and R. In step 4, you will have to press and hold them simultaneously
  • Turn on your computer
  • Press and hold the keys Command + Option + P + R before the gray loading screen appears, that is, immediately after turning on
  • Hold down the keys until the computer restarts and you hear the boot tone a second time

    • Release the keys

After resetting PRAM, you may need to reconfigure your speaker volume, screen resolution, boot volume selection, and time zone settings.

4. Let the system come to its senses

    Just wait for a while after turning on your Macbook

I think some of you will find the above steps unnecessarily complicated and not at all that necessary. I can reassure you: if you follow these steps exactly step by step, no problems will arise. Moreover, the extra 5 hours of laptop operation are worth the ten minutes you spend completing these four steps. Cheers to your Mac!

I remind you: the editors of the site are not responsible for the result - what you do, you do entirely at your own peril and risk!

Hello friends. Sometimes your Mac may start acting strange for no apparent reason. Indicator lights will not work correctly, volume settings will no longer be saved, screen resolution will change, and problems will arise with various applications. Most often, all this can be solved by closing all applications and restarting the computer. But sometimes, you have to resort to resetting SMC and PRAM parameters.

The System Management Controller (SMC) is a chip built into Mac computers running Intel processors. It is responsible for the functioning of many physical elements of the computer, such as LED indicators, keyboards and other peripheral devices, fans, and power buttons. It also affects the hard drive, the behavior of the computer in sleep mode, and power supplies.

Phase change memory (PRAM) stores information about the configuration of your computer, including parameters such as date and time, as well as desktop settings, volume, mouse, and so on. This memory runs on a small battery, so settings are not lost every time the computer is turned off.

In most cases, if you have an issue that requires you to reset the SMC or PRAM, your Mac will simply behave strangely. It will likely continue to work and run the apps you want, but some features may fail. For example, if the SMC is not working correctly, you may experience the following problems:

  • The battery or status lights are behaving strangely
  • Keyboard backlight not working or not working properly
  • Your MacBook won't turn on immediately after opening
  • The power adapter status light does not reflect its status correctly
  • The fan spins too fast, especially when the system load is low
  • Trackpad doesn't work
  • Computer won't connect to Wi-Fi
  • Your computer won't turn on
  • Target display mode turns on and off unexpectedly
  • Application icons jump for a long time when they are launched
  • The computer runs very slowly, even under low CPU load
  • Your computer takes a long time to shut down

If the problem is PRAM, the following problems may occur:

  • Volume control doesn't work properly
  • The boot sector is not specified (you will see this message when you boot your computer)
  • Strange speed of movement and mouse clicks
  • The keyboard responds abnormally to key presses
  • Time zone and time settings are reset or not changed at all
  • Screen resolution resets or does not change at all
  • Having problems with AirPort
  • The computer takes a long time to turn off

Resetting SMC and PRAM parameters is the first step towards solving many problems. So if your computer is acting a little strange and rebooting doesn't fix the situation, you might want to consider performing a reset.

Reset SMC

Before resetting SMC or PRAM settings, it is best to close all applications and restart your computer to see if the problem persists. You should also remember that booting your computer after a reset may take longer than usual. Applications may also launch more slowly, but everything will soon return to normal.

The procedure for resetting SMC settings depends on the type of computer you have.

MacBook with removable battery

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug the power adapter.
  3. Remove the battery.
  4. Press and hold the Power button for five seconds.
  5. Replace the battery.
  6. Connect the power adapter.
  7. Turn on your computer.
  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Connect the power adapter.
  3. On the built-in keyboard, press the keys simultaneously Shift, Control And Option on the left side and the power button.
  4. Release all three buttons at the same time.
  5. Turn on your computer.

Mac Pro, iMacon databaseIntel, Mac minion databaseIntelAndXserveon databaseIntel

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug the power adapter.
  3. Wait fifteen seconds.
  4. Connect the power adapter.
  5. Turn on your computer.

After resetting the SMC, the lights on the MagSafe power adapter may behave strangely at first. Don't worry, it's normal.

Reset PRAM

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Press the power button.
  3. Before the gray screen appears, press the keys simultaneously Command, Option, P And R.
  4. Hold down the keys until your computer restarts and you hear the startup sound again.
  5. Release the keys.

