How to reset the SMC, PRAM and NVRAM on an iMac Pro

Written By: [deleted]
  • Comments: 9
How to reset the SMC, PRAM and NVRAM on an iMac Pro

Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

3

Time Required

50 seconds - 2 minutes

Introduction

I had to make a separate guide for this Mac as this Mac has the new T2 chip and requires a different procedure then the other Mac Desktops.

  1. QMSfb2BTQAE45VoJ

    • Choose Apple menu > Shut Down.

    • After your Mac shuts down, press and hold its power button for 10 seconds.

    • Release the power button, then wait a few seconds.

    • Press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

    • If that did not solve the issue, move on to Step 2

    After the iMac Pro shut down, I pressed and held the power button for 10 seconds. It began to power up so this didn’t seem to work.

    C Adams -

    What is the problem you are trying to solve by attempting to do these resets?

    [deleted] -

  2. Yrq44q5rLW54xXKe

    • Choose Apple menu > Shut Down.

    • After your Mac shuts down, unplug the power cord.

    • Wait 15 seconds.

    • Plug the power cord back in.

    • Wait 5 seconds, then press the power button again to turn on your Mac.

  3. WhK5GaiENhCoCOwd

    • Shut down your Mac.

    • Then turn it on and immediately press and hold these four keys together: Option, Command, P, and R.

    • You can release the keys after about 20 seconds, during which your Mac might appear to restart.

    • You can release the keys after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.

    • You must have a wired keyboard made by Apple in order for this to work.

    • You can buy one from Amazon here.

    I have never been able to do a PRAM reset on my iMac Pro. I even got the stock extended wireless keyboard out of the box to try to do it, and never get the satisfying triple gong of yore.

    C Adams -

    It needs to be a wired keyboard made by Apple, not a wireless keyboard.

    [deleted] -

    Hello C Adams, it is very true I share Aaron's grip, you have to use an Original Apple keyboard with cable to be able to restart the SMC + PRAM + and + NVRAM, and any on the iMac or any Mac, greetings

    Miguel -

    it worked! and, if you want your startup sound back on the iMac Pro, use this terminal command:

    sudo nvram StartupMute=%00

    Admin User -

    You don’t have to shut down the computer; restarting works just as well. Just ensure the four keys are down as soon as possible after the screen goes dark.

    A wireless keyboard connected with a Lightning-to-USB cable permits parameter RAM reset. You don’t have to buy a new wired keyboard.

    trudyscousin -

    Command-Option-P-R works with a wireless keyboard wired with the lightning cable (the one coming with the iMac Pro); however do not shutdown the Mac first.

    Boot the Mac, restart it. As the screen goes black and before the Apple logo shows, press Command-Option-P-R and hold it ; the screen will stay blank and then after about 20s the apple logo will appear and the dong will be heard. Keep pressing Command-Option-P-R until the logo disappear and re-appear a 2nd time with the dong sound

    jyavenard -

Conclusion

If you have tried all of these resets and still have problems, head on over to our Answers Forum!

Author

[deleted]

Member since: 28/08/18

26732 Reputation

One comment

one of my thunderbolt ports stopped working. I used the SMC and PRAM reset and they all worked afterwards. thanks!

Admin User -