12/11/2015

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac

Learn about your computer's NVRAM, and when and how to reset it.

What is NVRAM?
A small amount of your computers memory, called non-volatile random-access memory or NVRAM,
stores certain settings in a location that OS X can access quickly. The settings that are stored in NVRAM
depend on the type of Mac you're using, and the types of devices connected to it.
Information stored in NVRAM can include:
Speaker volume
Screen resolution
Startup disk selection
Recent kernel panic information, if any
If you experience issues related to these features, you might need to reset the NVRAM on your computer.
For example, if your Mac starts up from a startup disk other than the one you've specied in Startup Disk
preferences, or if a question mark icon appears briey when your Mac starts up.

Resetting NVRAM
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Shut down your Mac.

Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command (), Option, P, and R.
Turn on your Mac.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys immediately after you hear the startup sound.
Hold these keys until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for a second time.
Release the keys.

After resetting NVRAM, you may need to recongure settings for speaker volume, screen resolution,
startup disk selection, and time zone information.
If issues related to these features continue on a desktop Mac (like an iMac, Mac mini or Mac Pro), its logic
board battery may need to be replaced. The logic board battery on desktop computers helps retain
NVRAM settings when your Mac is unplugged. You can take your Mac to an Apple Store or Apple
Authorized Service Provider to replace the battery on the logic board.

Learn more
On older Mac computers, similar information was stored in Parameter RAM (PRAM). Resetting NVRAM on
Intel-based Macs using the same key combination is like resetting PRAM.
Power related settings can be controlled by the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac. If you
are experiencing issues with powering on your computer, sleep, wake, charging your Mac notebook
battery, or other power-related symptoms, you might need to reset the SMC instead.
Last Modied: Mar 27, 2015

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

1/2

12/11/2015

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

Helpful?

Yes

No

64% of people found this helpful.

Additional Product Support Information

Mac notebooks

OS X Yosemite

Mac desktops

Start a Discussion
in Apple Support Communities
Ask other users about this article
Submit my question to the community

See all questions on this article

See all questions I have asked

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online
and we'll connect you to an expert.
Get started

Support

How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac

Shop the Apple Online Store (1 800-MY-APPLE), visit anApple Retail Store
, or nd a reseller .
Copyright 2015 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

Updated Privacy Policy

Apple Info
Use of Cookies

Site Map

Hot News

RSS Feeds

Contact Us

United States (English)

2/2