After resetting PRAM, you will notice that some of your settings have also been reset. This applies to time, volume settings, mouse and keyboard settings, and so on. If you remember all your old settings, you can return your computer to normal within a few minutes.

Good to know

While you probably won't need to reset your SMC or PRAM settings regularly, it's good to know what they do and how to fix problems with your computer. If your Mac is acting strange and restarting doesn't help, you know what to do! In addition, we recommend checking out this list of eight resources for solving Mac problems.
Have you ever had to reset SMC and PRAM on your computer?

With the release of Lion, my Mac mini had one very unpleasant problem: as soon as the computer went into sleep mode and began to “breathe” steadily with the status indicator, nothing could wake it up. Searches in various forums, including official ones, confirmed that I am far from the only “lucky owner” of such a problem. Therefore, today I would like to give MacRadar readers simple recommendations with which you can try to solve some power problems and strange “behavior” of Mac computers.

1. Use the keyboard or the Power button

Sometimes your computer may not respond to mouse clicks or trackpad touches and continues to “dream.” Don't worry ahead of time - try pressing any key on the keyboard, the Power button or a similar button on the computer itself (but don't hold it for long).

Perhaps one of these actions will be enough to wake up the computer.

2. Forced power off

No, of course, we won’t pull out the wire from the outlet or the battery from the Mac. But in some cases, the only way to return a Mac to normal operation is to forcefully turn off its power (since Apple did not provide a Reset button familiar to many PC users in the design of its computers).

To do this, press the Power button located on the body of the Apple laptop or desktop and hold it until the computer turns off. Wait a few seconds and then you can turn it on again.

I simply must warn readers that turning off the computer too frequently using this method can have a very negative impact on the system itself and the files stored on the hard drive.

3. Reset the contents of PRAM and NVRAM

PRAM (parameter RAM) and NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) are two areas of your Mac's memory that store some settings and information even after you turn off the computer's power. But sometimes the data contained there may become corrupted and cause all sorts of problems.

You can reset the contents of PRAM and NVRAM in five consecutive steps:

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Find the Command, Option, P, and R keys on your keyboard (you'll need these keys in the next steps).
  3. Turn on your computer.
  4. Press and hold Command+Option+P+R at the same time, but keep in mind that this must be done before the gray screen appears.
  5. After a few seconds, your Mac will restart again, the familiar startup sound will sound, and you can release the keys you pressed.

It was these actions that helped me get my sleep mode back to work correctly.

4. Reset SMC parameters

In the worst case scenario, in addition to the “faulty” sleep mode, you may notice other symptoms indicating the need to reset the System Management Controller (SMC for short).

These symptoms include the following:

  • The computer runs slowly and its fans spin at high speeds, although it is not performing high-performance tasks and is not cooling properly.
  • The keyboard backlight, status indicator (SIL), or battery indicator are not working correctly.
  • The display backlight does not respond properly to changes in ambient light.
  • Obvious problems with the power supply. For example, the computer does not respond to pressing the Power button or opening (closing) the laptop lid, spontaneous shutdowns or transitions to sleep mode occur, strange operation of the battery or MagSafe adapter occurs.
  • Connecting and disconnecting the second display does not work correctly.
  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Disconnect the MagSafe network adapter (if connected).
  3. Remove the battery from the laptop case and set it aside.
  4. Press and hold the Power button for 5 seconds.
  5. Release the power button, insert the battery back into the laptop, and connect the MagSafe adapter.
  6. Press the Power button to turn on the computer.

To reset SMC parameters on apple laptops without removable battery follow these steps:

  1. Turn off your computer.
  2. Plug one end of the MagSafe adapter into a power outlet and the other end into your laptop.
  3. Press Shift+Control+Option (on the left side of the keyboard) and the Power button at the same time (the LED on the MagSafe adapter may change state and even turn off temporarily).
  4. Release all keys at the same time.
  5. Press the Power button again to turn on the computer.

To reset SMC settings on Mac desktop computers, follow these steps:

  1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord.
  2. Wait at least 15 seconds.
  3. Plug the power cord back into your Mac.
  4. Wait another 5 seconds and then press the Power button to turn on the computer.

