Mac keeps restarting over and over? Mac keeps restarting on its own? MacBook Pro keeps restarting at boot? No worry. After reading this article, you can not only know why your Mac keeps restarting (Part 1), how to fix the “Mac keeps restarting” issue (Part 2) but also how to avoid spontaneous restarts on your Mac (Part 3). If you have encountered the similar problem on your iPhone X, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus in iOS 11, go to the article about how to fix iPhone X/8/8 Plus keeps restarting to learn how to solve the problem.
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Jun 12, 2020 I recently upgraded my ram in a 2009 MacBook pro and when I turned it back on I started getting the 3 beeps with nothing on screen. Carried out a troubleshoot of ram and slots below. I reinstalled old ram in both slots and got 3 beeps and nothing on screen. Then only installed new ram in bottom slot leaving top slot free - laptop turned on. Macbook Air beeping 3 times I tried updating my MacBook Air (mid 2012. 13 inch) to OSX Mojave from OSX Yosemite. The software downloaded normally and the update seemed to initially install as normal. I ran into an issue with my wife's MacBook Pro (Early 2011, 2.0 i7) where anytime it would go into safe sleep (i.e. The battery went completely dead while the computer was asleep, causing it to resume from the sleep image file when power was plugged in) when I would bring it out of safe sleep it would make it 50% through the resume process and then I would get 3 tones/beeps separated by about 5 seconds and then repeating the same sequence. The '3 beeps' means the memory is being detected as bad. The good news is that is one of the cheapest components to fix (assuming it actually is the memory at fault and not something else). So easy that I actually wouldn't take it into Apple. Much easier and cheaper to do it yourself. 15' Macbook Pro.
Macbook Air beeping 3 times I tried updating my MacBook Air (mid 2012. 13 inch) to OSX Mojave from OSX Yosemite. The software downloaded normally and the update seemed to initially install as normal.
Part 1: Why Mac keeps restarting
In most of the cases, the main contributor to the 'Mac/MacBook Pro keeps restarting' issue is 'kernel panic'. The 'kernel' refers to the operating system of your Mac. Why does kernel panic lead to abnormal restarts? That's because the operating system has detected an issue on your Mac and the restart must be performed to fix the issue, which is usually caused by the faulty software or a problematic hardware. How to decide whether kernel panic is occurring? Generally, a message will pop up on your Mac screen showing you 'Your Computer restarted because of a problem'. If you are in the very situation, don't hesitate to get possible solutions in Part 2.
Part 2: How to fix Mac/MacBook Pro Keeps Restarting
If your Mac or MacBook Pro keeps restarting over and over, you first need to know where the problem is. Is the software installed on your Mac the cause of the issue or the hardware on your Mac to connected to your Mac the cause of the issue? If the kernel panic is related to hardware, follow the first two tips to learn what to do. While if the problem is related to software installed on your Mac, follow the last two tips instead. (Other solutions to common Mac/iDevice problems are also covered, go to iOS & Mac Topics to find what you need if you want.)
For hardware related kernel panic:
The kernel panic could be caused by a peripheral device or a combination of peripheral devices that has been connected to your Mac or the internal RAM or third-party hardware. Thus hardware troubleshooting is inevitable to solve the 'Mac keeps restarting' issue.
Tip 1: Check the peripheral devices connected to your Mac
Step 1: Shut down your Mac and disconnect all the peripheral devices. (Keep the display, keyboard, and mouse that are from App connected only. )
Step 2: Start your Mac and use it as usual.
Step 3: Troubleshoot hardware.
- If your Mac works properly after you use it for a period of time and no kernel panic occurs, you must know that there is something wrong with the peripheral device that previously connected to your Mac. To check which peripheral device is the 'culprit', connect one peripheral device to your Mac at a time and test. If a single peripheral device doesn't cause the 'Mac keeps restarting' issue, you can try to connect two or more peripheral devices to your Mac and test.
- While if a kernel panic occurs later, it must be something wrong with the internal RAM or third-party hardware. If so, follow tip 2 to check the hardware.
Tip 2: Check the internal RAM and third-party hardware on your Mac
Step 1: Shut down your Mac.
Step 2: Remove the third-party RAM and internal hardware from your Mac. Reseat your Apple RAM if you get one. If not, reseat the RAM you have instead.
Step 3: Start your Mac and use it as usual.
Step 4: Do troubleshooting.
- If the 'Mac keeps restarting' problem doesn't happen after you use your Mac for a period of time, you know that the third-party RAM or third-party internal hardware should to replaced to avoid the kernel panic.
- If your Mac keeps restarting again, you need to go to the Apple Store nearby with your Mac to seek help from Apple.
For software related kernel panic:
Tip 3: Reinstall operating system on your Mac
Step 1: Use macOS Recovery to reinstall macOS.
- Hold and press the key combination (Command + R) on your Mac keyboard immediately after you press the power button to turn on your Mac until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- Choose Reinstall macOS in the window and click Continue.
Step 2: If you have reinstalled macOS successfully, go to App Store >Updates to install all the updates on your Mac.
Step 3: Before you reinstall the third-party software, download and install all the third-party software updates.
Step 4: Do troubleshooting.
- If the kernel panic doesn't occur, you have solved the issue successfully.
- While if your Mac keeps restarting again, follow tip 4 introduced below.
Tip 4: Fix 'Mac keeps restarting' issue related to software
Step 1: Use macOS Recovery to start your Mac. (Refer to step 1 in Tip 3.)
Step 2: Use Disk Utility to back up your disk image to an external drive with enough free space.
Step 3: Wipe the internal drive via Disk Utility.
Step 4: Install OS X and start your Mac from the internal drive.
Step 5: Go to App Store >Updates to install all updates on your Mac.
Step 6: Reinstall the third-party Apps on your Mac and copy the user data from the backup you have just created.
Macbook Pro 3 Beeps Fix
Part 3: How to prevent Mac from restarting
Macbook Pro Freezes Then Beeps 3 Times
Unexpected restarts of Mac could be quite annoying, Thus it's necessary to learn how to prevent the problem from happening. The most effective way to avoid kernel panic is to always update your software to the latest version. You just need to go to App Store >Updates to make it. Easy, right? Hope you won't meet the 'Mac keeps restarting' issue again. For other problems like Mac running slow, Mac stuck on the login screen, Mac won't turn on and more, you can also find the fixes in the related article.