MacBook Pro Beach Ball of Death, won't force restart

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Level 1

4 points

MacBook Pro Beach Ball of Death, won't force restart

I have a MacBook Pro that was not responding. I went to force quit applications and listed as 'not responding' were Chrome, Outlook and Preview. However, after launching the Force Quit application I got the Spinning Beach Ball of Death, which I can move around but not do anything else.

I've tried holding the power button down to force shutdown, also Control+Command+Power button, and finally Control+Option+Command+Power button, all to no avail. It just won't shutdown.

Are there any other ways to force shutdown or will I have to wait until the battery completely dies? That might take a while as it's at 92% and not running anything!

Any help will be most appreciated.

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jun 24, 2025 2:08 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Grant Bennet-Alder

Level 10

140,897 points

Jun 24, 2025 7:47 AM in response to SmithDavis

In general, touching the power button requests your Mac Sleep.

On modern Macs, a press and hold of the power button for more than ten seconds (or a ten second deep press of the touch-id sensor, which acts as the power button if no discrete power button is provided) will elicit an emergency, uncontrolled power-down.

This is of course, not to be used for routine shutdown, and it can leave the boot drive in an odd state.

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Answer 2

SmithDavis Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 24, 2025 2:15 AM in response to SmithDavis

Sorted, but don't know how! I closed the MacBook to find the serial number. When I reopened it the Beach Ball wouldn't was frozen. I left my finger on the power button whilst I was reading something and the screen eventually went black after about 30 seconds. It then restarted.

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