Macbook pro doesn`t shut down

During the last couple of weeks my macbook pro (2013 retina model) does not shut down or restart. The screen becomes black but i can still see the cursor on the right top corner and the external hard disks are still powered.

I have tried the following:

disconnected all the periferals

run disk first aid (and techtool pro) and they report no problems

started from external hard drive

started in safe mode

run all the maintenance scripts in onix


Nothing works. The computer can not shut down or restart. All the latest updates have been installed and no other issues have been identified (other than spotlight not listing my internal HD, eventhough i have rebuilt the index etc)


Any ideas?

Posted on Feb 11, 2018 8:43 AM

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3 replies

Feb 11, 2018 10:38 AM in response to Kappy

Thank you very much for your reply.


i have done all of the above except creating a new user account which i dont see how it would help since the computer does not shut down or restart even after it has booted on recovery disc mode (and hence there are no user accounts loaded in that mode). I also am not planning to erase everything just for the sake of it. I think that firstly i must find out if this is a hardware or a software problem.


Is there any kernel log that i could find somewhere and help to identify what is preventing the computer from shuting down?

Feb 11, 2018 10:22 AM in response to Dimitrios Varthalitis

A Troubleshooting Protocol to Identify Problems or Fix macOS El Capitan or Later

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.


Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.


  1. Shutdown the computer, wait 30 seconds, restart the computer.
  2. Disconnect all third-party peripherals and remove any support software like drivers and plug-ins.
  3. Resetting your Mac’s PRAM and NVRAM
  4. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
  5. Start the computer in Safe Mode, then restart normally. This is slower than a standard startup.
  6. Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list. Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
  7. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
  8. Download and install the OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update or 10.12.6 Combo Update or Download macOS High Sierra 10.13.3 Combo Update as needed.
  9. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
  10. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:
  1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on Continue button.
  2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.
  3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.
  4. Set the Format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)
  5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.
  6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.
  7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.

How to fix an Apple Mac that won't shut down


There's no simple answer to fix a Mac that has problems shutting down. It could be caused by a variety of different problems. Here are some troubleshooting steps that we advise you to try. Go through each one at a time and see if it solves the problem:


  1. Try to determine if one particular app is causing the problem. If one app always freezes when you shut down and cancels the shutdown process then update it (or re-install it).
  2. Perform a software update (open App Store and click Updates > Update All).
  3. Update any software that you installed outside of the App Store. Typically open the App and choose Help > Update or App > Update Software.
  4. Check that you have FileVault turned off (System Preferences > Security & Privacy > FileVault > Turn Off FileVault).
  5. Open Disk Utility. Choose the main hard drive and click Verify Disk. If there are any problems click Repair Disk.
  6. Choose the main volume in Disk Utility (underneath your main drive) and choose Verify Disk Permissions > Repair Disk Permissions.
  7. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support.
  8. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM.

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.

Macbook pro doesn`t shut down

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