Restart MacBook Air (with Touch ID) with keyboard shortcut

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Restart MacBook Air (with Touch ID) with keyboard shortcut

I have an M2 MacBook Air. There's currently a software issue I've reported with Apple support, which will sometimes cause my screen to turn off while everything else continues to work. The only work around I've had so far is fully force turn off the Mac and turn on again. Not ideal.

I have found this page

Mac keyboard shortcuts - Apple Support

Control–Power button* or Control–Media Eject : Display a dialog asking whether you want to restart, sleep, or shut down.
Control–Command–Power button:* Force your Mac to restart, without prompting to save any open and unsaved documents.

Unfortunately none of these work. There's a disclaimer that the * means, "Does not apply to the Touch ID sensor."

So any other ideas?

My plan was to just try to do the key command without seeing and hopefully spam through save dialogs until it restarts and the screen works again.

MacBook Air, macOS 14.1

Posted on Nov 26, 2023 7:15 PM

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Answer 1

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kaplag Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2024 7:58 PM in response to 6x6

Thanks!

I assigned CMD Shift Esc as the hotkey for "Restart..." and checked "reopen apps". Then I reproduced the bug where the screen fails and was able to successfully pull off the shortcut followed by enter key without seeing and the MacBook successfully began to restart and apps opened back up when I logged in.

Feels a touch better than long pressing power to hard power off and having to power back on. Also seemed a little faster. Much appreciated.

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Answer 2

6x6

Level 6

19,191 points

Mar 18, 2024 5:56 PM in response to kaplag

Hello everyone,

Go to System Settings > Keyboard > App Shortcuts, click "+", in the field "Applications" leave the selection at "All Applications", in the field "Menu title" type "Restart" and then press the key combination you want to use to put the Mac to sleep (try using a very unique one that won't interfere with any other.). Close System Settings.

If you choose "Restart" as the menu title, the Mac will restart without prompting you to reopen the apps and the apps won't be reopened at start up. If you choose "Restart..." instead, you'll have the chance to check the box to reopen the apps after start up.

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Answer 3

Mar 18, 2024 3:31 PM in response to kaplag

have MacBook Air M2 with same issue re restart keyboard combo. I previously had a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (c. 2017) and I was able to create a keyboard shortcut in system settings (keyboard/keyboard shortcuts) where I assigned fn-ctrl-cmd-F12 to the "Restart" command in the apple menu, but I'm unable to replicate it right now. Please post if you find a solution. Thanks!

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Answer 4

6x6

Level 6

19,191 points

Mar 19, 2024 7:24 AM in response to kaplag

Great!

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Restart MacBook Air (with Touch ID) with keyboard shortcut

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