iMac shuts down all the time

My iMac shuts down a lot & I can only turn it on by unplugging it

Earlier Mac models

Posted on May 21, 2023 2:39 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 21, 2023 2:52 PM

If you have an earlier model iMac you might want to reset the NVRAM and the SMC


This steps only apply to intel based Macs


To reset your NVRAM


  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, R.
  3. Release the keys after about 20 seconds, during which your Mac might appear to restart. For example, you might hear a startup sound more than once, or see the Apple logo more than once.
  4. When your Mac finishes starting up, you might need to adjust any system settings that were reset.


Reset the SMC

Again this steps only apply to intel based Macs without the Apple T2 chip


If your Mac isn't a laptop computer, follow these steps:

  1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord.
  2. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in.
  3. Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.



If you have an Intel Mac with the Apple T2 Security chip follow these instructions to reset the SMC

  1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord.
  2. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in.
  3. Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.


If you still need help  contact Apple Support





6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 21, 2023 2:52 PM in response to Rosedame

If you have an earlier model iMac you might want to reset the NVRAM and the SMC


This steps only apply to intel based Macs


To reset your NVRAM


  1. Shut down your Mac.
  2. Turn on your Mac, then immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, R.
  3. Release the keys after about 20 seconds, during which your Mac might appear to restart. For example, you might hear a startup sound more than once, or see the Apple logo more than once.
  4. When your Mac finishes starting up, you might need to adjust any system settings that were reset.


Reset the SMC

Again this steps only apply to intel based Macs without the Apple T2 chip


If your Mac isn't a laptop computer, follow these steps:

  1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord.
  2. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in.
  3. Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.



If you have an Intel Mac with the Apple T2 Security chip follow these instructions to reset the SMC

  1. Shut down your Mac, then unplug the power cord.
  2. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in.
  3. Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.


If you still need help  contact Apple Support





May 21, 2023 4:11 PM in response to Rosedame

Download and run Etrecheck. Be sure to give it Full Disk access before running.



Copy and paste the results into your reply. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support  to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.


Copy the report


and use the Additional Text button to paste the report in your reply.



Then we can evaluate the report to see if we can determine the cause of the problem.


This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iMac shuts down all the time

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.