In certain specific scenarios such as when a Mac freezes or applications cause the system to freeze, you might need to forcefully shut down your Mac and then restart it to resume normal operations. But do you know how to perform a forced restart on a Mac when required? This article by MiniTool Software will provide you with a detailed guide along with some relevant information.

How to Perform a Forced Restart on a Mac?

When your MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or iMac encounters problems and you cannot shut it down conventionally, you may need to force restart it. For new Mac users, knowing how to force restart a Mac can be quite useful. For instance, you might wonder how to reboot a frozen MacBook Pro. Do not worry—it’s a straightforward task. We will explain how to force restart a Mac here:

1. If only an application is frozen and you can still move your cursor and perform other actions, you can force quit the problematic application to return to normal operation. Press and hold the Option key, then right-click the application icon and select Force Quit from the menu.
2. If your macOS doesn't respond but you can still move the mouse pointer, you can follow the standard procedure to restart your MacBook Pro: click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner and choose Restart from the dropdown menu.

How to Force Restart a MacBook Pro?

To force restart your MacBook Pro, you will need to utilize the power button. There are two primary methods to force restart a Mac: one involves shutting down the Mac forcibly and then restarting it normally, while the other method allows you to directly force restart the MacBook Pro.

Method 1: Shut Down the Mac Forcibly and Then Restart It

To forcibly shut down a non-responsive MacBook Pro, press and hold the power button until the machine turns off. Afterward, press the power button again to boot it up.

Method 2: Directly Force Restart the Mac

Press and hold Command-Control together with the power button until the screen goes black and the machine reboots.

The Location of the Power Button for Different Mac Models

If you're using a different model of a Mac computer, the location of the power button may vary.

For example:

• If you’re using a MacBook Air, the power button is the Touch ID button located in the top-right corner of the keyboard.
• If you’re using a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, the power button is the Touch ID area on the rightmost side of the Touch Bar.
• If you’re using an iMac, the power button is found at the bottom-left rear corner of the display.

How to Reboot a MacBook Pro?

If you simply wish to reboot your MacBook Pro, ensure you complete the following tasks beforehand:

• Save any open and edited files.
• Disconnect any external hard drives.
• Close all running applications.

Here are three ways to reboot a Mac:

: Click the Apple icon, then select Restart to reboot your MacBook Pro.

: Alternatively, press and hold the Command key and then press the power button. Once the system shutdown dialog appears, click Restart to reboot your Mac.

: If you’re an experienced Mac user, you can also use the Terminal to reboot your Mac: open the Mac Terminal and type . Here, time represents the time you wish to reboot your Mac. To restart your Mac immediately, type now, which is . Press Enter and enter your password if prompted. Your MacBook Pro will restart accordingly.

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