Mac keeps restarting? 3 things to check

howtosimply.com/guides/mac-keeps-restarting-7-things-to-check/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 2 official sources below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 3 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Install all updates

   Open System Settings, click General, then Software Update, click Check for Updates and install everything on offer. Apple's macOS 27 guide says the Apple menu shows the number of App Store updates next to App Store. In our step 2 picture, App Store shows no count. Our MacBook Neo reports Your Mac is up to date, macOS 27 Golden Gate 27.0.1.

   Done

2. 

   Unplug everything

   Choose Apple menu, Shut Down… and disconnect drives, printers, hubs and other devices. Start the Mac and use it the way you did when the restarts happened. If it stays stable, plug the devices back in one at a time to find the one at fault. On our MacBook Neo, Shut Down… is directly below Restart….

   Done

3. 

   Check the chip, then start in safe mode

   Open System Settings, General, About. Apple's safe mode page: if About lists Chip, the Mac has Apple silicon. Then shut down, hold the power button until Loading startup options appears, select a volume, hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode. On our MacBook Neo, About lists Chip: Apple A18 Pro.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Chip line on the About page If About lists Processor with an Intel name, use Apple's steps for an Intel-based Mac: restart and hold Shift until the login window appears. Our MacBook Neo lists Chip: Apple A18 Pro. Source: Start up your Mac in safe mode
• The message names an app Move that app to the Trash and ask its maker for a newer version. Our MacBook Neo's About page also lists Intel-based Apps with the note Support ending for Intel-based apps in macOS 28.

If this does not work

• Restarts in safe mode too Run Apple Diagnostics with the devices unplugged: see how to run Apple Diagnostics on a Mac, and note any reference code for Apple Support. Our MacBook Neo has Apple silicon (Apple A18 Pro), so it uses the Apple silicon steps.
• Still restarting Reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery: Apple's macOS 27 guide says Recovery keeps your files and user settings. On our MacBook Neo, with Apple silicon, shut down and hold the power button until Options appears, then click Continue.

About this guide

After an unexpected restart, the Mac shows a message that it restarted because of a problem. A single restart is nothing to worry about. Repeated ones need the steps below.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

If nothing helps, Apple's last software step is to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery. This keeps your files, but make a backup first: how to back up a Mac with Time Machine.

A Mac that switches off when it gets hot or when the battery is low is a different fault. See Mac fan loud all the time: 6 things to check.

In short: Update, remove the named app, unplug devices, test, reconnect one by one, safe mode, Apple Diagnostics.