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Constant shut down prompt if I don't use my mac every 5 seconds.

I have a 2015 macbook air 11" that i hadn't turned on since July, all was great till today, i plug it in, turn it back on, and it shuts down.


Only after resetting pram, vram and SMC did i get to boot up to log screen but, if I don't move or press a key in less than 5 seconds, i get a shutdown prompt, and then it shuts down.


I've never seen something like this, what can i do??? Battery is in good health and it was running great back in July.


I already started downloading the latest OS available for it, what else can it be?

MacBook Air 11″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Oct 27, 2020 5:58 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 28, 2020 10:17 PM

I know this may sound crazy since it works with Windows, but this only means that Windows probably isn't using or accessing the defective hardware in the same manner as macOS. I've recently found out through personal experience that macOS can do odd things when it encounters a hardware issue or it encounters hardware it is not expecting (such as using an Apple PCIe SSD from another slightly different Mac).


At this point you need to try to perform a clean install of macOS by first erasing the whole physical SSD before installing macOS. You can either boot into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R or by booting from a macOS USB installer. Here is an Apple article with instructions on how to erase the whole physical SSD using Disk Utility:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496#erasedisk


If a clean install has the same problem or the problem occurs while booted to the macOS installer (USB or Internet), then it confirms some sort of hardware issue with the laptop.

6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 28, 2020 10:17 PM in response to Cookies_are_delicious

I know this may sound crazy since it works with Windows, but this only means that Windows probably isn't using or accessing the defective hardware in the same manner as macOS. I've recently found out through personal experience that macOS can do odd things when it encounters a hardware issue or it encounters hardware it is not expecting (such as using an Apple PCIe SSD from another slightly different Mac).


At this point you need to try to perform a clean install of macOS by first erasing the whole physical SSD before installing macOS. You can either boot into Internet Recovery Mode using Command + Option + R or by booting from a macOS USB installer. Here is an Apple article with instructions on how to erase the whole physical SSD using Disk Utility:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496#erasedisk


If a clean install has the same problem or the problem occurs while booted to the macOS installer (USB or Internet), then it confirms some sort of hardware issue with the laptop.

Oct 28, 2020 4:52 PM in response to Cookies_are_delicious

Does the same thing happen in Safe Mode?


Try running the Apple Diagnostics.


If the laptop was using macOS 10.12.6+ at some point, then try booting into Internet Recovery Mode (Command + Option + R) to see if the same thing happens.


If the same thing happens in Safe Mode & Internet Recovery Mode, then you likely have an issue with the keyboard or power button being stuck. You will need to have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider examine the laptop to provide a repair estimate.

Constant shut down prompt if I don't use my mac every 5 seconds.

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