Numerous users have voiced their concern that their MacBook tends to randomly turn off/shutdown. In some cases, they get the “shut down due to a problem” prompt upon the next reboot. To find the plausible culprit behind this issue, the affected users checked their Macbook logs [ from /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports], and found out that the Kernel Panic was the most common culprit in most cases.
While it’s not a concrete fact, but we are witnessing a correlation between the issues and the macOS version- for many, the issue first came to light after updating to Ventura. With that said, we did manage to find out a few nifty workarounds that should help you fix the MacBook random restart/shutdown due to the Kernel Panic. So without any further ado, let’s check them out.
Table of Contents
Fix Macbook Restart/Shutdown Due to Kernel Panic
It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success. So with that in mind, let’s get started.
FIX 1: Prevent auto sleeping on power adapter
Let’s start off with the most basic fix which involves enabling the ‘prevent auto sleeping on power adapter when the display is off’ feature. Here’s how it could be done:
- Head over to System Settings > Display > Advanced.
- Then enable the toggle next to “Prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off”.
- Check if it fixes the Macbook Restart/Shutdown issue due to Kernel Panic.
FIX 2: Install Pending Software Updates
While it mostly goes along the expected lines, but please double-check that you have installed all the pending software updates. You may refer to the below instructions for that:
- Head over to System Settings > general > Software Update.
- If there’s an update available, then download and install it right away.
- Then check if it fixes the Macbook Restart/Shutdown issue due to Kernel Panic.
FIX 3: Boot to Safe Mode
While Kernel Panics are predominately caused by hardware faults or faulty third-party kernel extensions, however, in some cases, a third-party app might prove to be the culprit as well. So let’s verify the same using the below-listed steps and then rectify it as well.
For Mac M1/M2 chipset: Power off your Mac. Then press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appear. Now select your disk, press and hold the Shift key, and click Continue in Safe Mode. For Mac with Intel chipset: Restart your Mac. Then press and hold the Shift key until the login window appears. Now log into your Mac and it will boot to Safe Mode.
Once your Mac is in Safe Mode, check if you are still facing the Kernel Panic. If you aren’t, then restart your Mac to normal mode and uninstall all the recently installed apps, one at a time, until you are no longer able to reproduce the issue. Once that happens, the last removed app is the culprit and you should maintain a safe distance from it, at least for the time being.
FIX 4: Reset NVRAM
Both M1/M2 and Intel-based Macs come with NVRAM [Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) which holds information about the configuration of your Mac. They store information related to your desktop settings, mouse, keyboard, time zone, and display resolution, among others. So if this stored data gets corrupted, then its associated hardware or software component might not be able to perform as expected. Therefore, you will have to reset the NVRAM, using the steps given below:
- If you have an M1 or M2 Mac, then just a normal restart will reset the NVRAM.
- For an Intel-based Mac, you should first turn off your PC.
- Then before the gray screen appears, press the CMD, Option, P, and R keys together.
- Keep on pressing these keys until your Mac restarts and you hear the startup sound.
- Once that happens, you may release the keys and the NVRAM reset is now complete.
- Now check if it fixes the Macbook Restart/Shutdown issue due to Kernel Panic.
FIX 5: Reinstall macOS [Without Reset]
In case the system configuration and settings get corrupted, then your best [and most probably only] bet will be to reinstall the OS [without the data wipe]. So give it a try using the below-listed steps and check out the results:
- Boot your Mac to Recovery Mode on Intel and M1/M2 chipset as follows:
Intel: restart your Mac and immediately press the Command+R shortcut keys. M1/M2: press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears. Then click Options > Continue > Type in your password > Continue.
- Once you are in the Recovery Mode, select Reinstall macOS and hit Continue.
- Then proceed with the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
- Check if it fixes the Macbook Restart/Shutdown issue due to Kernel Panic.
FIX 6: Run Apple Diagnostics
Using the Apple Diagnostic Test, you could verify whether your Mac has any hardware-related issues and then get hold of that faulty component as well. Before starting, verify that there’s nothing wrong with the external hardware. For that, you should remove all external devices and then reconnect them one at a time until you can recreate the issue. If the issue doesn’t appear even after connecting all the devices, then it points to the faulty hardware in the Mac itself. So let’s put the Diagnostic to the test right away:
On M1/M2 chipsets
- Turn on your Mac and press and hold the power button.
- Then release both these buttons when you see the startup options.
- Now press the Command (⌘)-D shortcut keys.
- It will now start the test and bring out the results.
- Carry out the fixes according to the result that you got.
On Intel chipsets
- Turn on your Mac and press and hold the D key when the Mac starts up.
- Then release the keys when you see a progress bar or the language selection screen.
- It will now start the test and bring out the results.
- Carry out the fixes according to the result that you got.
That’s it. These were the numerous methods that should help you fix the Macbook Restart/Shutdown issue due to Kernel Panic. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
