How to Reset NVRAM: Step-by-Step Guide

An NVRAM reset on an Intel-based Mac clears a small group of startup and hardware settings that may be causing display, sound, startup-disk, or time-zone problems. Shut down the Mac, turn it on, and immediately hold Option-Command-P-R for about 20 seconds; Apple silicon Macs do not use this key combination.

What NVRAM Reset Does

NVRAM, or nonvolatile random-access memory, is a small amount of memory that keeps certain settings even while a Mac is turned off. Depending on the Mac and its configuration, those settings can include speaker volume, display resolution, startup-disk selection, time zone, and recent kernel panic information.

Resetting NVRAM returns the affected settings to their defaults. An NVRAM reset can help when an Intel-based Mac starts from the wrong disk, shows an unexpected screen resolution, loses certain sound settings, or behaves strangely during startup.

An NVRAM reset does not erase personal files, applications, documents, passwords, or the main contents of the storage drive. It is not the same as reinstalling macOS or erasing the Mac.

Before You Start

Save open work and shut down the Mac normally. Personal files should remain untouched, but a current backup is still sensible before troubleshooting any computer that is starting unreliably.

Confirm whether the Mac uses an Intel processor or Apple silicon. In the Apple menu, select About This Mac and look for either Processor or Chip. A Processor entry naming Intel means the keyboard reset applies. A Chip entry naming Apple means the Mac manages NVRAM automatically and does not support the Option-Command-P-R procedure.

Before attempting an NVRAM reset, check these points:

• Disconnect unnecessary docks, hubs, and external devices that could interfere with startup.
• Use the built-in keyboard when possible. Some wireless keyboards connect too late for the startup shortcut to register.
• Write down custom display, sound, startup-disk, and time-zone settings that may need to be restored.
• Use an NVRAM reset for settings or startup-selection problems, not for missing files, forgotten account passwords, or an obviously damaged device.

How to Reset NVRAM Step by Step

The following NVRAM reset procedure applies to Intel-based Mac computers. It does not apply to Macs with Apple silicon.

1. Shut down the Intel-based Mac completely.
2. Locate the Option, Command, P, and R keys before turning the Mac back on.
3. Press the power button, then immediately press and hold Option-Command-P-R together. Start holding the keys before the Apple logo or another startup screen remains on the display.
4. Keep holding all four keys for about 20 seconds. The Mac may appear to restart during this period.
5. Release the keys after about 20 seconds. On an older Mac that plays a startup sound, release them after the second startup sound. On a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, release them after the Apple logo appears and disappears for the second time.
6. Allow the Mac to start normally, then sign in and test the original problem.

If a firmware password is enabled, the Option-Command-P-R shortcut may not reset NVRAM and may instead bring the Mac to a recovery-related screen. Do not repeatedly guess a firmware password.

What Happens After the Reset

After an NVRAM reset, the Intel-based Mac should start without deleting personal data. Some stored hardware and startup preferences may return to default values.

Check and reconfigure these settings if necessary:

• Choose the intended startup disk if the Mac has more than one bootable system.
• Restore the preferred speaker volume and sound output.
• Check display resolution, scaling, arrangement, and color-related preferences.
• Confirm the correct time zone and system clock.

Only change settings that are actually wrong. If the original symptom has disappeared, no further reset is required.

If the NVRAM Reset Doesn't Work

If the NVRAM reset does not work, first repeat the procedure with careful timing. Shut down fully, press the power button, and hold Option-Command-P-R immediately. A delayed key press is the most common reason the shortcut is missed.

Try these next steps:

• Use the built-in keyboard or a directly connected wired keyboard instead of a Bluetooth keyboard, dock, or hub.
• Make sure none of the four required keys is stuck, remapped, or unavailable.
• For an Apple silicon Mac, shut it down, wait briefly, and start it normally. The Intel keyboard combination is not supported on that hardware.
• Open the Mac's system settings and correct the affected display, sound, date, time-zone, or startup-disk preference manually.
• Start in Safe Mode to check whether login items, extensions, or cached software are contributing to the problem.
• Run the built-in hardware diagnostics if the Mac has repeated startup failures or signs of a hardware fault.
• Use macOS Recovery if the startup disk needs checking or the operating system requires repair.

If the Mac will not power on, cannot detect its internal storage, or repeatedly shuts down, an NVRAM reset alone is unlikely to solve the underlying problem. Record any error message before seeking technical support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does resetting NVRAM erase files?

No. An NVRAM reset changes a limited set of stored settings and does not erase documents, applications, or user accounts.

Can I reset NVRAM on an Apple silicon Mac?

Apple silicon Macs do not use the Option-Command-P-R reset procedure. Their startup system checks and manages NVRAM without that manual keyboard shortcut.

Is NVRAM the same as PRAM?

They serve a similar purpose in different generations of Mac hardware. Older instructions may call the procedure a PRAM reset, while newer Intel Mac guidance generally calls it an NVRAM reset.

How often should I perform an NVRAM reset?

Reset NVRAM only when troubleshooting a relevant setting or startup problem. It is not routine maintenance and does not need a regular schedule.

Why did the screen or sound change afterward?

The NVRAM reset may have cleared the saved display or audio preference. Open the Mac's system settings and select the preferred resolution, output device, and volume again.

Does an NVRAM reset reinstall macOS?

No. Resetting NVRAM does not reinstall, update, or remove the operating system.