Unplug the power cord and wait 15 seconds.

You don't need to reset the SMC at all if you've got a Mac that uses Apple silicon. There are a few ways to do it, depending on what model of Mac you've got. Resetting the SMC is a good catch-all solution to many problems, including if your MacBook won't start or it won't wake up when you open the lid. It handles everything from the keyboard backlight, to battery management, to what happens when you press the power button.

The System Management Controller (SMC) controls a host of basic Mac functions. You can now start uninstalling any new apps, disabling startup items, removing hardware, or undoing any other recent changes that may be the culprit. If your Mac boots successfully into Safe mode, it's a sign that external factors are causing your problem.

This doesn't load your startup apps, custom fonts, extra hardware features, or anything else beyond the basics. Safe mode runs a bunch of diagnostic tests, then boots a stripped-down version of macOS. Keep it held until you reach the login screen, then continue as normal.

On older Macs, press the power button and immediately press and hold the Shift key.

Now select your main drive, press the Shift key, and select Continue in Safe Mode.

On a Mac with Apple Silicon, turn it off, then press and hold the power button until you see the Startup Options screen.

If your Mac shows signs of life when you power it on-if it displays but won't go past the Apple logo or login screen, for example-then booting into Safe Mode may help you fix it. Were you installing apps, fiddling with fonts, or tweaking the system? When your MacBook won't boot, try to remember what you were doing the last time it was working.

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