I sincerely hope that all your Apple equipment will serve for a long time and it will not come to an SMC reset. And if you have any of your own recipes to combat the “sleeping beauty”, do not be lazy to tell us in the comments.

Sometimes your Mac may start acting strangely for no apparent reason: LED lights won't work correctly, volume settings won't be available, screen resolution will change, or perhaps your Mac won't boot at all.

You may be able to resolve some issues by closing all your applications and trying to restart your computer. Sometimes, however, you need to reset the SMC, PRAM or NVRAM. Let's see how to do each of the resets.

What is SMC on Mac?

The System Management Controller - or SMC - is a chip in Intel-based computers. It is involved in controlling many of the physical parts of the machine, including the LED lights, keyboard and other peripherals, cooling fans, and power button. It also plays a role in the behavior of your hard drive, how your Mac behaves in sleep mode and when powered.

When should you reset the SMC?

The SMC is responsible for a lot of Mac functionality, which is worth resetting when you find that your computer's hardware is acting in unexpected ways. Here is a list of the main symptoms when you need to reset SMC:

  • Battery or status lights are behaving strangely
  • Keyboard backlight not working properly
  • MacBook won't turn on when you open it
  • Power adapter light doesn't reflect what it does
  • The fan runs at an abnormally high speed, especially under low load
  • Trackpad doesn't work
  • Your computer won't connect to Wi-Fi
  • App icons bounce for long periods of time when opened
  • Your computer is running slowly, even with low CPU usage
  • Your computer takes a long time to shut down

How to reset SMC on Mac

There are several ways to reset the SMC, depending on what kind of Mac you have. The method to reset a MacBook Pro, for example, is different from the iMac.

Before you begin, try closing all open applications and restarting your computer. This can solve a lot of problems on its own.


Reset SMC on MacBook

To reset SMC toMacBook using Apple T2 Security Chip (models from 2018 or later):

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Press and holdpower button in flow 10 seconds, then restart.
  3. If this doesn't fix the problem, turn off your Mac again.
  4. Press and holdright Shift key , left Option key And left Control key in flow seven seconds .
  5. Keep these keys pressed as you press and holdpower button in flow seven seconds .
  6. Release all keys and wait a few seconds. Now restart your MacBook.

To reset SMC toMacBook with non-removable battery (mostly until 2018):

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Press and holdShift , Control And Option V left sidekeyboards. Now press and holdpower button(or touch input button ).
  3. Hold all keys for10 seconds .
  4. Release all keys and turn on your MacBook.

To reset SMC on an older oneMacBook with removable battery (mostly until 2015):

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Remove the battery.
  3. Press and holdpower button in flow five seconds .
  4. Connect the battery and turn on your MacBook.

Reset SMC on iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro

To reset SMC todesktop Mac using T2 Chip (eg iMac Pro):

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Hold power button pressed for 10 seconds .
  3. Release the power button, wait a few seconds, then restart your computer.
  4. If the problem persists, turn off your Mac again.
  5. Disconnect power cord.
  6. Wait 15 seconds .
  7. five seconds .
  8. Turn on your Mac.

To reset SMC toold desktop Mac computers (mostly until 2018):

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Disconnect power cord.
  3. Wait 15 seconds .
  4. Connect the power cord and waitfive seconds .
  5. Turn on your Mac.

What is PRAM and NVRAM on Mac?

PRAM (Parameter Random Access Memory) and NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) contain configuration information for your Mac.

This includes aspects such as date and time, as well as desktop, volume, mouse, and other control settings. These memory areas are powered by a small battery, so these settings are not lost every time the computer is turned off.

Modern Intel-based Macs have NVRAM, while older PowerPC models have PRAM.

When should PRAM or NVRAM be reset?

Problems with PRAM or NVRAM are often software related. Your computer may forget some settings or may experience connection problems. You can try resetting PRAM if any of these symptoms occur:

  • The drive is not responding properly
  • Boot volume is not installed (you will see a question mark before your computer boots)
  • Strange Mouse scrolling and click speed
  • Keyboard does not respond normally
  • The time zone or clock is incorrect
  • Screen resolution changes or does not change
  • AirPort problems
  • Your computer is slowly shutting down

How to reset PRAM or NVRAM on Mac

You don't need to know whether your computer has NVRAM or PRAM, since the process for resetting both is the same:

  1. Turn off your Mac.
  2. Click power button .
  3. Before the gray screen appears, press the keys simultaneouslyCommand , Option , P And R.
  4. Hold down the keys until your computer restarts and youhear the start sound second time.
    1. On Mac computers with the T2 Security Chip, hold down the keys untilThe Apple logo will not appear or disappear for the second time.
  5. Release the keys.

After resetting NVRAM or PRAM, you may notice that some of your settings are lost, such as time, volume, mouse settings, and keyboard preferences. If you remember your previous computer settings, you can get it back to normal in just a couple of minutes.

NVRAM is a special memory area on modern smartphones with the Android operating system. When you turn on the phone for the first time, information regarding the phone’s IMEI, connected SIM cards, etc. is recorded in this section. If the firmware on the smartphone is unsuccessful, the file from NVRAM may be erased, and some important information will be lost. In some cases, this leads to loss of functionality of the smartphone.

How to determine that the problem is in NVRAM

Loss of NVRAM is often the result of incorrect rollback of settings through third-party programs, partial or full firmware, also done incorrectly. Signs that indicate file loss:

  • If you turn on Wi-Fi on your smartphone, a network appears with the name “NVRAM warning err=0x10”;
  • After entering the USSD command *#06# no IMEI codes are received in the response message, because they are stored in NVRAM.

In some cases, the phone cannot detect the SIM card network.

Recovery methods

Before starting the recovery process, it is recommended to charge the smartphone at least 50%, preferably completely. It doesn’t matter what method you use to return the lost file, this procedure takes some time and you don’t want your phone to run out of power.

Restoring from a backup

To do this, you need Root rights on the phone. Restoration is only possible if the owner made a full backup before flashing the firmware. It is recommended to save the backup file on your PC so as not to lose it when recording a new OS on your smartphone. Restoring NVRAM from a backup:

  1. Launch the recovery application on your phone;
  2. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB;
  3. Enable Root access on your smartphone;
  4. Click the Restore button;
  5. Follow the system instructions on the device.

Menu appearance and user actions may vary slightly across devices and operating systems.

Via TWRP Recovery

The TWRP Recovery application can be downloaded. It is free and can be installed directly on your smartphone. TWRP Recovery allows you to restore the entire system or individual parts, including NVRAM.

  1. Launch the application;
  2. Enter the “Restore” menu;
  3. Find the desired backup option;
  4. Select the partitions that the user wants to restore;
  5. Confirm your choice.

Via SP Flash Tool

The program is designed to work with device firmware. You can download SP Flash Tool on the official website of the developer. You need to connect your smartphone to a PC with the utility installed via USB:

  1. Launch SP Flash Tool;
  2. Find phone by program;
  3. Go to the “Write Memory” tab;
  4. In the File Path section, specify the path to the file with NVRAM;
  5. Press the memory recording button;
  6. Reflash your smartphone with the factory version of the OS.

Via terminal

The algorithm for working with the ADB utility is similar to the previous options. You need to connect your smartphone to your PC, specify the path to the NVRAM file and click the Root button.

To work with the utility, Root rights must be installed on the phone.

If there is no backup

Not every user is prudent enough to make a backup before installing the firmware. If there is no copy of an important file, there are ways to recover without it.

Using the patch

A special patch was created to restore NVRAM. You can download the patch. The following is the algorithm:

  1. Install the archive into the phone’s memory using one of the programs listed above, for example, TWRP;
  2. In recovery mode on your smartphone, find a file called “Patch IMEI Fixing” and run it;
  3. Wait for the installation to complete.

SN Write Station Tool

The program is free, you can download SN Write Station Tool. Installs on a PC and works with a smartphone via a USB connection. SN Write Station Tool is designed to repair IMEI.

Best compatible with Windows 7; may be unstable on other operating systems.

IMEI&SN Writer

You need to download and install the utility on your computer. Next:

  1. Connect your smartphone to your PC;
  2. Set up a connection in IMEI&SN Writer (check the USB box);
  3. Select partitions to recover in the Write Litem tab;
  4. Press the large START button to start the recovery.


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